The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-10

call a convention, ana tnaL would take
two weeks at least"
Late in the afternoon President
Mitchell and the district presidents
had another conference at the Ash
land house. Mr.. Nichols said that his
associates had not considered any
formal or informal proposition from
the operators.
May Be Settled by Monday.
He said that the strike might pos
sibly be settled by Monday, but init
mated that it was improbable.
Oscar S. Strauss, member Of the
Cancellation committee of the National
Civic federation, called on President
Mitchell late in the afternoon. On
Mitchell wanted to see me, but the
object of my visit I cannot make pub
lic''
Gen. B. F. Tracy, A. B. Boardman
and D. H. Bacon, president Of the
Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad COM
pany, called on President Mitchell ir
the evening.
1--WE came to see Mr. Mitchell" said
Gen. Tracy, ION the bitunlinous stu
alton in Alabama. He spoke Of the
strike of the employees of the Tennes-
see Coal company. Mr.. Mitchell re-
ceived US well, and heard our state
ments Of the facts. He made a ia
vorable impression, think, and have
hopes that the result of our interview
will be favorable to u.s."
Politics Enters, of Course.
From what may be described as an
inside and authoritative source, it may
be announced that the conference, at
the office of Senator Plat was abso-
lutely without result, the operators re-
fusing to consider the political aspect
Of the situation, and maintaining the
position that the question was one be-
tween employer and employe as to the
management of the properties con-
cerned.
IS According to the authority above in
Dictated, Senator Quay and Gov. Odell
expressed the opinion that should the
strike continue for another fortnight
or longer, the effect would be to so
press the public mind with the one
subject of the shortage of fuel that po-
litical duties would be neglected and
the voters remain away from the polls
on election day, with the natural re-
suit that the majority party in Penn
sylvania and New York would be the
greater sufferer. Senator Penrose ex-
pressed his concurrence in the repre-
sensations Of the others, and Senator
Plat and Mr.. Lauterbach spoke in
similar strain. These latter advised
tice under an implied promise to the
miners and that their union would be
recognized by the operators
On their part, the operators declared
that the question at issue was entirely
apart from party politics, and they re-
fused to be Influenced by representa-
tons as to the effect the strike might
have upon the fortunes of one party
or the other.
Anti Corporation Legislation Feared.
One of the political conferees next
suggested that to protract the struggle
with the miners union would be to
open the way for the advocates of anti
corporation legislation at Harrisburg
and Albany to move for the introduce
ing of measures calculated to impair
the value of railroad and coal proper
ties, and that it was even possible in
the stress of public opinion laws might
be enacted that would impair for years
the value of the properties the opera
tors represented. 1t was said by one
speaker that a bill of this antagonistic
character had already been framed and
was ready for submission to the Penn
sylvania legislature. The possibility of
harassing litigation both in Pennsyl-
vania and New York Was also dwelt
upon and the fear expressed that in
some instances the state of public mind
might influence the determination of
such suits.
These representations failed to move
the operators, who, according to the
gentleman already quoted, declared
that party politics should not be in
jected into the situation. The opera
tors further expressed their confidence
in the integrity of the courts and said
they had no fear Of the success of any
attack that might be made through the
state legislature upon the property In
terests concerned.
This brought the conference to
close and the gentlemen separated.
Shortly afterwards Gen. Thomas, of the
Erie, had a long talk with j. P1erpont
Morgan, the nature of the converse
ton not being disclosed by either of
the gentlemen. 1t is asserted on what
appears to be good authority that Mr..
Morgan was in communication during
the day with some of the politicians
who conferred with the operators, but
that he declined to be placed in the
L.