The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-25
Mitchell and McVeagh Meet
in Washington To- day.
WHATSlN The WIN NDNOW?
The Miners Represen'ativ, Believe the Com
panies Have Something to Offer --'ndepoI.-
dent Operators to Meet Coal Roads
PreSidel I; in New York.
Presidel t; in New York.
BY the Associated Press.) )

Scranton, Pa, Nov. 24.-The scenes of
the strike settlement negotiations have
been suddenly shifted from this city to
Washington and New York. Tomorrow
the committee of nine of the independent
operators expect to hold conference
with the presidents of the coar carrying
roads regarding the position of the in
diVidual companies and at the same time
meeting between Wayne MacVeagh
and possibly other attorneys represent
ing the road roads, and President
Mitchell and his attorneys will be held
in the national capital. Scranton ami
the entire coal regions will, in the mean
time, wait with considerable interest to
hear what the Thanksgiving offering
will be.
The New York conference has been
known for twenty -four hours, though the
Washington meeting was decided upon
this evening. The Independents have
gone to New York to find out what the
large companies can do for them IN the
way of freight rates in case an increase
in wages is decided upon.- The mine
workers representative Wetn to Wash
ington to find out wat the large com-
panies had to offer. Both ardently wish
for success, but it was not within their
power to say what will be the outcome.
Although the miners representatives
did not know why they We're summoned
to Washington, they believe the COM
panies have something to offer. Wayne
MacVeagh was in telegraphic communi-
cation at noon with Clarence S. Darrow,
Mr.. Mitchell's leading attorney, and later
Mr.. MacVeagh called him UP on the
long distance telephone from Philadel-
phia. MIR. MacVeagh said he wished to
have conference with Mr. Mitchell and
himself, but as he was not feeling we'll.
he desired that they all meet in WASH
fngton tomorrow instead of Scranton.
Mr.. Darrow said that Mr.. MacVeagh
did not tell him what he wanted the con-
ference for, but he felt that Mr. Mac
Veagh would not summon them to the
national capital il he were not clothed
with authority to carry on negotiations.
Mr.. Mitchells party left here at Abs
p. m, and are due to arrive in Washing
ton at 2:50 a. m. The mission of the
Independent operators to New York is
best expressed in a statement made to
the Associated Press today by one of
the representatives of the small com
panies, Wso said:
THE Independent companies are pay
ing the miners as much now as they can
afford, and If an increase in wages is
granted by the large companies the large
companies must give the Independents a
lower freight rate to meet the increase
in wages. This is tl1e mission of the
committee. If they refuse to make a
concession in freight rates or it's equiv
alcnt then it is probable the defendant
companies will insist upon the whole
matter being threshed out before the
commission
The outlook for q settlement remains
hopeful, in fact, more hopeful than ever.
Conversations with attorneys, coal oper-
ators and mine workers show that all
are wearying of the strife and are willing
to waive a point here and there in order
to end the uncertainty of the situation
and restore peace and harmony TO the
community and the coal trade generally.
The Cancellation" or sub committee of
the commission, Messrs. Parker, Wat
kins and Clark, was at headquarters all
day, but was not called upon to offer
it's conciliatory assistance to either
side.