New-York tribune., 1909-03-13
No COAL AGREEMENT
MINERS IND OPERATORS
FIRM IN DEMANDb.
Situation Serious. but Peace Stu
Hoped For-Meatior Of Poss'-
bic Uage Reduction.

bic " age ReducuOh.
| Philadelphia. March 1.-THE conference
tween the sub committees of the anthraclte mime
| workers and operators TO arrange new aere+
| ment to go into effect at the expiration or the
present working arrangement, came TO an emu
| late this afternoon without result. While the
| nrosnao+s are not as bright as they we're for a
neacefuI settlement there still hope that radt
| cal action by either side will be avoided Inc
executive boards will issue call to-nnorro"
| for convention of the miners or the lhree
| anthracite districts TO be held in one OF tne
| mining towns. to consider plans for further 7'
| ton and then will follow another conferences
with the operators before March 81 The counter
proposition of the mining companies to rene"
the present agreement for another term OF 'hree
wears will be placed before the convention ny
the executive boards of the workmen- President
Lewis said after to-day's meeting that the sus-
| gestion for another conference came from the
| operators
There was only one session Of the sub-com-
rnittees to-day and It lasted from 2 p. m. until
| D. m. After the meeting the following agreed
joint statement was given out:
The joint meeting of the mine workers com
mfttee and the operators committee came 70 an
end this afternoon without an agreement pelns
| reached.
| Mr. Lewis made another clear statement OF
the mine workers position He reviewed the
| various demands. giving special emphasis to the
| question OF recognition.
MUST RECOGNIZE UNION.
| He maintained that he and his committee
| represented the organized mine workers ana
that if not recognized as representatives OF the
| organization they had no standing and could % no.
| venture to sign contract which would bnd
| anybody. He said that the committee was
speaking strictly in the interest Of the anthracite
districts and was not attempting TO subordinate
the anthracite 10 the bitumnous interests.
| The operators repeated their intention TO deal
with the committee as representatives OF the
anthracite mine workers and not as othcers OF
the union. They renewed their offer to continue
the present agreement for a term Of three years
and this their final proposition. Mr.. Lewis
| requested that II be put in writing. and the
operators answered that 1t could be considered
as duplicate of the one made in sos They
called attention to the number Of the page of
the minutes of the meetings in 1905 on which
the proposition appeared
II understood that another conference
! would be held after Mr.. Lewis and his COM
mttee presented the opera tors proposition to
a convention ~ mine workers
The proposition contained in the minutes Of
the 1905 meeting referred in the statement
is follows.
Our proposition Is that the awards made by
the anthracite coal strike commission and the
principles upon which they were established by
the commission ana the methods ests brshed for
carrying out their findings and awards, shall be
continued for and during further term Of three
years.
Mr. Lewis did most OF the talking FOR the
men at to-days session. while all the operators
on the committee except President Baer of the
Reading Company. took part in the general dis
cussion. Mr.. Baer i'll and left the confer
ence before II adjourned.
WAGE REDUCTION INTIMATED
During the discussion. Mr. Lewis says sew
eral Of the operators again referred to the state
ment made in conference yesterday that some
Of the coal companies had been considering the
| aIIoF fba auies tO
agree upon !. 10 per cent reduction in wages be-
cause Of industrial conditions instead Of think
ing about increase
President Lewis further says that II not
made as q suggestion nor a threat but was
mentioned the opera tors told him, as showing
phoU some OF the companies felt IN regard to
present mining conditions Mr. Lewis told them.
he SAYS that the mine workers would not think
of considering such a proposition if it we're ever
made.
The miners had nothing TO say tonight to
the probable action Of the tri-distrct conven-
ton The executive boards will meet in Central
| Labor Union Hall here tomorrow and fix the
time and place Of the convention and issue the
call. Following this they viii leave the city for
their respective homes and begin the work of
stirring up the unions to elect their delegates
TO the convention
President Lewis before to-day's conference
! stated Z
tiyes would not sign agreement unless 1t
explicitly provides for recognition of the United
! Mine Workers of America. 1t also, he said
must he signed by the miners as officers Of the
union and not as representatives. of the anthra-
cite mine workers. II the miners support him
in his attitude it looks If there will be no
agreement as the operators since 1900 have
been unaIterably opposed to recognizing the
miners organization.
MAY STRIKE AS UNITS.
There is q possibility Of the men continuing
10 work without an agreement and striking at
the various colleries as grievances come up if
they are not adjusted by the superlntendents of
these mines This it is pointed out, would he
A return to the chaotic conditions that pre-
vailed prior to the strike of 1902. when there
were strikes every day in all parts Of the an
thracite regions, making the amount of coal
production from day to day uncertain
After the adjournment of the meeting Of the
| executive boards tomorrow President Lewis
will go to his home in Bridgeport Ohio. and will
be in indianapolis Monday morning. He will
return East In time for the tr-district conven-
tion.