Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-04-10
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 8.-At meeting
coal operators and the officials of 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 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 to meet again
this afternoon at 3 o'clock.
Operators Proposition.
The proposition of the operators Is
as follows:
Whereas, Pursuant to letters of
submission, signed by the parties in.
terested In 1902, all questions at issue
between the respective companies and
their own employees, whether they be-
long to the union or not were sub
mitted to the anthracite coal strike
commission to decide as to the same,
and as to the conditions between the
respective companies and their own
employees, duly made and filed its
award upon the subject matter of the
submission and provided that the aid
award should continue in force for
three years, from April /. 1908, and
the said period has expired,
"And whereas by agreement. dated
May 7, 1906. it was stipulated that the
said award and the provisions thereof
and any action which has since been
taken pursuant thereto, either by the
Cancellation board or otherwise, shall
be extended and shall continue in force
for three years from April /, 1906,
namely until March 81, 1909, with like
force and effect, as If that had been
originally prescribed as its duration
Now. therefore. 1t 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 be extended and shall con-
tinue in force for three years. from
April 1. 1909, namely until March 81.
1912. with like force and effect as il
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 it's terms.
The agreement does not provide for
recognition of the miners union, and
this. 1t Is said. Is the bone of conten-
ton, as the operators absolutely re-
fuse to recognize the union. II Is said
that should the operators refuse to
make any concessions and insist upon
the offer to renew the anthracite strike
commissions award the miners will
appeal to President Taft for the ap-
gate the conditions controlling the
mining and selling of hard coal. 1t Is
also said that If the conference comes
to an end without an agreement being
reached the miners will not declare
strike but will leave 1t to the oper-
ators. If they see fit to do so, to declare
lockout.