The Washington times., 1916-02-22
OPERATORS TO HEAR
Miners DEMANDS.
Peace Rules Conference and
Immediate Danger Of Strike
Is Averted..

NEW YORK, Feb. 22.-Immediate
danger OF an anthracite coal miners
STRIFE was aveTted when forty of the
princnpal operators, melting representa-
lives of $4,000 miners in the Hotel Nc
Alpin to consider a working agreement
to replace. that which expires March ~,
at once agreed to consider all OF the
workers demands.
A Joint subcommittee Immediately
was appointed to attempt to work out
satisfactory agreement and to re-
port back to the full conference.
II was the first time In the labor
history Of the anthracite coal fields
that the operators at the beginning or
negotiations have agreed to consider
the miners demands. In every previous
instance, they have started by formally
rejecting every point requested, making
any concessions only after a number OF
meetinRR and long arguments.
Glad To Consider Demands.
1--WE shall be glad" said s. ID. War
riner. chairman of the General Com
mittee for the operators, ito go into
the whole proposition In detail in an
effort to arrive at a solution OF the
problem which will be satisfactory to
all.
'"The operators are willing to look
at the demands from every possible
light. We are willing to stand for
reasonable conditions Of labor and pay.
and to go beyond this:
plauded by the miners. A few minutes
before that John p. White, president OF
the United Mine Workers OF America,
had been applauded after he had for
mally presented the miners demands.
It was said to be the first time the
operators ever have applauded at such
a moment.
Seek Modified Recognition.
John T. Dempsey, of Scranton, Pa,
president of the unions District No. /.
definitely admitted that the "fuil and
complete recognition OF the union,"
which hitherto has been regarded as the
feature of the demands most likely to
prove q stumbling block. was not in
tended to include the check-off, the sys-
tenn by which the mine operators col
lect the unions dues from the workers
The operators have been unalterably
opposed to granting recognition. and
have made 1t known that however they
might compromise on the other points,
they would give no ground In this d.
rection.
Interpretation of recognition" as leav-
ing out this the check-off, It was pointed
out. has done much to clear the way
Tor an early settlement. since that fea-
ture has been the chief one to which
the operators have objected.
Technically Recognized.
It generally was admitted that the
operators are willing to make conces-
sions In the wage scale. 1t also was I'M
derstood that the miners will be will
ing substantially to reduce their de-
mands for 20 per cent increase.
Prior to the general conference the
operators conferred among themselves
in the Hotel McAjptn. while the miners
met In. the HetelssLC ontinental,t where
they have -established Headquarters. ~
At the general conference after the
demands which were ratified by the
Indianapolis convention in January had
been officially presented by White,
speeches OF explanation were made by
Thomas Kennedy. president OF dis
trict No. a: John T. Dempsey. president
OF district No. /: James Matthews. presi-
dent OF district No. 0; ]. f. HOLSTER,
also of district No. g.. and C. c. Boner,
an organizer of district No. T.
Warmer introduced the resolution
that Joint subcommittee be appointed
The miners selected to represent the
union on II were White. Kennedy.
Dempsey. and Matthews.
'. Operators Committee.
The operators selected were Warri-
ner. w. L. COnnell. of Scranton: w. ].
Richards. president of the Philadelphia
and Reading Coal and Iron Company.
and Morris Williams. president OF the
Susduehanna Coal Company. ALVIN
Markle. who presided at the conference.
was selected as chairman for the sub
committee. and James A. German as
secretary.
The subcommittee will meet next
Monday at 1 o'clock In the Hotel Nc
Alpn.
Matters were put over until Monday
In the hope that by then the blum
20 into conference In the same hotel
on Thursday, will have reached an
agreement. thus disposinR of one phase
Of the situation before the other IL
taken up.