El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-27

/ abolished, that payment for mined coal
be made on a weight basis instead or
I by the carload, and that the contract
go into effect April /, 1912. and expire
March 81, 1913
The miners back up their demands by
arguing that, after working under the
same agreement for nine years, their
fairness to employers and willingness
to preserve peace should now be recog-
nized by an increase in the wage scale
and the granting Of a shorter work
day.
Before going into the conference, ma
UOnal president White expressed con-
fidence that the meeting would result
In a continuance Of the amicable rela-
tons between the miners and their en-
plOyers- He said that II was the inten-
ton of the committee TO do its utmost
TO bring about satisfactory agreement
with the operators through diplomatic
channels. rather than by threats and
strikes and violence The expressions
that marked the faces Of the committee
men Is they filed into the offices Of the
Jersey Central railroad did not seem
TO coincide with Mr.. Whites remarks,
however, and It appears probable that.
II the miners do not get what they
want when they want it 100000 miners
will be ordered to quit work on April
I, until further notice.
40 matter how firmly fixed the IN
tentfOns of the members OF the miners
committee may be they viii meet
stubborn fighter in tOday's conference
in the person of George F. Baer, chair
man of the operators committee, ans
the argument between Baer and the
warm blOoded spokesman OF the miners
NAV make the air burn before an
agreement Is reached or the meeting
brought to a conclusion
II chairman Baer lives Up to the
declarations that have been credited to
the operators, to the effect that they
VIII grant no concessions to the miners
IN the drawing up Of a new contract
lie viii turn down the demands for
moro money and shorter hours with
characteristic abruptness and force the
miue-s to show their hands as TO
whether or not they are in a position
70 declare a strike.
In Good shape for Fight.
According TO reports, the operators
anticipated trouble with the miners at
the expiration of the present contract
in March a s far back as last summer,
when they started making preparations
for a strike by storing coal as fast as
IL was mined and In spite of the un-
usually cold weather Of this winter,
which caused greater demand for fuel
than has occurred in years the Oper-
atOrs are in a better position TO fight
strike than ever before. fortified
as they are by an enormous surplus
supply. stored away in all sections OF
the country. Hence the confidence of
the mine owners that they viii be vic
tOriOus IN the event OF a strike
One Of the leading coal barons Of
the east is credited with the following
comment on the situation: 1t is almost
certain that there viii be a suspension
of work following the expiration OF the
agreement on March 81
But one thing IS certain-if there is
any Increase in the price of mining coal,
the public viii pay or it. An advance in
wages will be at once followed BY an
advance in the price Of coal. because
most of the coal companies are now
making but a very small percentage
Of profit
Says Union Is Weak.
As for the union. from what figures
have been able TO secure IL IS in a
weaker condition now than IL has been
in years"
Upon his arrival in New York last
night, president White said 'tAlI that
we ask is that the mine work ers be
given an advance in wages to meet the
increased cost Of living, and that the
working agreement be changed to
meet present conditions. We are not
greedy we VIII meet the operators half
way and viii be glad TO discuss the
matter fully with them
The anthracite men are not as well
organized as I would like to see them,
but the membership is now. and has
been for some time past. growing stead
ny At heart all the workers are union
men, and even those who are not in the
union VIII obey the union officers"
Judging from the remarks of the