New-York tribune., 1902-05-07
STRIKE LIKELY TO COME.
NO WAY OF A TIERTTNG IT.
HE GOES TO SCRANTON, BUT CARRIES
NO CONCESSIONS TO THE MINERS
RESULT OF MEETINGS HERE.

Before President Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers left this city for Scranton, Penn. yes
terday. 1t seemed to be the general opinion
among those familiar with the situation that
strike of the anthracite miners is inevitable un-
less the executive committee of twenty-eight,
which meets in Scranton to-day to vote on the
strike. backs down utterly. That this would be
the result not thought likely, and although
Mr. Mitchell would not say there would be a
strike, he admitted that there was no logical
way out of
A conference took place in the afternoon in
the office of Secretary Easley of the Civic Fed
Grafton. at which President Mitchell Secretary
Easley Frank P Sargent and Marcus NJ. Marks
all of whom members of the arbitration
committee of the federation. were present
This coupled with the report that meeting of
operators had been held in this city at which
President Baer of the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad had agreed to grant some concessions
to the miners, CAV an impression that the
strike might be averted after all. None of
them, however could give any hope that
strike would not take place. or that the services
of the arbitration committee would be asked for
Although every effort made to keep the
matter secret, it was learned last evening that
in the afternoon meeting was held in the New
York offices of the Central Railroad of New
ing railroad companies and independent opera
tors. Among those at the meeting were Pres-
dent Baer of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail-
road Company, President Truesdale of the Della
ware, LaCkawanna and Western President Oily
phant of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Com
pany and President Fowler of the Ontario and
Western Company From the general sentiment
expressed by the operators although no one
would say what the meeting called for it
is not thought the question of concessions to the
anthracite miners considered.
Mitchell smiled rather bitterly when he was
asked if reports which have been flying around
for the last day two that President Baer of
the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad had
made concessions, were true.
There is not the slightest foundation for the
reports" he said. mo concessions have been
offered. l don't look for any. I am going to
Scranton to report to the Committee of Twen-
ty-eight. which will vote the strike that
gained not single point Similar reports will
be made by the presidents of the three anthra-
cite districts. 1t will then be for the committee
to act.
Some of those interested in the developments
said yesterday that possibly if Mr. Mitchell and
his colleagues had talked freely before the
trouble reached acute point they had
done after their conferences were ended it
would have helped the cause of the miners THE
public sentiment" said one they now realize
would have been with them and this would
have gone long way in inducing the coal op-
orators to make concessions" 1t was admitted
by all who had attended the conferences that
Mitchell and his colleagues had won their re-
spect by the absence of any bitterness of feel
ing 1t was also remarked by many people that
not a single expression of bitterness was heard
from the committee of twenty-eight in spite of
the failure of the negotiations.
Frank p. Sargent at the Herald
Square Hotel by a Tribune reporter and said
that he had intended to leave this city for Wash
ington yesterday. but would wait until after to-
day on the very improbable chance of the arbi-
tration committee having opportunity offer
its services. or being asked to offer them, after
the convention met in Scranton. He admitted
that the outlook for this not cheering.
II am sorry come to the conclusion he
added but after talking with Mr. Easley and
Mr. Mitchell to-day l can see no reason to
change my opinion that a strike is inevitable.
I wish IL could be averted, but l see no way of
doing so | have reason TO believe that the
miners would have been satisfied with very
small concessions. Mr.. Mitchell goes to the CON
vention without single argument to offer
against a strike. While understand that
much has been done by the Civic Federation
toward a better understanding by bringing both
in that light They want tangible concessions.
and Mr. Mitchell has none TO show them. They
Continued sixth page.
ssSOo TO ST. PAUL AND RETURN.