The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-24
COAL MEN DESIRE PEACE.
TR1ITe TO BRING LEBTsH VALLEY or
FICI<Ls AND EMPLOYERS TOGETHER.

esuse OF Their PeeuIisr Csutrsets with
the LshiGh valley Rsiiross Co-p-ny-
Estsraes Cosfsrsness with the STRIKERS
:. the Hope OF s.euri-e . Settlement
President wnbur noe. Not Seen 20 Eu
soursGs the Plan Afuch-Sstuor Acts OF VITO.
isres Bseor.iss Frea-ert-The situ-tios
WnKEsBARRE Nov. 23.-There Ia movement
| on foot tonight. engineered by the largest In
dividual coal operators in the Wyoming VALLEY.
to bring about meeting between President
Wilbur Of the LehiRh Valley Railroad and the
Grievance Committee Of the striking employ
ees. The operators are probably the best
customers that the Lehigh Valley Railroad
have. They are represented by Simpson and
Watkins Of Scranton. and they have been in
consultation nearly all day with committee
OF the strikers here at Music Hall. Mr.. Watkins
is the operator who called on Superintendent
o. o. Esser In this city on last Monday after
noon, and he assured TIE BUN correspondent
after that visit that the coal operators would
use their best endeavors to bring the strike to
an end. They would throw their influence he
said. for whichever aide In the struggle they
found. upon investigation. to be right. after
the Walt to Mr.. Esser. Mr. Esser said that as
soon as he had explained to Mr.. Watkins the
company's position In the matter. Mr.. Watkins
psny could take any other than the stand they
had taken.
TIE SUN correspondent late to- light inter.
viewed Mr. Rollin II. Wilbur over the long dis.
lance telephone. Mr.. Wilbur asserted that o
committee OF the coal operators had conferred
with him. and he had received no word from
Messrs. Simpson aid Watkins or from
anybody else. Later. Mr.. w. II. Lathrop
the general superintendent OF the Lehlgh
Valley Coal Company. was interviewed and he
said that he knew that Mr.. Watkins and Mr.
Simpson had been in consultation with officers
OF the company. He said further that one Of
the most prominent coal operators in the val.
ley went to Bethlehem to-day and had n per-
sonal conference with President Wilbur.
He received such treatment that he came
away. believing that there was no possibility
OF hoping for an end OF the trouble through
any concession on the part OF Mr.. Wilbur.
Mr.. Simpson was also communicated with
later tonight. All he would say was: 1T ia
unnecessary for me to say anything at the
present time"
To-day, while a mass meeting OF the men
was In session In Music Hall. the representa-
tives OF the operators called and asked to see
John Rice the Chairman OF the Brotherhood
OF Locomotive Engineers. At IL o'clock they
were locked In q room with Mr.. Rice. James
Marty. Chairman OF the Firemen's Brother
hood in wilkesbarre. and others OF the strlk-
ers. The conference lasted until l o'clock.
When It was over Rice went into the mass
meeting. and IN q speech to tho men he said
that great influence was being brou ght to bear
on the Lehigh Valley officials and he predict
ed that the men would be successful In the
struggle within twenty -four hours.
That prediction. however, was probably
made to encourage the men more than any
thing else. and 1t was not warranted by what
occurred at the conference. The representa-
tive OF the operators would not say anything
about the conference. bnt reported that there
might be important news later At 4 o'clock
again the operators met Messrs Rice and
Marry and Grand Chief Wilkinson OF the
Brotherhood OF Conductors and Assistant
Grand Chief Youngston OF the Brotherhood OF
Engineers in q parlor OF the Wyoming Valley
Hotel. Wilkinson and YounRston had arrived
in the city a little while before from Phiade-
phia. The door OF the parlor was locked until
o'clock. when a delegation Of the strikers
called and were admitted. After that strikers
came and went until . o'clock. when the con-
ference was adjourned Messrs. Watkins and
Simpson went back to Scranton at once. They
said the situation was encouraging.
1t was learned that they reported to the rail-
road men that between the first and second
conference they had communicated with
General Manager Voorhees,. General Eastern
Wilbur and Vice. President
Hartshorn by long distance telephone. but the
communication was not very satisfactory
owing to the poor condition OF the wires
What little they had been able to get thew
ported. was OF a very favorable nature. They
had tried to get President Wilbur. hut he had
gone to Philadelphia. and would not return to
South Bethlehem until this evening" They
spent the afternoon listening to the strik ers'
side Of the story. and learning exactly how
far the men would 60 in tho line OF bringing
about compromise. When they left 1t was
with the intention OF communicating tonight
by long-distance telephone with President
Wilbur They are to find out exactly how far
he will 60. and will then use their good in
fuence to bring about an Rmicable settlement.
II such a thing Is possible.
The coal operators have an immense inter-
est at STAKE In the strike as well as their en-
1t is understood. with the Lehigh Valley Rail-
road Company to furnish to the company tho
carries the coal 10 tide water and does
the selling OF IL there itself. II gives the oper-
because OF The strike tn" operators not only !
lose their profits In possible sales but largo |
part OF TIE necessary income Tor running
the mine i was in oporstion. f6e biggest item
Ot this expense is pumping, Every pump now |
represents a dead loss II is not likely that II |
Will he known before morning what Is the |
result OF the conference with President Will |
bur- and II IL not known what concessions, II |
any. the men said they were willing 70 make. |
IL is known that a foolish so-called dignity IL
all that stands In the way Of settlement, and
that both sides suffer from II to very large
degree.
Mr.. ioungston said to THE Sun CORE
spondent tonight: 1.-THE men retain their
position so far as the sending OF another com
lnlttes TO Mr.. Wilbur Il concerned; No com
miitee VIII go 10 MIR. Wilbur until they get an
invitation" Mr., Houngston also said he had
not the least idea what u conference would
bring forth. II was not OF the mems seeking.
h"ugh. OF course. they want the matter set
lied Ihry are not looking for any rompro-
mise, and maintain that the position they hold
now AMI mat they have held from the nrst Is
4 lust and equitable one
Besides this formal conference OF the opera
lors with the strikers there was another con-
Ierence here to-day of coal operators, IL was
wholly Informal, IL lasted an hour and the
SITUATION was gone over and plans were dis
;ussed abont the prospect OF getting connec-
ION hetween the mines and some OF the coal
ARRIVING roads other than the lehiEh valley.
y WAS generally assumed that II the strike on
ne Lehigh continued. and the operators were
lnable 10 get their proOuct 10 tide water mat
Lehigh.
Although the Lehlgh Is the natural outlet of
ne mines represented at this conference,
many OF the mines ARC within short dis