Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-16
OPERATORS ARE FIRM.
Will Make No Concessions t
Strikers.

NEW YORK, September 1G.-A confer
enca of the leading anthracite coal inter
ests was held this afternoon at the Phila-
delphia and Reading Company's offices.
Those present included President Baer of
the Reading road, President Truesdale of
the Delaware. Lackawanna and Western,
President Fowler of the New York, Ontario
and Western, President Walters of the Le-
high Valley, President Olyphant of the
Delaware and Hudson. Irving Stearns OF
Coke Bros. & Co, and John Markle Of G..
B. Markle & Co. The two last-named rep
resented the Independent operating inter
ests in the hard coal industry.
The precise subjects, of the conference
could not be learned, but it was stated in
advance of the meeting that no concessions
would be granted. and that recent events
of a semi-political character would not be
seriously considered.
Following meeting with J. P. Morgan,
John Markle made this statement:
Position Unchanged.
II do not think it necessary to repeat that
all talk of concessions on the part of the
operators is foolish, and certainly without
foundation. Our position now is the same
when Mitchell made his original prop
ositions. and no different than when the
strike began.
I'VE said, then that we would make no
concessions. and we repeat it now. There
is no reason why this should not be under
stood. The operators have shown that
they mean 1t, and repeat it only by way
of emphasis.
There is just one way to end the strike
by the men returning to work; and every
day they remain away by giving willing ear
to Mitchells specious promises will only
entail further loss and suffering to them
Conditions are improving daily; more men
are returning to work and more coal Is be-
ing mined.
$50 far as recent attempts at settlement
are concerned. ii is only necessary to add
that every effort. from Senator Hannas
down. has been futile. We have defined
our position and will maintain it,"
More Miners Go to Work.
TAMAQUA, Pa, September 16.-Today
the working force at the Greenwood col
liery, which resumed yesterday, was in
creased somewhat and the plant is now
running apparently without difficulty.
Last night committee from the Tam
aqua local Of the United Mine Workers
visited NJ. A. Gerber, the superintendent Of
the operation, and asked him to close the
plant This he refused to do.
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com
pany is today overhauling the machinery at
its No IL breaker.
1t is said that the plant will be converted
into a washery, and that work will be
started there the latter part of the week
The officials of the company viii neither
confirm nor deny this report. The No. A
and No. II collieries Of the Lehigh Coal
and Navigation Company. the Smith Myers
washery and the Greenwood Coal Company
combined shipped about 1900 tons of coal
to market yesterday
Gompers and Mitchell Confer.
wILKEsBARRE, Pa, September TO-
Samuel Gompers president of the American
Federation Of Labor. arrived in town this
morning. He at once went to President
MitchelPs headquarters, where he met Ma
tional Treasurer Wilson and the district
presidents of the United Mine Workers
Mr.. Gompers and the executive officers of
the miners union held lengthy conference
Before he went to the meeting Gompers was
asked what his mission here was. He re-
piled that he came to confer with Mr.
Mitchell and with the other officers of the
union regarding the strike. 1t was stated