coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

24 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
"In conformity to this declaration which was
concurred in by the International convention of
the United Mine Workers of America, held in In­
dianapolis, lnd., commencing January 20, 1914,
we, the mine workers' representatives, declare ourselves
as being* opposed to a suspension of niining
and in favor of a
CONTINUANCE ill WORK
pending a settlement of the different wage scales
in all states and districts hire represented.
"We favor this policy in the interest of industrial
peace and uninterrupted mine operation. We
stand ready to give force and effect to* this announced
policy, fully relying upon the fairness and
honesty of purpose of the participants in this joint
wage conference to ultimately bring about a settlement
of tlie wage scale."
A motion to refer the matter to a sub-committee
of one from each side and each state was voted
down. Operator Charles E. Maurer of Ohio offered
the following revised arbitration plan:
"As a substitute proposition, and one that will
absolutely settle these disputes for all time we
recommend the following:
"That, in these and all future negotiations, in
which no settlements have been reached prior to
the expiration of the existing wage agreement.
that all questions and controversies lie submitted.
without restriction, to
AN ARUITR -HON UoAl'D.
and that we agree to abide by the decision of such
board, and that pending the final decision of such
Arbitration Board the mineis continue to work
on the basis of the award of the board."
These matters were pending when adjournment
was taken to Monday, February 16. On that date
Phil Penna of the Indiana operators brought in
the following* substitute which was passed:
"We offer tlie following as a substitute for Mr.
White's proposition:
"That if an interstate agreement is arrived at
prior to April first that we jointly agree that the
mines in the various states ancl districts here
represented shall continue at work pending negotiations
of state and district contracts."
Under this decision there must be an interstate
agreement by April 1 if the miners are to effect
their new
POLICY ot No SUSPENSION,
that is if the Interstate conference reconvenes.
They could also in their policy committee of
eight or more from the 26 organized states and
districts approve renewals of the present agreements
and authorize continuance of work. Hut
another conference will be the means most favored.
On this date, Feb. 16, the conference re­
ferred all issues to a sub or scale committee of
two representatives from each state and each
side with the miners' international officials act­
ing ex-officio. The following composed the scale
committee: For the operators—George W. Schluederberg
and W. W. Keefer, Pittsburgh; E. A. Cole
and Charles E. Maurer, Ohio; Hugh Shirkie and
P. H. Penna. Indiana; W. L. Schmick and A. J.
Moorshead, Illinois. For the miners—Van Bittner
and Robert Woods, Pittsburgli; John Moore
and G. W. Savage, Ohio; William Houston and
Charles Fox, Indiana; Joseph Pope and Duncan
.McDonald. Illinois. President White of the miners
was made chairman of the committee and C.
MR. J. C. KOLSEM.
A Leader of Indiana Operators.
E. McLaughlin, of tlie Illinois operators, secretary.
Tlie sub-committee took up the issues from day
to day (ill on Feb. 24 it was ready to
REPORT DISAGREEMENT.
This wtis done the next day, when the questions
were again assigned to the committee to report
back the afternoon of Feb. 26, as previously stated.
On Feb. IS the representatives of the Eastern
Ohio operators sent out the following statement to
their constituents:
(Continued on page 55)