Evening star., 1909-03-12

senting the anthracite operators and the
miners. which was held for more than
four hours In the Reading Terminal build
ing yesterday afternoon, the coal opera
tors announced that they rejected all OF
the miners demands.
They also made a definite counter-prop.
osition to renew the present agreement
for a term Of three years. as in 1906.
This means that the United Mine Work
ers must sign such an agreement before
the existing agreement expires (March
3D or take action upon the question OF
suspending work In all the collieries OF
the anthracite region.
When the conference of the subcOm-
mittees adjourned 1t was to meet again
at o'clock today.
It was positively stated last night that
convention of the mine workers would
be called for the last week Of the month,
to be held In the lower anthracite region,
either at Shamokin or Hazleton. to take
action upon the rejection Of the miners
demands and the proposition made by
the operators.
As tor the delegates representing the
miners of the three Pennsylvania anthra-
cite districts in the conference with the
operators. their powers are limited to
making report to convention OF the
miners on the result with such recon-
mendations as they may decide to offer.
Miners Are Dissatisfied.
While individual members Of the miners
committee expressed warm dissattsfac-
ton with the position taken by the oper-
ators. President Thomas L. Lewis of the
United Mine Workers would not make a
statement OF his attitude in the situa-
tiop or say whether or not in his opn-
ion, there would be a. strike.
he has made thR S.a.ement In the DaSs
few day., however, that he is opposed to
suspension OF work IN the m.neS. and
II Is understood that he favoTs the policy
of continuing the miners at work while
the coming convention discusses the stu
alton, even IL II is necessary to extend the
sessions of the convention considerably be-
yond the last day Of this month. when
the existing three years agreement will
expire.
President George F. Baer contributed a
thrill to yesterdays conference by threat
ening to throw Andrew Matt. repre-
sentative Of the seventh district in the
miners convention, out OF the room.
President Baer is Belhcose.
Mr.. Baer had just made the statement:
81 am for the open shop and I will be
for the open shop as long as lfve?''
Delegate Matti quickly arose and said
that he would Hike to ask a question
You say you a,sd are for "a, an % open SHOP, SHOP,
shop by fixing price for coal that we
must all pay?'
Mr.. Baer expressed resentment at the
interruption. but Mr.. Matti was not to be
shut Off.
Il have read in the papers," he said.
''that you operators have stored f2.Op, e03
tons OF coal and do net care what the
miners do"
He proceeded to tell what the miners
could do. and was Interrupted by Presi-
dent Truesdale Of the Lackawanna and
others. only with the effect Of stimulating
his rhetorical outourat.
Finally President Baer slammed book
upon the table and cried:
IF you do net STOP I viii throw you
cut of the room"
Delegate Matti. a stout. muscular man.
whether he was thrown out Of the room
or not. and things had a sQually look,
when brother delegate pulled Mr.. Matti
into his seat and the incident was ac-
cepted by both sides IS closed.
All those engaged in the conference. it
was stated. had agreed to say nothing. the
statement standing for the report Of both
the mine workers and operators commit
tses. as approved BY their secretaries.
When this statement was subsequently
read by members of the committee repre-
senting the mine workers they vigorously
declared that 1t did not do justice to their
side Of the controversy.
President Lewis himself denounced it.
II will repudiate the whole thing he
said. I'VE all agreed not to make any
statement, except such as was sanctioned
By the secretaries Of the two committees,
but win later make q fun statement Of
the whole situation
It was not denied by the miners COM
mitteerl1ens that the statement given out
centaiiisd tbe statement OF facts.
It was as follows:
The Operators Statement.
"A committee OF seven representatives
OF the anthracite mine workers and a
committee Of seven representatives OF the
anthracite operators held a joint meeting
IN the Reading Terminal building this aft
ornoon (Thursday) to discuss the mine
workers demands. These demands are
the same that were drafted in Scranton
last October.
The operators declined to accede to
the demands. The chief reason offered
Cor the rejection was that any increase
N the cost OF production would necessi-
cate an advance in the price OF COAL and
that such an advance was impracticable.
The operators said that the wages in the
anthracite mining industry were already
at high level and could not be increased.
The announcement of the operators po-
Sition was followed by a free discussion
Of the various demands. each side stating
bS Views IuiIy REGARD thereto. he
operators declared their unwillinsness to
reopen the eight-hour-day question and
other questions passed upon by the an
thracite strike commission Of 1902. They
also declared themselves opposed to the
mine workers proposition for a one-year
agreement
They declined to recognize the United
Mine Workers Of America, chiefly On the
ground that II was controlled by bitumi-
nous mine workers. They said they met
Mr.. Lewis and his committee as rem. esent
0tives Of the anthracite mine workers
and not as officers Of the union. The
operators called upon the report OF the
strike commission to support their refusal
to deal with the United Mine Workers
'IAt the end Of the discussion the opera
tors made the definite proposition to re-
new the present agreement for term Of
three years
The meeting was adjourned until to-
morrow tFrfday) afternoon
PREPARE FOR SHUTDOWN.
Railroads Assisting Mine Owners
With Car Privileges.