Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-03-12
EFFORTS OF OPERATORS AND
UNION MEN TO GET TOGETHER
RESULT IN FAILURE.
PRoFFEREp CONCESSIONS
REJECTED BY BOTH SIDES
Refusal of Operators to Recognize Of
ficers of Union as Such stirs Ire Of
Workers-Miners in Turn Refuse to
Accept Present Wage Scale for Next
Year-Work May Stop March 81.

committee of the anthracite mine
workers and operators will hold an
other meeting this afternoon, and en-
deavor to reach an agreement 70 go
into effect at the expiration OF the
present working arrangement between
the men and their employers. The flat
refusal of the operators to make any
concessions has greatly depressed the
representatives OF the miners.
Lewis Is for War.
President Lewis was very much pro-
voked today because the operators yes
terday refused to receive him and as
sociates as officers of the Mine Work
ers' Union but merely as representa-
tives of the miners employed III the
mines owned by the former.
THE only agreement l will sign with
the operators will be as T. L. Lewis.
president of the union," he declared.
1--WE will not be divorced from the or
ganization, but will insist upon our
rights as men. We will not qualify one
of our demands, but insist that every
thing be granted. I'm not predicting
nor looking for trouble. ALI l have to
say is that we will insist upon our de-
mands, and will make our attitude very
clear to the operators"
In view of the probable disagreement
of the conference today it may be
stated positively that there will be a
convention of the three district unions
of the anthracite region the latter part
Of the month to consider the question
of continuing work after the expira-
tion of the present agreement, March
81
Operators Proposition Rejected.
The anthracite miners rejected the
counter proposition of the operators to
renew the present agreement Tor
three years.
At this afternoons session the sub
committee of the miners union will
tell the subcommittee Of the operators
that the negative answer they gave
yesterday to the employers proposition
to- renew the present agreement for
three years is final, and that the only
agreement the representatives of the
workmen will sign will be one re.cog-
nizing their organization, and that 1t
must be signed by them as members
of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea Thomas L. Lewis, president of the
union, is authority for this statement.
What the outcome will be is. Of
course, not known, but from the trend
the negotiations have taken 1t looks as
if one side or the other will have to-
recede from it's position or there will
be suspension of work April l.
Prepare for Shut Down.
The Reading company made sig
nificant move today when it decided
that instead of closing the collieries to-
morrow because of the slow demand for
coal, as contemplated earlier in the
week, it will continue to operate them.
1t is said the Readings minSs will con-
tinue to work uninterfuptedly during
the remainder of the month in order
to increase the amount of coal on hand
in case a suspension is ordered by the
companies or union.
Lewis Isues Statement.
President Lewis gave to the Asso-
ciated Press this afternoon the follow
ing prepared statement:
Representatives of the operators
and United Mine Workers have met
for the purpose of trying to agree upon
a wage contract to govern the mine
workers of the anthracite region of
Pennsylvania. During the delibera-
tions it developed that the operators
are unwilling to treat with the miners
representatives ak an organization of
men, and at the same time the oper-
ators claim they have no objections
to the men being members Of the
United Mine Workers. This position
is so inconsistent it needs no COM
ment. The qquestion naturally arises,
if the anthracite operators refuse to
sign an agreement with representatives
of the United Mine Workers as such
for the anthracite region, then any
agreement made is binding only upon
the men whose signatures are attached
TO the document. Any proposition
agreed upon, for the mine workers of
the anthracite region to have the sup
port of the United Mine Workers must
be signed by representatives of the
miners as representing the United Mine
Workers in the anthracite region"
Operators Are Mum.
The operators today had nothing; to
say regarding the situation. 1t is
known, however, that they do not in
tend to change their attitude. Lewis
expressed the belief that the CONFER
ence with the operators will end this
afternoon, and intimated that he will
then have something further to say.
civ uo-ec c0p LnpKINe