The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-04-10
Get
FINAL ANSWER
Operators Want Men to Sign
Agreement For Three Years.
new DEMANDS TURNED DOWN

Mine Owners Absolutely Refuse to
Recognize the Union and Workmen
May Appeal to President Taft For
a Commission TO investigate condi-
lions In Anthracite Regions.
Philadelphia. April S.-At meeting
between committees representing the
coal operators and the officials " the
United Mine Workers OF America. rep
resenting the anthracite workers OF
PENNSYLVANIA. TO consider demands
made by the miners. the operators re-
fused all the demands and submitted
instead a proposition to extend the
wage agreement brought about by the
anthracite strike commission for an
other term of three years. In order
that the proposition may be laid be
fore the officers OF the mine workers
organization of the three anthracite
districts. who are now in this city. the
conference adjourned. 70 meet again
this afternoon At O'Clock.
Operators Proposition.
The proposition OF the operators IS
as follows
Whereas. Pursuant TO letters Of
submission. signed 10y the parties in
;erested in 1902. ali questions at issue
between the respective companies and
their own employees. whether they be
long 20 the union or not. were sub
mitted 20 the anthracite coal strike
commission TO decide as 20 the same.
and as 20 the conditions between the
respective omp2nies and their own
employees duly made and filed its
award upon the subject matter Of the
submission and provided that the said
award should continue In force for
three years. from April /. 1903. and
the said period has expired.
And whereas By agreement. dated
May I. 1900. IL was stipulated that the
said award aud the provisions thereof
and any action which has since been
taken pursuant thereto. either by the
conciliatiun board or otherwise. shall
be- extended and shall continue in force
FOR three years from April l. 1906.
namely until March 81. 1903. with like
force and effect. as II that had been
originally prescribed as its duration
Now. therefore il Is stipulated be-
tween the undersigned IN their own
behalf SO far as they have power TO
represent any other parties in interest.
that the said award. and the provisions
thereof and any action which has since
been taken pursuant thereto. either
by the Cancellation board or other
wise. shall De- extended and shall con
tinuc in force for three years. from
April !. 1909. namely until March 81
1912. with Ike force and effect as II
that had been originally prescribed as
its duration"
May Appeal to President Taft.
The wage agreement which the oper-
ators seek TO have renewed expired
March 81 The miners. however.
pending the outcome OF the confer
ences. are working under its terms
The agreement does not provide for
recognition of the miners union. and
this IL is said. Is the bone OF conten-
tion. as the operators absolutely re-
fuse 10 recognize the union. Il is said
that should the operators refuse to
make any concessions and insist upou
the offer 20 renew the anthracite strike
commissions award the miners VIII
appeal to President Taft for the ap
pointment OF commission 20 investi-
gate the conditions controlling the
mining and selling OF hard coal II IS
also said that IL the conference comes
TO an end without an agreement being
reached the miners Will not declare n
strike but will leave Il to the oper.
ators. II they see At TO do so. TO declare
a lockout