The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-24
Want to be Consulted in Set
uement With Miners
WILL TAKE A FIRM STAND
They Do Not Propose to be Beliser-
ents Nor Are They suppIIants.
Object to Being Dragged
Into an Agreement.


tion is to be taken by the Independent
coal operators with regard to the tenta-
tive agreement between the large coal
companies and the mine workers to set
tie their dispute outside the anthracite
coal strike commission, but with the
conciliatory assistance of the arbitrators.
It has not yet been definitely decided
upon.
The independents held a meeting last
night at which were present the repre-
sentatives of about twenty-six compa-
nies, and committee of nine was ap-
pointed to go to New York on Tuesday
for the purpose Of meeting the presidents
of the coal carrying railroads and learn
from them what the independent COM
panies are to expect, providing they
agree to go along and adjust the labor
dispute without arbitration. This decis-
ion was not reached until the independ-
ent operators attorney. Ira H. Burns, of
Scranton, had made a report Of the con-
ference he attended at which were pres
ent all the attorneys for the large COM
panies and the miners and the concilia-
tion or subcommittee of the committee.
Until they learn what the large COM
panies intend to do, the independents
will make no positive stand. beyond that
which they took in the hearing before
the commission on Saturday. That was
TO the effect that they object to the COM
mission approving any agreement in
which the Independent operators are not
included.
independents Committee.
The committee of the Independents is
composed of the following mine owners:
w. w. Watson, of the Hoosac Mountain
Coal company and the Mount Jessup
Coal company, of Scranton; E. P. Stur-
gis, Pine Hill Coal company, of the
Schuylkill region; ]. L. Crawford Peo-
pies Coal company, Scranton; H. C.
Reynolds, Wyoming Coal and Iron COM
pany Scranton; w. L. Connen, Green
Ridge Coal company, Scranton, and En-
terprise Coal company, Shamokin; DR.. j.
n. Rice, Riverside Coal company, Scran-
ton; ]. l.. Cake, Clear Spring Coal COM
pany and Raub Coal company, Pittston;
J. ]. Jermyn, of Jermyn & Co., Scran-
ton, and C. D. Simpson, West End Coal
company Scranton.
Mr.. Connell, who is the recorder
(mayor) of Scranton, Is chairman of the
committee. Mr.. Simpson Is associated
in business with L. H. Watkins one of
the strike commissioners, although Mr.
Watkins is not connected with the West
End Coal company or any other anthra-
cite coal concern
The indepent operators will make a firm
stand for some recognition in the matter
of a settlement with the miners. 1t is
authoritatively stated they will not as
sumo the attitude of beligerents when the
committee meets the coal presidents, nor
will they appear as suppliants. The in
dependents feel that If an increase in
wages is agreed upon, they will want
some concession from the coal-carrying
railroads in order to compensate them for
granting an increase to the miners
Do Not Sell Directly.
The independent companies, it is under
stood, do not sell their product directly
to the consumer. They turn it over to
the coal-carrying railroads, who give the
individual concerns generally speaking,
65 cents on every dollar, retaining IS cents
for hauling and selling the coal. The in
dependents say that If wages are increas-
ed, the combined companies will have it
in their power to increase the price of
coal to the consumer or maintain the
present high price at the mines, which
was fixed by some companies after the
strike in order to compensate them for
the damage entailed during the sus-
pension. The independents say they must
take what the companies give them-65
L
fort to have 1t increased to 70 or rs cents
on the dollar. The independents say they
can complicate matters If they cared to.
but feel 1t would not be fair to the public
or themselves to do so. While it has not
been officially stated, 1t is understood
whatever agreement Is submitted to the
strike commission for approval must
first have to be approved by all the COM
panies If the Independent companies
were disposed to disagree on a settle
ment made between the large companies
and miners, it would make matters in
teresting. A common remark heard In the
anthracite regions Is that no matter
what the big companies do, the smaller
concerns will have to go along
Don't See 1t That Way.
The Independents don't see 1t in that
light. The large coal companies have been
gradually absorbing the Independent COM
panies and in the case of several of these
small operators, it is only question OF
time when the large companies will have
control of all of them. In 1900, the year
of the last big strike, the independent
companies mined about 26 per cent of the
entire anthracite production but now they
control about only 10 per cent of the coal
output.
A representative of one of the coal com.
panies, well versed to speak In the pres.
ent situation, said today:
1.-THE Independent operator is in an un-
fortunate position. Every time the large
companies and the union get into a con-
f1ict the smaller concerns, whose men as
a rule have no grievances, are drawn in
to it and the independent company must
share the burden of the battle.
''While the individual companies are
not willing to do so, many of them feel
+ 1t would be better to make terms with
the United Mine Workers of America and
live in peace than to have their business
disturbed every time the others get into
a snar1 which always draw them into it.
1T would be matter of self preserva-
tion."
There has as yet been no definite time
set for the holding of conferences between
the representatives of the large compan-
les and the mine workers. Attorneys and
other persons representing the big COM
panies have gone to New York and Phila-
delphia for instructions and authority &c
net. Nothing will be done here until they
return clothed with the power to nego-