The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-10

coal operators nor anyone representing
their interests appeared.
The absence Of any representative OF
the operators side Of the dispute was re-
garded as indicative that this mornings
conference between the politicians would
be devoted to an effort to discover some
means of forcing, the strike to an end.
AS was pointed out in the Associated
Press accounts of last evenings joint ses-
sion, it broke up in deadlock and consid-
cradle display Of feeling on both sides. It
is known that during the two long con-
ferences held yesterday which were par
ticipated in by Messrs. Platt and Quay.
Penrose and Odel on the one side and a
number Of the leading coal road presf-
dents on the other, that the last named
party firmly declined to recognize the as
sertion' that politics could in any way en-
ter into possible strike settlement. The
operators assured the political representa-
tives that they regarded the dispute as
embodying questions solely and entirely
between themselves and their employees
and In the business management of their
properties
These statements were elected by the
assertion from the other side that a con-
tinuance Of the strike for two weeks
would imperil the success of the repub-
lican party in the two great states OF
Pennsylvania and New York. They said
that with the advent Of cold weather &C
companied by coal famine the strike
would assume an importance that would
overshadow the polls. h The operators,
however, were not moved by this presen-
| tation and reiterated that politics could
not enter into their business. Following
this statement of their position by the coal
men the politicians intimated very broad
ly that prolongation Of the struggle
would pave the way to legislation hurtful
to coal corporation interests. In fact &C
cording to one of the coal operators pres
ent, this later statement was made in
terms so broad that they regarded it as a
threat Their reply was re-statement of
their unalterable determination to stand
their ground as at first outlined to the
conference, trusting to the integrity Of the
| judicial system to protect them from ad-
verse legislation -.
Senator Platt was quoted as saying be-
fore the conference began, that they ex-
pected to meet the. operators again to-
day. Another phase was Injected into
the situation later in the day by the
making public of David wilcox's letter to
the president demanding that the fed
eral~ government proceed against the
| miners organization as conspiracy to
prevent interstate commerce. Mr.. Will
| cox is said to represent all the coal Oper-
ators and the publication of his letter is
| regarded as somewhat in the nature Of a
statement of the operators position
President Mitchell Of the miners, with
the district presidents, spent the early
part of the day at his hotel, and declined
to answer any questions except to say
that he expected to return home to-day
1t was reported that before he left the
Fifth Avenue hotel this morning, ]. P
Morgan had brief private conference
with Senators Quay and Penrose. This
could not be confirmed, however.
President Baer Of the Reading railroad
came over from Philadelphia during the
forenoon and shortly after his; arriya
lWent to r, p. Morgan's office. Late,