New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-28

MINERS AGREE TO POSTPONE
ACTION THIRTY DAYS.
SENATOR HANNA AND PRESIDENT
MITCHELL BOTH HOPEFUL THAT
NENT CONFERENCE WILL
MEAN PEACE.

The representatives. Of the United Mine Work
ers consented yesterday to withdraw for thirty
DAYS the order for a provisional strike in the
anthracite district. This done at the con-
ference in the Church Mission Building, No. 2Sl
Fourth-ave. where representatives Of the coal
operators stated their side Of the case. This
truce was agreed on pending an attempt to set
, tie the differences Another meeting will he
called by Senator Hanna within thirty days
Hy the terms Of the provisional strike order, the
anthracite miners were to suspend work three
! days week after April if their demands We're
not granted by then. until date was fixed for
a general strike.
The meeting Yesterday was attended 10y the
same members of the cOnCtliation committee or
the National civic Federation that attended
Wednesdays session. John Mitchell. president
Of the United Mine Workers and his three col
leagues. and the following representatives Of
the coal operators. T.. +. Thomas. chairman Of
the board Of the Erie Railroad. George L. Raer
president Of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail
road. W. II. Truesdac. president of the Della
ware. Lackawanna and Western Railroad, and
Robert NJ Oyphant president Of the Delaware
and Hudson Canal Company. The meeting be
gan at 1890 n. m. and lasted for about four
and a half hours. The demand for the eight
hour workday was strongly objected TO by the
employers on the ground that il would mean
big increase Of wages under the wage scale de-
manded
PRESIDENTS GIVE THEIR SIDE.
After a few words from Senator Hanna and
bishop Potter the four railroad presidents
gave their reasons FOR opposing the demands
and Mr Mitchell and his colleagues gave their
reasons for making them. When the suggestion
to ~aII off the provisional strike for thirty days
was made, Mr. Mitchell wanted a guarantee
that the operators would not accumulate
stock or coal I'm the mean time. The operators
would make no pledges saying that they were
I'm the hands Of their customers.
When he meeting adjourned Senator Hanna
said to a Tribune reporter that the committee
had made more progress in the way of bringing
about peace
Everything is highly satisfactory" he con
tnued. We have had preliminary meeting
which paves the way for negotiations. There
viii he an adjournment, during which both sides
can consider what was done to-day before they
meet again which will he within thirty days"
Asked whether the outlook for a settlement
better than the day before. the Senator
said. witt great emphasis: - great deal bet
teri" Senator Hanna then started for Wash
ington on the Congressional Limited.
President Truesdale OF the Delaware. IackA-
wanna ard Western Railroad was seen IN his
downtown office He said shat there We're three
principal points of difference between the opera
tors and the miners.
The first point" he continued is the threat
Of the miners to suspend operations for three
days in the week, whether their demands were
granted or not. which would have been taking
a unfair advantage Of us. The second was the
eight hour demand, which would. with the scale
Of wages demanded. mean an advance of
from 20 10 - per cent out Of the f43 900
talked Of as miners there are thirty-six thou
sand real miners. These work four or five
hours daily blasting out and preparing the
coal and their assistants come afterward but
work more hours. The average, however. is
not more than ten hours per day. The third
point on which we differ from the miners IS
our belief that as in the past. II is better 10
deal with committees Of our own men than with
outside committees. We make no distinction as
To whether they union non-union men
We do not want the union to run things. how
ever"
TELEGRAM FROM MITCHELL.
The following telegram was sent last evening
by President Mitchell of the United Mine Work
crs to the secretaries of the anthracite districts:
We held conference with presidents coal carry
ing railroads and COncilidtion committee OF Ma
tional civic Federation to-day After discussing
situation civic Federation requested postpone
ment OF action for period OF not to exceed thirty
days within which time operators agree 10 meet
u in conference with National Civic Federation
for purpose Of trying to reconcile the differences
between us. In mean time mines are to continue i'm
at issue will be satisfactorily adjusted and strike
averted Notify all mine workers to defer aCtiou
upon resolutions adopted at Shamokn convention.
JOHN MITCHELL.
THOMAS bUFFY.' u ''i-'''