The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-22
 IN THE ANTHRACITE FIELD.

Railway World.
 We are unable to explain the extra put by Workers iq any other way than as ex- cessive claims put forward in the hope of a compromise offer from the opera tors which will represent some conces- sons to the anthracite workers. These claims are, on their face, so glaringly absurd that their extravagance can be accounted for on no other hypothesis--- to demand that the operators should recognize the United Mine Workers of America, that they should raise wages reducing the number of pounds in a ton on the basis of which wages are paid. that the wages of day labor contract miners Increased. and that the contracts should be made only for one year with the strong probability of date all these extraordinary requests into one demand. which is resolutely adhered to throughout series or con ferences. can be explained as the act ton that the mine workers are asking far more than they expect to receive.
 The operators position in this con, not recognize the United Mine Workers of America. because that organization numbers the majority of its members are engaged in a rival industry and also because the situation of the or ganization has not been changed since 1t was characterized by the strike com mission of 1902 as not presenting "the most inviting inducements to the op- orators to enter into contractual rela- tions with it." The operators will not anthracite industry. They will not ex- clude from their employment desirable men who may not choose to belong to any union, neither will they assist the union in the conduct of It's finances by collecting union dues from employees. The various demands for q reduction in the hours srs or aaSos ana to demend that the price of anthracite coal. should be increased. Even if popular opinion would allow such an increase the pres try which is suffering from severe de- pression. would make such an advance impractlcable. The operators remark ton of economic law would result Tn reduction of wages, and fall In the price of coal. and that their only req ent scale Is their desire to avoid any disturbance in the harmonious rela- tions which have prevailed with few last seven years, It Is indeed. true. as the operators state. that. with the in- dustries of the country Tn thelr pres ent state the United Mine Workers are fortunate in having such an agreement under which to work, and that If eith- CT side should be eager to renew it, It Is not the operators but the mine Ali reasonable recognition has been given to the mine workers. They have been allowed ample representation up- on the conciliation commission; Their representatives have been admitted to conferences with the operators, and nave had all the recognition which the Situation required. The operators have finally offered to renew. not for one year but for three years. the agree ment which has been in force since 1902. No more reasonable proposition
 man than this, and unless their leaders have taken leave of their tos senses the Reeepted, and even in this unlikely event, we have enough confidence in of the anthracite mine workers. to be- iieve that at the conyentiop which Is deadlock. between the representatives of the two parties, they will immedi- ately repudiate the counsels of any of their members who may endeavor to persuade them to enter upon a strug rie whose outcome would be their evi- dent and nasty ruin.