The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-28

Washington, Nov 25.-All prospects
for an understanding between the Unit
ed Nine Workers and the coal opera
tors. outside the anthracite coal strike
commission, came TO a sudden termina-
tion late this afternoon, through the re-
ceipt of q dispatch to Wayne Mac
Veagh. representing the Pennsylvania
Coal Company and the Hillside Coal
and Iron Company, notifying him that
at a meeting of the anthracite coal road
men in New York today it had been de-
cided not to grant an interview to Mr..
Mitchell and his associates, which had
been suggested for Friday next.
The announcement. coming as it did,
after an all days conference in this city
between Mr.. MacVeagh and Mr.. Mitch
ell and his associates, arttended part
of the time by Carroll d. Wright, in an
AEdeavor to adjust some details of the
proposed agreement between the opera
tors and tn miners, completely sur
prised everyone here. From statements
made by Clarence S. Darrow early in
the day the impression has spread that
a complete agreement would be affected
at today's conference, but when the
meeting broke up Mr.. Darrow read to
the newspaper men in the corridor out
side his room in Willards hotel a state
ment which made it clear that no final
agreement had been reached and that
no further conferences were likely. The
statement was as follows:
The conference today was simply
Ill ar
Scranton and with precisely the same
object-that of trying to reach a basis
of hopeful discussion for an amicable
settlement-Mr. MacVeach had not
been in Scranton since Thursday and
some matters developed as to which fur
ther conference might be useful before
either the operators or the representa-
lives of the miners approach the seri-
GUS task of formulating a definite
agreement for their signature
Messrs. Mitchell. Darrow and Lloyd
left here at $50 over the Pennsylvania
railroad for Scranton.
Protest of Independents.
New York, November 25.-The inde
pendent coal operators protested today
to the coal carrying railroads against
the proposed plan to settle differences
with the mine workers union. The ma
ture of their protest appears in the fol-
lowing statement, which was given out
this afternoon by c. D. Simpson, rep
.resenting the independent operators:
Scranton, Pa, November %.
Messrs. .Baer, Thomas, Truesdale, Oily
phant, Fowler and Walter, presidents,
Gentlemen: The undersigned individ-
ual coal operators whose product is car
rfed over one or the other of your re-
spective railroads, having learned that
efforts are being made to effect a set
tlement of the questions now before the
anthracite coal strike commission, Of
which the individual coal operators
have been made party at the request
of the commission, and a number of
your corporations, beg leave respectful
Iy to enter their vigorous protest
against any such settlement to be made
at this time and set forth the following
among many reasons:
1. We believe that such settlement
at this time and upon the basis sug-
- NOulu cSldUI4Su pow
er and perpetuate the injustice per-
petrated by the United Mine Workers.
.. That such settlement would be, in
the eyes of the public, a confession that
we have heretofore been guilty of all
the offenses charged against US = ,he
said mine workers.
8. That we have, and believe that
you have. such a perfect and complete
defense TO the allegations made by the
complainants before the commission,
that any money award the commission
would render, would be far less than the
amount we understand that it is pro-
posed to concede, especially to miners
and their laborers.
4. That aside from any money consid-
erations, this commission, composed as
We believe of men that are absolutely
fair, unbiased, and Of unusual expert
: ence and good judgment in their find
iRgs. will make such declaration as will