Evening star., 1909-03-11
Good Feeling Marks Meeting
to Arrange Scale.
MINERS MAKE PROPOSALS
Word Demand" Stricken From List
of Desired Changes.
REFERRED TO SUBCOMMITTEE
Representatives of Operators and
Workmen Take Up Questions to
Be Settled in Conciliatory Mood.

! PHILADELPHIA. March 1.-the con-
ference of the operators and mine workers
held here this morning adjourned at 12:45.
After the miners had submitted their de-
mands a subcommittee consisting Of
! seven members from each side was ap-
| pointed to take up the negotiations. Presi-
! dent Lewis of the miners and President
Baer of the operators, head the respec-
| tive subcommittee.
The subcommittee will meet in joint
| session after luncheon.
1t is the general belief that the opera
tors Will refuse the demands III fact
some of the mine workers said today that
they expected TO be refused. In the event
that the operators decline to make any
concessions and make counterproposal
that the present agreement be continued
ii is probable that convention of miners
will be called.
With a keen desire to reach an early
decision and thus avoid a suspension of
work the representatives of the United
Mine Workers OF America and the presi-
dents of the ccal-carrying railroads met
today in the Reading Terminal building
and began negotiations for a new agree
ment TO go into effect at the expiration of
the present working arrangement on
March 81. 1t is safe to say that not since
the present organization Of miners be-
came active In the anthracite regions of
Pennsylvania have the worl<men and the
employers entered upon negotiations with
a better feeling and understanding and
with better prospects of reaching a settle
ment without resorting to radical action
Thomas L. Lewis. national president of
the miners union, who meets the hard
coal operators in formal conference for
the first time, arrived from the west early
today, and before going to the Reading
Terminal held final meeting with the
officers and executive board members of
the three anthracite districts. There was
final exchange of views. and Mr. Lewis
was given certain information he desired
regarding mining conditions by the prac-
teal men in the miners delegation.
Most Of the presidents Of the coal roads
and representatives Of the Independents
arrived here during the morning and at
once went to the offices Of President Baer
OF the Reading company, where today's
meeting was held.
What the Miners Ask.
The demands of the anthracite men. as
drafted at a convention in Scranton last
October and approved by the national
convention at Indianapolis in January,
are follows:
Flrst-That an agreement shall be ne
Sotfated between the representatives of
the miners and operators of the anthra
cite region. and all disputes arising under
the contract shall be adjusted as provided
for in the said agreement.
Second-We demand the complete recog-
milton of the United Mine Workers of
America party to negotiate q wage
contract and that the United Mine Work
ers of America shall be recognized in our
/ right to provide any method we may
adopt for the collection Of revenue for the
organization.
dav with no reduction in wages.
Fourth-That all coal shall be mined and
paid for by the ton Of ZOO pounds.
Uniform Scale Of Wages.
Fifth-That we demand definite and
more uniform scale Of wages and prices
for all classes of labor at all collieries In
the anthracite region, and that all en-
ployes paid Sl.J0 less per day shall
receive a 10 per cent advance and all
employees paid more than 81 so and less
than 500 per day shall receive a ) per
cent advance.
Sixth-That the system whereby a CON
tract miner has more than one Job or
employs more than two lahorers be abol-
ished.
Seventll-That the employers be required
10 issue uniform pay statements desg-
hating the name OF Inc COMPANY. the
name of the employs, the colliery where
employed the amount of wages and the
class OF work performed.
Eghth-That the contract shall be made
for period of one year.
When the above demands beca me known
to the operators several months ago they
made public statement, through their
New York agents. that the demands would
not be granted and strongly intima ed that
they would ask that the present three
he
agreement is the same as the working ar
rangement made by the anthracite coal
strike commission in 1903
Word Demand" Cut Out.
Prior TO the meeting President Lewis
gave out for publication a copy of the
demands to be presented 10 the operators.
The document is headed:
Proposition to the representatives OF
the anthricite operators.
Gentlemen: We herewith submit TO you
and for your consideration copy of the
demands formulated at a joint convention
of districts J. Z and Of the United Mine
Workers held in Scranton, Pa, October
l.. 1905.
The only change in the phraseoIogy of
the eight demands as originally adopted
by the mine workers convention is the
omission of the words we demand in
the second, third and fifth paragraphs
district presidents and the three executive
boards of the districts. about thirty-five
men altogether. went at IL O'Clock to the
! board room of the Reading company in
the big terminal building in which the
offices of the company are located There
was d long wait and the meeting did not
get together until after II 30 O'Clock
owing to the fact that the Reading rail-
road train bringing from New York a
number of the representatives of the coal
operators was late.
In addition to the coal company presi
dents and individual operators present
there are also in attendance some of the
general and district superintendents from
the mines. These men are here to give
practical replies to questions that may
prove too knotty for the presidents and
ownrs of The mines
Participants in the Conference.
The mining companies were represented
! i'm the conference by the following Off
cials:
| President Baer, Reading company:
! President TGuesdale Delaware. Iacka-
! wanna and Western Railroad Company:
/ President Thomas Lehigh Valley Rail
road Company: President Fowler. New
| York, Ontario and Western Railroad