Evening star., 1902-08-26
J, P. MORGAN IS MAD
Resents Criticism Regarding
the Coal Strike.
is NOT USED TO IT
MEETING OF PRESIDENTS OF
COAL ROADS.
Considering Plans for Reopening the
Mines Without Conceding Any
Of Miners Demands.

Special From Stqfr Correspondent.
NEW YORK, August 2G.-The presidents
Of the railways owning and operating ;he
anthracite mines met in this city today.
The conference was for the purpose Of fur
ther strengthening their position I'm the
strike and to consider plans for reopenius
the mines. The attitude of the railway
presidents remains firm in opposition to
granting any Of the demands Of or recog-
nizing the mine workers union.
The maddest man in New York is Mr. J.
Pierpont Morgan. He is said to be very
much wrought up over the public criticism
of him for not settling the coal strike. He
is being held up to view as a kind of ogre,
and he does not relish the role.
Mr.. Morgans position is an interesting
one. Here Is man who controls the ma
jority stock of 81 per cent Of the transpor-
tation facilities between the coal mines and
the market. The public says that he can
stop the strike by giving the word. The
public is holding him responsible for con-
tinuation of the trouble and the rapidly ad-
vancing price of coal.
Unusual Situation for Mr.. Morgan.
Mr. Morgan has been accustomed TO re-
ceiving the praise and adulation Of men.
1t is something new for him to stand as a
target for the fusilade OF harsh criticism
which is being poured into him His friends
say that he is worried. They do not know
however, whether Mr.Morgan can be driven
into yielding 10 the clamor. The railway
presidents insist that he will not
A pathetic feature of the situation is the
presence in New York of a delegation Of
three members of the civic federation Of
Hazelton. who are haunting the ante-rooms
of the railway magnates with a petition
that the strike be stopped. With almost
childlike faith in the ability of Mr. Morgan
to end the situation. which is harassing
half million people in the anthracite
region they stand around awaiting an op-
portunity to implore him to give the word.
Morgan Meets Baer.
AT O'Clock this afternoon President Baer
Of the Reading railway, and the man di-
rectly in charge of the strike in behalf OF
the operators, called at Mr.. Morgan's Of
fee, and had conference with that gentle
man.
He then went back to his own office iii
Liberty street, where he met President
Truesdae of the Lackawanna, Fowler cf
the Ontario and Western and Thomas of
the Erie. The railway presidents then re-
sumed their conference which was begun
this morning.
Mr.. Morgan Sent word to the railway
presidents that something must be done to
put end TO the strike. He said he was
tired of being the butt of public criticism.
"oIeoNci, ut ldS lllltItSlS lar more STU
pendous than the anthracite coal railway
interests, which are in delicate condi-
ton.
They ought not to be imperiled by a pos
slble outbreak Of public sentiment against
him. 1t is not to be understood that Mr.
Morgan counseled yielding to the Mine
Workers Union. His demand was that the
strike must come to an end, and suggested
reopening the mines. That Is in line with
the views of the railway presidents.
Mr.. Baer believes that 1t is possible to
make a grand coup within a short time
opening a number of large collieries stimuli
taneously. The railway presidents were
still in session at a late hour this after
noon.
1t is generally believed in Wall street
that todays meeting will have a great deal
of significance. 1t is probable that i'm
portant developments will occur later in the
week In the mining region through at
tempts to reopen the mines. N o. NJ