The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-14
STRIKE INEVITABLE
IN THE COAL MINES
Seems to Be Sentiment With Both the
Operators and the Miners Dur
ing Halt In the Nego-
tiations.

New York, March 1.-The anthracite
coal operators and the United Mine
Workers of America alike profess un-
yielding adherence to their attitudes con-
cerning the miners demands. The sit-
uation looks very blue and the indica-
tions point to strike" declared Presi-
dent John b. White of the miners The
operators say positively that they will
make no concessions.
With the formal rejection Of the min
ers' demands and the counter proposi-
tion that the present agreement, which
expires March 81, be continued for three
years, the operators COMMITTEES of 10
adjourned yesterday Afternoon until Fri
da, noon Adjournment was taken upon
request of the miners officials, who will
meet i'm the meantime, consider the oper
ators' reply and plan their procedure.
This, ii is expected, viii be announced
at the joint meeting of miners and the
operators committee Friday.
Il can say this much" President White
declared yesterday afternoon, I'VE will
not make any modification of our de-
mands. Iseyond that, ! cannot tell
what viii happen"
The operators reply, made public dur
ing the afternoon. is document of
approximately $500 words. 1t deals
with the demands seriatim and in de-
tail The finding of the anthracite coal
commission appointed by President
Roosevelt in 1902 is quoted against
recognition Of the union and the adop-
tiop of the sne year agreement The
reply disposing of the demand that the
operators collect union dues of their en-
ployes with the declaration that the laws
of Pennsylvania forbid their doing So
The conciliation board the reply states
is always ready to deal Justly with
grievances of employees and adjust them.
The operators reply of 1906, refus-
ing the demand that the system where
bv contract miner has more than one
working place and employs more than
two laborers be abolished, is repeated in
tho present reply. Grievances concern
ing interference with check weghten
and check docking bosses, the opera
tors declare can readily be settled by
the Cancellation board. The demand for
an eight hour day is rejected on the
grounds that conditions have not changed
since the anthracite coal commission
recommended nine hour day and that
further to reduce the work day would |
seriously curtail production.
1T is out of the question to advance !
wages" reads the reply, unless we can
i'm some manner realize from the sale |
of coal produced sum equal to the in |
crease in wages" This increase, it is
stated, would aggregate S2s,000,000 |
year. and the whole advance which would |
average about 81 cents per ton, would |
BE borne by the domestic sizes of coal |
The increase in the cost of producing /
coal in recent years has re-
duced the margin of profit to a point be- |
yGnd which further reduction is i'm /
possible, the reply declares.
After urging the adoption of the coun-
ter proposition, the reply concludes with /
the statement. that eve feel that we
cannot be parties to the termination Of
an arrangement which has made the an
tbrscite region, for all interest involved,
onc of the most prosperous industrial
districts in the country. We trust that
your demands will be withdrawn The
for a change in the pres
ant satisfactory condition of affairs must
rest with you"