New-York tribune., 1902-06-12
WRIGHT FINISHES HIS TASK
GETS MANY FACTS AT CONFERENCE
WITH OPERATORS.
COMMISSIONER DENIES HE HAS SAID HE
HAS PLAN OF SETTLEMENT.

COMMISSIONER DENIES HE HAS SAID HE
HAS A PLAN OF SETTLEMENT.
Carroll D. Wright, United States Commis-
sioner of Labor. yesterday finished his investiga
ton of the strike of the anthracite miners He
had a conference early in the day lasting over
two hours in the office of the Ontario and West
ern Railroad with President Truesdale Of the
Delaware. Lackawanna and Western Railroad.
President Fowler Of the Ontario and Western
Railroad and John Markle an independent
operator. Mr.. Markle represented the fnde-
pendent operators at the conferences before the
conciliation and arbitration committees of the
Civic Federation. and was empowered 10 act as
their representative yesterday.
Mr. Wright told the operators that his mission
here simply to get all the data possible re-
Sarding the strike. both from the miners and the
operators. In this he was acting under the
instructions of President Roosevelt. in accord
ance with the law creating the Department OF
Labor He said that he not there as an
arbitrator. aid he wished it TO be understood
that neither he nor President Roosevelt was
empowered to take any action regarding set
tlement Of the strike.
Mr. Wright asked number of questions rela-
tive to wages, conditions. hours of labor and
other matters connected with the anthracite
miners. and the causes leading up to the strike
from the point of view of the operators All his
questions were answered
Mr. Wright at the Hotel Manhattan yester-
day afternoon. said he would go to Washington
last night. He said he had been kindly treated
everywhere.
The Commissioner expressed surprise that IN
all that had been published about the contro
versy between the miners and the mine owners
he had not seen one distinct statement Of what
the strikers really demanded This information,
however. he had received from President Mitch
ell Of the United Mine Workers.
Mr.. Wright added that his mission had been
completely successful. He repudiated state
ments attributed to him that he had plan Of
settlement which he would submit to President
Roosevelt
President Fowler said yesterday that Presi-
dent Mitchell of the Mine Workers had made a
demand for 10 per cent increase of wages for
the miners. which increase he had said, could
be put on the price of coal to consumers. Mr..
Fowler said he wished 70 point that the
miners were thinking only OF themselves, while
the operators were looking to the rights and in
terests of the public. as we'll those Of the
miners and themselves, He continued:
The public will realize. from the correspondence
published this morning. how much Mr. Mitchell has
defensive fighting for The protection Of their
are unit in this matter will make no concessions:
ard the only settlement possible is the return OF
the to their work individuals and not as
United Mine Workers
The operators have the unvarying support Of
their directors their stockholders and the financial
interests. and they feel that they are entitled TO
the support OF the public.
Several retailers commented yesterday on the
statement of the operate They said il seemed
to be a clear and concise review of the situation
They await President MitcheIl's statement OF
the miners side OF the question.
Wholesalers asked 81 30 alongside for soft
coal but did not explain why the price had ad-
vanCed 20 cents over that OF Tuesday. Prices
for hard coal little easier than at this
time last week. One dealer said that he had
purchased a cargo OF pea coal for So %. along
side, yesterday. while week ago he had paid So