The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-13

PHILADELPHIA, March 13.-The
committee representing the anthracite
operators and the mine workers could
not reach an agreement yesterday al
ternoon and the meeting was adjourn
ed. Another conference will be held
3 after President Lewis. OF the United
Mine Workers, and the members Oh
his committee present the operators
terms TO continue the present agree
ment for three more years after April
/. The operators propositions will pc
submitted at convention OF mine
workers To be held. IL is expected
the latter part of this month.
Every demand made by the miners
representatives was fatty refused by
the operators, and there was only one
course left To the miners delegates
10 issue call for a convention OF the
United Mine Workers OF the three al
4 thracite districts OF Pennsylvania.
AS to what result may be expected
to follow the convention OF the mine
workers. the district delegates offer
differing opinions. Some of the teni-
peramentally effervescent delegates
are talking Strike" Cooler heads are
arguing for a conservative policy
and the exhaustion OF every possible
means of peace before causing sus'
pension of mining in all the collieries
OF the state.
They take the ground that II there
Is to be strike IL should not be or
dered for the time selected by the
operators, but when the miners them
selves are ready for IT, In other words
they believe that strike during the
next few months would be playing into
the hands of the operators who are
known TO be heavily overstocked with
coal.
Upon the part OF some of the lead
crs, the policy that is favored Is TO
have the convention authorize the
district boards TO hold another con-
ference with the operators and secure
he best terms obtainable. which would
resolve itself into signing another
three-year agreement.
On the other hand some of the
friends of President Lewis take the
position that TO yield TO the operators
demands would be to weaken his po-
sition with the union and work injury
TO the organization itself and that a
strike would be preferable.
Il was distinctly evident from the
beginning that the operators were
unalterable In their decision 10 reject
every one OF the mine workers de
mands, and at one time Ii looked as
though there might be an abrupt end
ing of the conference and the sever
ance OF all negotiations.
This was when il was announced
on the part OF the operators. that
some of them insisted on making a
reduction of 10 per cent in wages.
President Lewis at once declared
that the mine workers committee
would not entertain such a proposition
for a moment. IL was explained that
the 10 per cent reduction was not Civ
en- as proposition, but as sugges'
ton.
The miners leader before yester-
days conference, stated positively that
the miners representatives would not
sign an agreement unless 1t explicitly
provides for recognition OF the Unit
ed Mine Workers of America. II also
he said. must be signed by the min
ers as officers OF the union and not as
representatives OF the anthracite mine
workers. IL the miners support him
in his attitude II looks as if there will
be no agreement. as the operators
since 1900 have been unalterably OPP
posed to recognizing the miners or
ganIzation.
There Is a possibility OF the men
continuing TO work without an agree
mcnt and striking at the various col
lierics as grievances come up If they
are not adjusted by the superintend
ents of these mines. This. II IL point
ed out, would he return TO the chaot
&c conditions that prevailed prior T.
the strike OF 1902. when there were
strikes every day In all sections of the
anthracite regions. making the amount
of coal production from day TO day
uncertain.