The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-05
LOOKS LIKE ASTRIKE
CONCIIhSfIoN COMMITTEE ACCOM-
PLISHED NOTHING.
MINERS TO DECIDE THIS WEEK
MIR. HANNA DISCUSSES THE AN
THRACITE SITUATION.

President MitcheIl's Statement
Forecasts It's Report-The Bring
ing Together of the Operators ana
the Miners Representatives DID
Good, He Thinks-He Shows the Pc
cu1iar Features of the Situation
Are Such rs to Make 1t Unlikely
That Any Agreement VIII De
Reached.
Philadelphia, May 4.-Senator Hanna,
in an interview to-day with a reporter
for the Associated Press, characterized
the situation in the anthracite coal
region as extremely delicate. and for
that reason said it would be unwise
for him to express an opinion as TO
the probable result of the meeting of
the Executive Committee of the
United Mine Workers for the three an
thracite districts called for next We'd
nesday at Scranton. Pa, by National
President John Mitchell. Senator Han
ma said he was officially notified to-
day by Ralph NJ. Easley, secretary of
the National Civic Federation, of the
statement issued last night by Presi-
dent Mitchell in New York. He i'm
mediately wired Mr.. Easley, instruct
ing him TO refrain from calling another
meeting of the Cancellation Committee,
as that procedure would be useless in
view of the latest developments.
Senator Hanna said he had been
awaiting a report from the sub-com-
mittee of the Cancellation committee,
anticipated it, The work of the con-
Citation committee was ended, said the
senator. when it brought together the
operators and the representatives of
the miners union and he added that
nothing more could be done unless
there were some new developments.
Conferences Were Satisfactory.
II want to emphasize the fact" con-
tinued Senator Hanna, that the con-
ferences between the operators and
miners were satisfactory. Three con-
ferences were held and the proceedings
were conducted in the best spirits
think the operators formed favorable
impression of Mr.. Mitchell and gave
him credit for honesty and sincerity in
his efforts to change the conditions of
the miners. On the other hand, Mr.
Mitchell appreciated the consideration
shown him and the interests he rep
resents. Unless a bitter and protracted
strike should occur, l believe much
good Will come out of the conferences
/ am of the opinion that they will lead
to better conditions between capital
and labor
Il am in favor of meetings between
employer and employees to consider
differences. 1 want the people to
thoroughly understand the position Of
the civic federation. 1t can do only
two things-exert its influence to pre-
vent strike, or arbitrate when a rup-
ture has occurred, at the request of
both parties to the dispute In this
case the civic federation has done all
within its province 1t brought to-
| gether, through it's Cancellation ..ona-
mittee, the representatives of the min
ers' union and the operators.
In the evolution of things rapidly
taking place in this country the con-
ference of employers and employees is
one of the conditions that must nee
essarily be a part of it. The progress
and development of our Industries
must be accompanied by the develop
ment and improvement of the labor
ing class"
Asked if the civic federation expe-
rienced any difficulty in arranging the
conferences between the operators and
tie miners, Senator Hanna said:
The Anthracite Situation.
ION the contrary, found oper-
ators quite willing to go half way in
this matter. They are all sensible.
broad-gauge business men, who, while
they desire to protect their own in
terests. are wise enough to see the
drift of things
THE peculiar situation of the an
thracite mining industry" continued
the Senator, makes the proposition
most difficult. The combinat ton of The
railroad and mining interests brings
forward the question of tonnage, and
this with treatened competition from
the enormous production of bituminous
COAL constitute matters which must be
considered. This is the foundation of
the operators argument. 1t is not a
mere selfish interest that impels them
to the stand they have taken but the
proposition is difficult to explain to the
rank and file Of the workers in and
about the mines 1t is my hope that
when they are educated to understand
these conditions they may be consider
ate and not be governed by prejudice
in future actions.
'If my advice had been followed
longer time would have been had be-
fore the present crisis arrived, and
these things could have been explained
and better understood. President
Mitchells statement was FASTENED by
the fact that scraps of informa ton
were given to the public. embarrassing
him with his men. When it is consid-
cred that two-thirds of the mine work.
ers are foreigners, speaking six, eight
or ten different languages, it can be
readily understood that they are diff
cult to control"
TO DECIDE AT SCRANTON