The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-25
FROM COAL FIELDS
SCENES OF NEGOTIATIONS FOR
PEACE ARE TRANSFERRED.
WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK
NOW OFFER THE PROSPECT For
DEVELOPMENTS.

Representatives of the Miners VIII
Confer To-day with Representa-
tivcs of the mpanies-There Is
General Hope That the Confer
enccs Will Result satisfactorily TO
All Parties-There Is IA Disposition
on Both Sides to Waive "a Point
Here and There.
Scranton, Pa, Nov. 24.-The scenes
of the strike settlement negotiations
have been suddenly shifted from this
| city to Washington and New York.
Tomorrow the committee of nine of
/ the Independent operators expects to
hold a conference with the presidents
of the coal-carrylng roads regarding
the position of the individual COM
panies, and at the same time a meet
ing between Wayne MacVeagh, and
possibly other attorneys representing
| the coal roads, and President Mitchell
and his attorneys will be held in the
national capital.
Scranton and the entire coal regions
will, in the meantime, wait with con-
siderable interest to hear what the
Thanksgiving offering will be.
The New York conference has been
known for twenty-four hours, though
the Washington meeting was decided
upon this evening. The independents
have gone to New York to find out
what the large companies can do for
them in the way of freight rates in
| case an increase in wages is decided
upon. The mine workers representa-
tives went to Washington to find out
what the large companies had to offer.
Both ardently wish for success, but it
was not within their power to say
what will be the outcome.
MacVeaEh Wanted Them.
Although the miners representatives
did not know why they were summon
ed to Washington, they believe the
companies have something to offer
| Wayne MacVeagh was in Geographic
communication at noon with Clarence
S. Darrow. Mr.. Mitchells leading at
| torney, and later MacVeagh called up
on the long distance telephone from
| Philadelphia. Mr.. MacVeagh said he
| wished to have a conference with Mr..
| Mitchell and himself, but as he was
not feeling we'll he desired that they
all meet in Washington tomorrow In
| stead of Scranton. Mr.. Darrow said
that Mr.. MacVeagh did not tell him
| what he wanted the conference for,
| but he felt that Mr.. MacVeagh would
not summon them to the national cap
| ital II they were not clothed with au-
thority to- carry on negotiations. Mr..
Mitchell's party left here at 4:3o p. m.
and are due to arrive in Washington
at 1880 a. m. The mission of the in
| dependent operators to New York is
best expressed in a statement made to-
| day by one of the representatives of
| the small companies, who said:
Higher Wnges, Lower Rates.
"The independent companies are pay
ing the miners as much now as they
can afford, and If an increase in wages
| is granted by the large companies, the
/ large companies must give the indie
| pendents a lower freight rate to meet
the increase In wages. This Is the
| mission of the committee. If they re-
fuse to make a concession in freight
| rates or it's equivalent then 1t is
probable the independent companies
will insist upon the whole matter be-
| ing threshed out before the commits
sion"
The outlook for a settlement re-
mains hopeful, in fact more hopeful
than ever. Conversations with at
torneys, coal operators and mine work.
ers show that all are wearying of the
strife and are willing to waive a point
here and there in order TO end the I'M
certainty of the situation and restore
peace and harmony to the community
and the coal trade generally.
| The Cancellation" or sub committee
of the commission, composed Of Messrs.
Parker, Watkins and Clark, was at
headquarters all day, but was not
called upon to differ its conciliatory
| assistance to either side.