The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-20

sort will be done regarding these last
communications, however, as the ma
| tority OF letters will be sent direct to
New York headquarters, and President
Mitchell yesterday stated to a Tribune
man that it would not be practical to
leave for the metropolis before receiv-
ing assurance that they would be
granted interviews with the operators
at the metropolis.
President Mitchell also denied that
he had any intention of leaving this
city with a number Of the local officers
for New York. in order TO there secure
mediary between the operators and
mine workers officials.
The national president was in ses-
sion with the three district presidents
all morning and part of the afternoon,
the proceedings being conducted behind
closed doors at the mine workers
headquarters National Committeeman
Frederick DiIcher and Secretary John
T. Dempsey, of District No. l. were
also present during part of the meet
ing. During the morning the plan OF
notifying the operators OF the action
of the convention and the approval OF
the district officers was proposed and
discussed.
A form of notice was drawn up, and
at the afternoon session, which was OF
but short duration, was adopted. While
the gst of the communication was
made public, President Mitchell de-
clined to give out "A copy of II, until
once the missives have reached their
destinations. Other matters relating TO
method of bringing about the oper-
ators' attendance. April l. and peace
ful adjustment of the difficulties were
also discussed by the four presidents.
WHAT MITCHELL SAID.
President Mitchell was seen in his
rooms at the st. Charles hotel by a
Tribune man. shortly after the days
second session. The severe cold which
troubled him Monday was still bother
ing him somewhat, but he appeared In
| much better health, on the whole, than
on the preceding day.
On being asked by The Tribune
man whether there was any possibility
Of the operators being approached
through q third party and their at
tendance at the conference Of April
| thus solicited. the young leader of the
Mine Workers looked rather surprised
| and declared that the only intimation
| he had received of any such move
ment was what he saw in yesterdays
| dailies:
NO plans of intermediation.' he
| said, have been as yet discussed by
| the Mine Workers officials. How
! ever, i'm the course of developments.
we would be only too glad to avail
| ourselves of any means of bringing
| about the end which We are trying
| To establish.
The report that I intend going to
| New York with some of the local Of
| ficials is entirely unfounded. as there
would be no possible Use in our going
there unless we knew We would be
ravorably received by those interested
in the coal properties"
When asked what he thought of the
opinion expressed by the Wilkes
Barre operators. reported as declaring
that the companies as corporate bodies
refused to have any dealings with the
Mine Workers, which are not such.
President Mitchell slightly smiled and
then deliberately answered: 81 do not
think much of that preteNt."
NOT ANXIOUS FOR STRIKE.
In answer to another query regard =
ing the reported dissatisfaction of the
miners in the Schuylkill valley and
their aversoEess to strike, President
Mitchell calmly said: II do not ques-
tion those reports. In fact, | do not
think anyone is anxious to strike. The
miIers are all unwilling to suspend
work. but still they favor an adjust
ment of the prevailing conditions. and
realize that the effcctual method by
which to secure This is a joint con
; ference.
THE men are all in favor OF a uni
form scale being paid for the same
, class of work ~ the different colliert <.
They believe that an hours work in
Scranton is of the same value aS an
hours work in ShamGkin or elsewhere
and this is one of the phases of the
mining question which demands tn"
consideration of a joint conference"
Although pressed for some opinion
regarding the possible outcome of the
situation. President Mitchell refused
to give any statement and merely re-
marked that he did not wish to make
any predictions. He will be in this city
for several more days. and will daily
consult with the district presidents,
No date has been yet fixed for a
meeting OF the national board. The
place and time of session are left Ia
President Mitchell. and he yesterday
said that he had not determined when
to call it.
|