The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-30
Mysterious Meeting Held in
 Hotel in Philadelphia
OFFICERS REFUSE 10 TALK
A Member of the Party. However, Says Something of Importance
 Is Up for Dlscusslon-Evey-
 thing Quiet in Coal Field.

Philadelphia. September 29.--A mysteri- ops conference took place in this city today between President Mitchell of the United Mine Workers of America, Sec retary Treasurer W. B. Wilson, District Presidents Nichols Duffy and Fahy and another person whose identity the parties to the conference refused to divulge. At the office of the Philadelphia and Read ing Railway company it was stated posi- lively that no official of that company had been present at the meeting.
 A member of MT. Mitchelrs party, who declined to allow the use of his name, made the following statement:
 Any one can readily understand that only a matter of the first importance in relation to the strike would bring Prosi- dent Mitchell, Secretary Wilson and Dis- trict Presidents Nichols, Duffy and Fahy, who form the executive board of the United Mine Workers, to this city to- gether There must necessarily be con the coal operating interests before the strike can be settled.'
 Messrs. Mitchell and Wilson arrived here early today from Pittsburg where they had held a conference last Friday. The three district presidents and J. J. Keegan, business agent of the lnterna- tional Association of Machinists met the miners chief at the railroad station.
 Mysterious Meeting.
 After a hasty breakfast the party pro- ceeded to the office of MT. Keegan. Af- ter remaining there about thirty min utes President Mitchell went to the Hotel Walton and was shown to a private room. Later he summoned his associates and the five miners officials were there closeted with the mysterious parsonage for nearly three hours.
 At the conclusion of the conference MT. Mitchell and the three district presidents left over the Pennsylvania railroad for Wilkesbarre and Secretary Wilson de- parted for Indianapolis. Senator Quay was not in the city and Senator Pen rose denied having any communication directly or indirectly with MT. Mitchell. Before leaving the city MT. Wilson said:
 You can state emphatically that Mir. Mitchelrs visit has nothing to do with politics and Is without political signifi- cance"
 President Mitchell declined positively to make any statement concerning the object of his visit here.
 l
 Scranton, Pa, September 29.-In re- markable contrast to last Monday and l the Monday preceding, today was wholly | free from strike disturbances.
 Sheridan troops of Tyrone. with sixty men, arrived today and are now encamped on the hillside above the Thirteenth reg iment location. Tonight the cavalry went up the valley to patrol the more distant localities where violence has been wont l to occur
 Markle Contradicts Mitchell.
 New York, September 29.-John Markle. the coal operator, discussing today the statement President Mitchell made yes- terday, said:
 MT Mitchell is not voicing the senti- ment of the majority of the miners in the anthracite coal fields when he says the sentiment of the miners is against returning to work All his statements have been refuted by the facts already given out by the operators"
 But what is New York to do for | coal?" he was asked.
 ''If condition of anarchy existed now in New York what would you want? You would want the troops called out and i protection afforded you said Mir. Mar | kle. That Is what we want. Give us protection and we will give you all the coal you want"
 Asked whether the influence of the Catholic societies and other societies would have any effect in changing the policy of the operators MT. Markle said: "On the contrary. their endeavors will have but one tendency--to prolong the strike. The well-meant efforts of these philanthropio people will only inspire the miners with hope and induce them to hold out a little while longer, to their own detriment. They will only protract the period of coal scarcity
 MT. Mitchell's organization will not be | recognized under any circumstances" l There Is still no fixed price for coal in 1 New York. Some dealers were selling i anthracite at SIS a ton today, others as low as $14 and $15. The price generally asked for soft coal was $9 a ton.