Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-05-05
ALL DEMANDS
ARE REFUSED
Operators Reject Every Of
fer to Compromise.

strike Likely TO BE declared
at Scranton on Wednes-
day--Hanna Is Trying to
Avert the Conflict.
President John Mitchell, of the United
Mine Workers OF America, gave out the
following statement on Saturday night
regarding the secret conference between
his organization and the coal operators:
1.-The subcommittee OF operators and
miners selected by the industrial branch
of the National Civic Federation failed
to reach an agreement upon any OF the
i'm portant issues embodied in the miners
scale adopted by the Shamokin conven-
tion. Tho executive committee OF the
three anthracite districts OF the United
Mine Workers of America, in whom is
vested the authority to inaugurate a
strike, have been notified to assemble at
Scranton, Pa, at 10 a. N. Wednesday,
May z. This com mittee consists Of
twenty-eight members appointed from
the three districts, and should majori-
ty of them vote in favor of a strike the
entire 147,OO0 mine workers will i'm
mediately respond to the call"
Mr.. Mitchell was asked II he would
say what had occurred at the recent
conference between representatives of
the miners and the coal operators, and
particularly at the meetings of the sub
committee, composed of himself, Dis
trict Presidents Fahey, Nichol and
Duffy and President Truesdale, of the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
Railroads; Chairman Thomas, of the Erie
Coal Company, and President Baer, Of
the Reading and Jersey Central Rail
roads.
He replied that there was little to tell,
except that the operators had refused to
grant any concessions whatsoever to
the men. They would not agree that
wages should be raised, that working
hours should be reduced or that coal
should be weighed.
HANNA's STATEMENT.
United States Senator Hanna gave
out the following statement at Philadel-
phia last night:
Il have heard OF President Mitehell's
statement through Secretary Easley, Of
the Civic Federation, and have wired
to the members of the committee in New
York that will not call another meet
ing, as it would be useless.
If my advice had been followed long
er time would have been taken before
the crisis was reached, in order that
things might be explained and better
understood. President Mitchell's state
ment was fastened by the fact that
scraps of information had been given to
the public embarrassing him with his
men. | saw Mitchell in Washington
and discussed with him another proposi-
ton which the present situation has OBJ
waited"
What the other proposition was Sena-
tor Hanna declined to say.
EVERY OFFER REFUSED.
While no official statement OF the sub
mmittee's conference has yet been
given out, it may be said, however, that
were unable to bulge the operators
representatives a hairs breadth. Mr..
Mitchell and his associates presen ted
demands that were to be 10 per cent
raising Of the wage scale of 70 per cent
OF the workers. They also asked for a
reduction Of the working day amount
iLg to about 10 per cent more.
The operators said that the increase
in wages and the reduction in time
could not possibly be granted. The
miners then signilied willingness to
reduce the increase of wages asked for
to per cent. The operators would
not listen to that proposition, either.
The rest of the time of the conference
was taken in prolonged endeavors on
the part Of the miners representatives
to feel out some way by which com
promise, no matter how slight, could be
made. They could get no concession OF
any sort at all, though they offered al
sorts of combinations of plans involving
one or the other of the concessions they
asked for.
STRIKE ORDER EXPECTED.
Reports today from all sections of the
anthracite field indicate that the mine
workers are In favor of strike, anC
while it is not known what will be dons
at Scranton on Wednesday, the wors
may be expected.
The miners feel that they have ex
hausted every honorable means to pro
cure a peaceful settlement, and the re
fusal, to say nothing of the manner il