Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-29
COAL OPERATORS
Issue Statement Regard
The Mine Situation.
Charge Miners With Not HaV-
ing Done as They Agreed
Az. xLa lnuaeS:na4 snn hv &he
After the Investigation by the
Presidents Commission.

New York. March 2S.-Thc anthracite
coal operators who have refused to rec
ognize the United Mine Workers of
America as an organization officially
representative of the mining employees
today issued statement setting forth
their attitude on this point at issue
The statement which is issued on pe-
half of the operators committee of sew
en- says:
"When the demand is made that the
anthracite operators shall enter INTO
a contract with the United Mine Work
ers OF America, it is pertinent to ask
what has been done by this organlza-
ton either as a whole or in the anthra-
cite region to carry out the plan pro-
posed by the strike commission of 1902.
This commission, appointed by the
President of the United States, con-
sidered thoroughly the constitution
and character Of the union and ex-
pressed their opinions about it with
complete frankness. The commission
SAID distinctly that the constitution of
the United Mine Workers of America
was not such as to encourage the OPP
orators to make a contract with 1t ana
certain changes that might make sat
isfactory trade agreements possible
| were recommended to the mine work
ers During the six years elapsed since
| the commission did it's work, the mine
workers have taken no steps to carry
| out these recommendations.
THE commission decided against the
| demand for a contract between the OPP
| orators and the union and gave at
length it's reasons therefor 1t criti-
cized various features of the orSaniza-
! ton and said
",Thc present constitution of tn,
| United Mine Workers of America does
noe pre- sent the most inviting induce
m,,nts for the operators to enter INTO
| contract relations with it.
| "Following this statement the COM
mission made definite suggestions. one
of which was that q separate anthra-
cite department. would remove some oi
| tho serious objections then existing.
| "Other practical suggestions were made
| The mine workers have made no move tC
| adcpt any of them. BY not doing so they
have failed to do their part in carrying
| out the object of the strike commissin-
| TO establish the relations between en-
ployers and the wage workers in the an
| basis
1.-The operators have done their utmost
| to execute the spirit as we'll as the letter
| of the commissions award. not only il
| respect to the direct recommendations but
| in improving general conditions. They
| have taken advantage of the latest in
yeGtions for the protection of life, have
| improved ventilation and drainage. and
| have sincerely eudeavored to make work
side the mines
in 1906 the mine workers renewed thcii
| demands for u renewal of the contract
| with the Miners Union. In reply the op-
orators quoted tho strike commissions re-
| port calling attention to the criticism OF
the constitution and practices of the
Union
Again. in 1909. the suggestions made
by the strike commission are still disre-
proposed to the mine workers has been
put into effect. A complete answer to
the demand for recognition of the United
Mine Workers is that the strike commits
sion composed Of fair-minded and cap
| able men. decided against it, and that the
reasons which they gave for their de-
cision exist now as they existed then
and three years ago. 1t will be an all day
for our industries when the entire supply
of the country, anthracite and bitumi-
nous is put into the power of an organ
| iZation to do what it will in Withholding
or curtailng our fuel supply