New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-04
MUST STRIKE OR GIVE IN.
MINERS AND OPERATORS COMMITTEES
CANNOT AGREE
RECOGNITION OF UNION ROCK on WHICH
THEY SPLIT-CIVIC FEDERATION
CAN Do NOTHING NOW

CAN DO NOTHING NOW
The committees of the United Mine Workers
aud the coal operators, which have met under
the auspices of the National Civic Federation
to try to bring about settlement of the an
thracite miners demands have failed to agree
on any point. All negotiations are now off, and
the executive committees of the three anthracite
districts will meet in Scranton. Penn, next
Wednesday and vote on the question of ordering
a general strike involving 147O0O miners
President John Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers made the following official statement
last night in the Ashland House:
The subcommittee of operators and miners
selected by the industrial branch of the Ma
uo,h civic Federation failed to reach an agree
ment non any of the important issues en-
bodied IN the miners scale adopted by the
tees Of the three anthracite coal districts of the
United Mine Workers Of America, in whom is
vested authority to inaugurate strike, have
hcen notified 70 assemble AZ Scranton. Penn, at
lo a. m on Wednesday, May :.
This committee has twenty-eight members.
and should majority Of them vote in favor of
a strike, the entire 1470OO miners will immedi-
ately respond.
Mitchell said that the Civic Federation did all
that it could he expected 10 do through its con-
ciIiation committee 10 avert strike. He did
not see how another meeting under its auspices
could accomplish anything.
The next thing it can do" he continued, is
to bring in the officers of its arbitration COM
mittee when the strike is declared Before it
can do this it is necessary for both sides TO
agree to arbitration
DO you believe there will be a striker he
Was asked.
Well. gentlemen" he said looking al the re-
porters. Il admit that the situation looks very
threatening We have reached no agreement
on any point. and all that can be said to bring
about settlement has been done l shall re-
main here until Tuesday. The executive COM
mittee ol jNenty-eight miners has some home"
Mitchell insisted that the meeting with the
labor delegates would have been recognition of
the union if an agreement had been reached.
The delegation of miners forming the eXecu-
tive committee of the three anthracite DISTRICTS
when seen early in the day. would not Look on
the fact that the operators were willing to talk
with committees representing the union as full
recognition They wanted the union explicitly
and officially recognized in all settlements. and
this being refused the committee after long
conference with Mitchell. decided TO return. and
carried out its decision late yesterday after
noon. Mitchell and two of the presidents Of
the anthracite districts will remain here at least
until Tuesday
The representatives Of the miners looked very
much disappointed yesterday before they went
away. and sat about in groups in the hall and
parlors OF the Ashland House. trying 10 take
their disappointment philosophically. They ad-
mitted that their mission had failed. and that
a strike or a baCkdown was the only alternative
= member of the executive committee made the
following statement a Tribune reporter:
our mission here was to present our side Of
the case, and We have done our hest and tried
TO conduct ourselves like gentlemen. but our
fsT11 11yA.l
recognition there can be no settlement of our
case. We are now returning to our homes and
meetings will be called in the different districts
next Wednesday, at which we will report the
result Of our mission. and il is not our fault if
nothing has been accomplished Without full
recognition or the union we could not state our
case, as We came here the unions representa-
tives. We want the public to understand that
we have done share in the interests of
peace. We do not want to act raShIv Ii is IN
to the union. through the executive committee
now to declare a strike or not, am sorry we
have To so back without ACCOMPLISHING anv-
thing. but we did the best we knew how.
We'll, there's no use in crying over spilled
milk" said another member of the committee
named Hartlein We have got to take matters
as they come"
Mitchell arrived from Washington early i'm
the forenoon, and was in conference with Ralph
NJ Easley, secretary Of the Civic Federation for
short time He then spent an hour or two
comforting behind closed doors with the dele
gates from the mining districts. When the con-
ference was over the delegates began at once to
pack their gripsacks and make preparations for
leaving. They all looked discouraged.
Secretary Easley of the Civic Federation could
not be seen yesterday by reporters, He kept
away from his office. and sent telegram stat
ing that he would not be back until Monday
Later he called for his gripsack He could not
he found at his house. hut was seen late last
night and had comment TO make on the
situation.
oscar $. Straus. who is of the most en-
thusiastiC members of the cancellation commit
tee Of the Civic Federation did not care to talk
on the subject of the change in the plans of the
delegates yesterday. Regarding the calling of
another meeting of the conciliaton committee
and Of the committee of seven coal operators
and miners he said
THE understanding was that another meet
ing Of the conciliation committee OF the Civic
Federation and the committee of seven could be
called If both sides TO the dispute asked for IT,
So far the request for the meeting has not been
made and until it is made the conference can
not be called
Nr Straus did not care to discuss the new |
phase of the situation.
The widely renowned steward Mr. Louis Mella |
has engaged with the Northern Steamship Company |
10 look after the cuisine on steamers North West