The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-09
LESS DANGER OF A STRIKE
President Mitchell's Reported So
luton Of the Mining Troubles.
A Method said ia Have Been Found
Whereby the Difficulties VIII BE
Compromised After an Apparent
Fight Between the Two Interests.

WILKEsBARRE. March S.-The pros
sect of a strike of the anthracite miners
BOW l. more remote than at any time
Since the invitation for a 3oint confer
once of the operators and miners was is
sued This does not mean that the oper-
Rters are going 20 accept the invitation
and attend the conference. because all in
hications are to the contrary, but it
means that a way will be found for
avoiding both a strike and a joint con-
ference.
1t is understood that President John
lfEtxil1n. .If-- United hEsrrz Nt-eElSe,r.s,
GAS solved the problem, and that he is
acting on an understanding with the men
IN control of the railroads and the mines.
This Will result. so it is believed. in an
apparent fight between the operators and
the union. in which the operators will re-
fuse 10 attend the joint conference and
the union will insist upon certain con-
cessions.
In the end an agreement will be reached
which will be satisfactory to both sides
and leave the conditions about as they
are now, the miners still getting the 10
per cent over the wages paid before the
last strike. The programme, So far as
can be learned, is not to recognize the
union, but so to adjust a number of the
smaller grievances. local at each mine, as
10 satisfy the workers.
There is no desire on either side for
strike, and as the operators have all the
work they can do, the miners are max
ing better time and more wages than
they have for years, and the majority
are quite willing to continue doing as
they have done for the last few months.
There are some who believe that the time
has nfFTna ffT he mic
but they are in the minority and the
conservative element Will probably carry
the day
Meanwhile the large concerns. factories
and others who use much coal are TAX
ing no chances, and are putting in as
large stock as they believe they can
handle in the event Of a strike. The
companies are working full time but are
somewhat crippled by the scarcity of
water, compelling the shutting down of
many cOlieries.
with labor leaders here show that they
are hopeful that present difficulties be-
tween the mine owners and the miners
VIII not lead to d tie-up.
National Organizer Dilcher and Score
tary DEMPSEY, Of the local union, have
just completed tour of the Offices of the
local operators for the purpose of in
wiling them to attend the Hazleton con-
Vention on Friday next.
We have met with a kindly reception
and much encoura cement, said Mr..
Dilcher tonight, although we received no
actual promises from anyone that they
would be there. We had a particularly
favorable reception at the office of Su-
2erintendent +. e. LOOMS, of the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western road"
Despite the dispatches from hard coal
towns, there is a strong belief here that
there will be no strike. 1t is believed
that the coming negotiations Of operators
and miners will be the soft coal region
experience over again Both sides are
now asking for more than they expect to
get in order to pave the way for a COM
promise and thu strong probability is that
the present wage scale will continue for
another year