Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-05
States Cancellation Committee Must Wait
for New Developments
SAYS CONFERENCES WERE SATISFACTORY
Miners Look for General Strike as Result
of Failure to Agree,
NERVOUSNESS ALREADY is APPARENT
Workmen Are Well Organised, Pos-
sessed of Financial Resources and
Assert Their Ability 20 En-
dure Period of IdIeness.


uation in the anthracite coal region &C ex-
tremely delicate and for that reason said II
would be unwise for him to express an
opinion as TO the probable result Of tho
meeting OF the executive committee OF the
United Mine Workers for the three anthra.
cite districts called for next Wednesday al
Scranton, Pa, by National President John
Mitchell.
Senator Hanna said he was oficially mott.
fed today by Ralph NJ. Easley, secretary OF
the National Civic Federation. OF the state
ment issued last night by President Mitchell
in New York. He Immediately wired Mr..
Easley instructing him to refrain from
calling another meeting OF the conciliation
committee, as that proc would be use
less in view Of the latest developments.
Senator Hanna said be had been awaiting
report from the subcommittee Of the con-
ciliation committee, but that Mr. MitchellS
statement had anticipated It, The work Of
tho concilation committee was ended. said
the senator, VIXEN II brought together the
operators and the representatives of the
miners committee. and he added that moth
ing more could be done unless there were
some new developments.
Conferences Were satisfactory.
Il want to emphasize the fact" continued
Senator Hanna, that the conferences be-
tween the operators and miners we're salts
factory. Three conferences were held and
the proceedings were conducted in the best
spirit. l think the operators formed
favorable impression Of Mr.. Mitchell and
gave him credit for honesty and sincerity
in his efforts to change the condition OF
the miners On the other hand Mr.. Mitchell
appreciated the consideration shown him
and the interests he represents. Unless
bitter and protracted strike should occur
believe much good will come out OF the
conference. l am of the opinion that they
will lead to better conditions between cap
ital and labor.
II am in favor of meetings between en-
ployer and employe to consider differences
want the people to thoroughly understand
the position OF tho Civic Federation. 1t can
do only one Of two things--exert its In
fiuence to prevent strike or arbtrate when
rupture has occurred, at the request OF
both parties to the dispute
Federation Exhausts Efforts.
"In this case the Civic Federation has done
all within its power. 1t brought together
through its conciliation committee the rep
resentatives OF the miners and the ope.
rators. In the evolution OF things rapidly
Of employers and employees is one OF the
conditions that must necessarily be a part
of it. The progress and development OF our
industries must be accompanied by the de-
velopment and Improvement OF the laborlng
class"
Asked II the Civic Federation experienced
any difficulty in arranging the conference
between the operators and the miners, Sem
ator Hanna said:
On the contrary. / found the operators
quite willing to go half way in this mat
ter. They are all sensible, broad-gauge
business men. who. while they desire to
protect their own interests, are wise
enough TO see the drift OF things
THE peculiar situation of the anthracite
mining industry" continued the senator,
makes the proposition most diffieult. The
combination OF the railroad and mining In
terests brings forward the question Of tom
mage, and this with threatened competition
from the enormous production OF bitumln-
Gus coal constitute matters which must be
considered. There is the foundation of
the operators argument. II is not a mere
selfish interest that impels them to the
stand they have taken, but the proposition
is difhcult to explain to the rank and file
Of the workers In and about the mines II
is my hope that when they are educated
to understand these conditions they may
be considerate and not governed by preju-
dice In future actions.
Longer Consideration Necessary.
''If my advice had been followed a longer
time would have been taken before the
present crisis was reached In order that
these things could be explained and better
understood. President Mitchell's state.
ment was hastened by the fact that scraps
OF information we're given TO the public,
embarrassing him with his men. When II
iE considered that the two-thirds OF the
mine workers are foreigners speaking siG,
eight or ten different languages, II can be
readily understood that they are dificult
to control"
Referring to President Mitehelrs visit 70
Washington last week Senator Hanna said:
l saw Mr.. Mitchell In Washington and
but that has been obviated by the exist
lag situation.
Expect General strike.
HAZLEToN. Pa, May 4.-The impress
sion prevails among the miners OF thu
Hazleton district that there will be gen.
eral strike as a result OF the failure o.
the operators and the representatives oi
the United Mine Workers TO come to an
agreement. II the district executive boards
decide on Wednesday at Scranton to order
a suspension OF work. the members OF the
union hereabouts will. It is believed. obey
the order to a man.
1t is conservauVely estimated that three
fourths Of the employees In and about the
mines in this region are organized and ii
strike is declared operations will be
brought to a standstill at every coIliery.
Many Of the mines were idle during the
greater part Of the winter on account OF
the floods and It is claimed that the men
are not financially able 70 stand a long
suspension.
The miners, however, declare that they
can live chesply in the summer and that
the coal companies, with only a small sup
ply Of anthracite on hand, will be less able
TO endure a strike than their employees.
Business in this section has been almost
at a standstill In the last six weeks on
account Of fear OF a strike.
District President Murphy and the miners
who accompanied him 10 New York have