The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-03-18
MINERS AND OPERATORS
CANNOT GET TOGETHER

Philadelphia, March 15.-The SUBJ
committee Of the anthracite mine work.
ers and operators held another meeting
this 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 en-
ployers. The fiat refusals of the OPP
orators to make any concessions
greatly depressed the representatives
OF he miners.
President Lewis was very much pro-
voked today because the operators yes
terday refused to receive him and his
associates as officers Of h mine
workers union and not merely as rep
resentatives Of tie coal miners en-
ployed in the mines owned by the
former.
'The only agreement I Will sign with
the operators will be as president of
the union," holly declared Lewis. I'VE
will not be divorced from the organi-
as men. We will not qualify n of the
demands we have made, but insist that
everything we asked for be granted"
In view of h probable disagreement
of the conference TO-DAY it may be
stated positively there will be q con-
vention of the three districts of the
anthracite region in the latter part of
this month to consider the question OF
continuing the work after the expira-
tion 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 in
Indianapolis in January, are as fol-
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.
In the United Mine Workers of America
as a party to negotiations in wage con-
tracts, and the United Mine Workers of
to provide any method we may adopt for
the collection of revenue for the organt-
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 2,9eo pounds.
3. That we demand an eight-heur day
uniform scale OF wages and prices for all
classes of labor at all coliieries In the a
thracite region, and that ali employees paid
Sl.50 or less per day shall receive a 10 pei
cent advance and less than 50 per day
shall receive a s per cent advance.
g.. That the system whereby a contract
miner has more than one Job or employs
more than two laborers be abolished.
Z. That the employers be required to
issue uniform a statements designating
the name of the mpa the name of the
employe. the colliery where employed. the
amount of wages and the class Of work
performed,
s. That the contract shal be made for
a period Of one year.
1t now looks as If one side or the
other would have to recede from It's
position or there will be suspension OF
work April 1.
The Reading company made a sig
n1fcant move today, when it decided
that instead of closing h collieries to-
morrow because Of the slow demand
for coal, as contemplated earlier In the
week, 1t will continue to operate. It Is
said the Reading mines will continue
to work uninterruptedly during the re-
mainder of the month in order to In
crease the amount Of coal on hand in
case of suspension Of orders. either by
the companies or the union.
The operators today had nothing tic
say regarding the situation. 1t Is
known, however, that they do not In
tend to change their attitude.