The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-03-18
MINERS AND OPERATORS
CANNOT GET TOGETHER

Philadelphia, March 1b.-Tho sub
committee OF the anthracite mine work.
ers and operators held another meeting
his afternoon IN an endeavor to reach
an agreement to go into effect at the
expiration Of the present wage ar
rangement between the men and em-
ployers. The fiat refusals of the OPP
orators to make any concessions
greatly depressed the Representatives
of the miners.
President Lewis was very nluch pro-
voked today because the operators yes
terday refused to receive him and his
associates as officers OF the mine
workers union and not merely as rep-
resentativcs of the coal miners en-
ployed in the mines owned by the
former.
THE only agreement I will sign with
the operators will pc as president of
the union" holly declared Lewis. we
will not be divorced from the organi-
cation but will insist upon our rights
as men. We will not qualify one of the
demands we have made, but insist that
everything we asked for be granted"
In view of the probable disagreement
CT the conference today it may be
stated positively there will be a con-
Nention Of the three districts OF the
anthracite region in the latter part OF
his month to consider tho question of
continuing the work after the expira-
ton Of the present three years agree
ment, March 81.
Mine Workers. Demands.
The demands of the mine workers
drafted in Scranton last October and
ratified by the national convention III
lows:
/. That an agreement shall be negoti-
ated between The representatives OF the
miners and the operators OF the anthra-
cite region and all disputes arising under
the contract shall be adjusted as provided
for in the said agreement.
2. We demand the complete recognition
in the United Mine Workers Of America
as a party TO negotiations in wage con.
tracts, and tins United Mine Workers OF
America shall be reeognized in our right
the collection of revenue for the organi.
cation.
6. That we demand an eight-hour day
| with no reduction in wages.
4. That all coal shall be mined and paid
for by the ton OF 1000 pounds.
3. That we demand al eight-hour day
uniform scale of wages and prices for all
classes of labor at all collteries in the an
thracite region, and that all employees paid
cent advance and less than 81 per day
! shall receive q S per cent dvance.
6. That the system whereby a contract
more than two laborers be abolished.
Z. That the employers be requtred to
issue uniform pay statements designating
employee, the colliery where employed, the
amount of wages and the class of work
performed.
S. That the contract shall be made for
a period of one year.
1t now looks as If one side or the
other would have to recede from its
position or there will be suspension OF
work April l..
The Reading company made a sig
rificant move today, when it decided
that instead of closing the colieries to-
morrow because OF the slow demand
for coal, as contemplated earlier in tha
week, 1t will continue to operate. It is
said the Reading mines will continue
% work uninterruptedly during the re-
'nainder of the month in order to in
:rease the amount Of coal on hand in
the companies or the union.
h operators today had nothing to
say regarding the situation. 1t is
known. however, that they do not in
tend to change their attitude.