Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-12
OPERATORS REFUSE
DEMANDS OF MINERS.
Operators Say Wages Are
Good and Cannot Be Raised With
out Raising the Price Of Coal.

Philadelphia, March 1.-THE an
thratic coal operators committee met
the hard coal miners committee in tha
Readlng terminal building here today
and fatty refused to grant any of
the demands the men laid before them
At the same time they proposed to the
h,ine workers that the present agree
ment, which will expire March 81, be
renewed for another term of three
years. This decision while not unex-
rected by the mine workers was Il
great disappointment to the men when
they We're officially informed of it,
When the afternoon session of thu
conference adjourned shortly after 6
O'clock this evening, Thomas Lewis,
national president of the United Mine
Workers of America. and his colleagues
fled out of President Bears office and
went straight to their hotel with q
spirit that was not as buoyant as that
with which they entered the confer
ence room. Mr.. Lewis declined to
comment on the development of TIL"
day, beyond stating that he and his
committeeman would meet to discuss
the situation. The miners will meet
the operators again at o'clock to-
morrow afternoon
For the benefit of the public. the re-
fusal of the operators to grant the IL
mands of the men was contained in
a statement agreed upon by both sides.
1t follows:
"A committee of seven representa-
tiVeS Of anthracite operators held
joint meeting in the Reading Terminal
building this afternoon to discuss the
mine workers demands. These de-
mands are the same that We're drafted
in Scranton last October.
''Thc operators declined to accedH
to the demands. The chief reason Of
fered for the rejection was that any
increase i'll the cost of production
" Guild neCeSSitate an advance in til"
price of coal and that such an add
vance was impracticabc. The opera
tors said that wages in the anthracite
mining industry were already at q
high level and could not be incrcas
ed
TIE announcement of the operators
position was followed by free Dis
ouSsion of the various demands, each
side stating its views fully in regard
thereto. The operators declared their
unWi3ingneSs to reopen the eight
hour day question and other questions
passed upon by the anthracite striI"
committee of 1902. They also declared
themselves opposed to the mine work
crs' proposition for 4 one year agreH-
ment.
"They declined to recognize the Unit
ed Mine Workers Of America. chiefly
GA the ground that it was controlled
by Litumnous workers. They sand
they met Mr.. Lewis and his commit
tee as representatives of the anthra-
cite mine workers and not as officers
of the union The operators Gale!
ltnon the report of the strike commit
tee to support their refusal to deal
with the United Mine Workers.
at the end Of the discussion the
operators made the definite proposition
to renew the present agreement for 4
term of three years
The present agreement made in New
York three years ago. when john
Mitchell led the miners in the negotld-
lions. is identical with the award Of
the strike commission made in 1903 at
ter the strike of 1902. Three years ago
the miners made numerous demand
but all were rejected and they ac-
cepted the renewal of the strike com
missions award, which is the same