The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-19

The presidents of the three anthra-
cite districts are now in the city, and
with National President John Mitchell
viii formulate method Of attempting
TO secure the attendance of the oper-
ators at the conference of April |. The
four We're in session yesterday after
noon at the st. Charles hotel. but their
meeting was behind closed doors and
was entirely of u secret nature.
President Mitchell felt seriously in
disposed, as the result OF a severe cold.
ana last night refused 60 see anyone.
n number of incidentals to the April 1
resolution will be taken action upon by
the national and district presidents.
Meetings will be called of the district
boards, and nothing left undone to Sc
cure the attendance of the operators.
If the latter refuse to attend the con-
ference. judging from the present out
look u strike is almost inevitable.
The situation has now simmercd
down to a point at which the mine
workers officials demand recognition.
and while no assertion has been as yet
made that the renewal of last fairs
offer Is not satisfactory from a none
tary standpoint. statements We're made
to a Tribune man yesterday by Presi-
dents Thomas Duffy. of District ::
John Fahy, of No. 2. and T. -. Mich
| oils. of No. ], that something more
| tangible than mere notices Is required
| and nothing short of n joint conference
! can adjust the numerous petty gricv-
anCes entertained.
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD.
| After the meetings of the district
boards. u session of the national ex-
ecutive board will he called by Presi-
! dent Mitchell. This may be held in
| Wilkes Barre, and will take place dur
| ing the latter part of the month. The
| board consists of eleven members.
| President Mitchell. President r.
| u. Lewis Secretary w. Is. Wilson and
| Frederick DilCher are four of these. A.
majority vote will cause a strike, If
| the operators refuse to appear at the
| conference.
National Organizer Christopher Ev-
| ans, of Ohio. arrived in the city ves-
! tcrday afternoon. and each day will
now mark the arrival of more of the
mine workers leaders. President Mitcn-
| ell will be closeted with the district
| presidents this morning ana Afternoon.
| President Duffy, Of District :. when
| last night interrogated by Tribune
man regarding the feeling in his region.
| said: MY instructions are short and
/ sweet. Theyare conference or strike 4"
| President Fahy. of District .. said
In my district the mine workers con-
slider the action of the operators an
! affront, in that they have ignored the
! invitations proffercd i'm all courtesy
hot L.;
! way clear to meet with us, as the
| proposition which was to have been
! submitted was so fair that the oper-
ators could not have failed To be inn
pressed by it.
'The notices posted are unsatisfac-
tory, as they are not definite enough
They have no bearing ON the smaller
grievances entertained, and of these
latter there are many which can be ad-
iusted by nothing save a Joint con-
ference. The men OF No. . are willing
10 abide by the resolution passed Sat
urday. We would rather avoid "A
strike, hut in certain cases it is the
only remedy"
WHAT NICHOLAS SAID.
Pre- sidcnt y. ID. Nichols. of District
No. ], emphatically declared to a Trib-
une man yesterday that unless the
operators meet with the Mine Work
ers April | there will be a strike. lie
said:
| From now until the end of the
month, President Mitchell and the
other Mine Workers officials will bend
all efforts towards perSuading the
operators to attend the conference and
thus prevent g strike. We will leave
nothing undone which can possibly
avert a suspension of work in the an
thraCite field.
The opera tors action i'm declaring a
continuance of the ten per cent in
cree Sc is not enough. We have asked
for conference, as we believe that
only by joint session CT employers
and employees can many of the griev-
ances entertained be done away with
We need an adjustment Of many mat
ters, and while | firmly believe that
the companies could pay an advance
in wages even greater than that giver
last year. still the greatest grievance
entertained is not the amount OF
wages raid, but the inequality which
exists in the scales of different com,
panies.
This and other grievances enter.
tanned by the men can be settled by
nothing save conference and a mu,
tual understanding between both par.
ties. If We could obtain from the
operators signed agreement GOVERNS
all the phases of the question, IL would
prove an eifcctual means of settlement
and entirely do away with all the lit,
tie strikes occurring during the year.
DlLCHER EMPHATIC.
National Committeeman Fred Dill
1lHGk DnMNHA