Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-03-23


low Them to increase Wages and
Ask For Renewal Of Present. Agree
ment
| When the anthracite operators com
mittee of ten met representatives, oil
the anthracite miners In New York
Wednesday a Hat refusal to grant the
demands of the men for 20 per cent
Increase in wages. union recognition
and other betterments. was publicly
announced.
The position OF the operators is thus
set forth In the answer:
After months OF painstaking effort
| In the investigation Of the problems
presented to them tthe strike com
mission) the award they rendered
stands recognized as the most just
and sound solution of labor difficulties
ever presented in this country. II has
stood the test Of time. has been twice
renewed by mutual agreement has
preserved peace in an industry long
subject 10 contentious and Interrupt
tions. has brought good wages TO the
employees. stability of employment to
the many Industries dependent upon
mining. and general prosperity to the
anthracite region. II should be concln-
sive as TO all the facts and issues
which il covered. and these have not
since changed"
| Concerning the demand for an al
vance In wages of minimum rate OF
90 per cent. the operators called at
tention to the fact that there was an
advance of 10 per cent in 1900. 10 per
cent more in 1902, and a further in.
crease OF I clio per cent resulting from
the operation Of The sliding scale
that since the sliding scale went into
effect the bonus paid to the workers
on account Of Il amounts 10 over $50.
00n.0o0. and that estimates based upon
the cost sheets of the collieries show
that to grant the increase would in
crease the labor cost for coal abou,
40 cents per ton Of all sizes.
The operators point out that the adj
vance in wages would amount to more
than s2S,000.000 annually. to which
would have to be added the Increase
due to the sliding scale. at Is out OF
the question for the operators to ad.
vance wages" they say. unless they
can In scme manner realize from the
sale Of coal produced sum equal 10
the increase in wages"
Concerning the demand for one
year agreement the operators said that
to adopt IL now would be TO disregard
the lesson of the strike commission.
The operators say the demand for
CHECK off, or right to provide Tor
method of the collection of revenue
for the organization is "a measure
calculated TO establish the closed
shop"
The answer points ont that none Of
the arrangements effected bi the
strike commission has worked out bet
ter than the Cancellation board
The question OF the length of the
workday for mine workers known as
company men was made the subiec, Of
an exhaustive study by the strike
commission I he commission cOnclud
ed that a reduction Of the hours OF Ia.
Dor from ten 10 nine was fair both To
employe and employer Conditions are
the sans today. and further To reduce
the workday would seriously curtall
production" says the answer
The answer closes with the following
proposition TO the miners
"Our proposition Is that the present
agreement between the anthracite
mine workers and the operators be
continued for and during a further
term OF three years from the Is, day
OF April. 1912.
we urge careful consideration Of
our proposition and its acceptance by
you
I'VE trust that your demands will
be Withdrawn and that the prosperity
which has so long obtained In the an.
thracite region will not be arbitrarily
and unnecessarily disturbed"
While the union representatives
would not commit themselves. II is
understood that they may ask Friday
| for a further extension of time 10 con.
slider the answer. In order 10 await
the result OF the conferences In Chi
cago and Cleveland next week between
the bituminous operators and their
miners. T. Is known that the heads of
the anthracite locals Of the United
Mine Workers of America will scarce
~ consen: to a strike If there Is peace
In the bituminous districts. whereas
united action OF the entire organiza
ton, claiming 10 control half million
miners, would he eeffctive