The Topeka state journal., 1902-11-26
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Coal BarOns Went Back on Their
Own Proposition.
Decline to Settle Anthracite
Strike Out of Court.
NEGOTIATIONS ENDED.
Action Was Influenced by the
Independent Operators.
Mitchell Merely Smiles When
Announcement Is Made.

New York. Nov. ga serious hitch
has occurred in the plans for a settle
ment of the coal controversy by confer
ence between the coal operators and
miners union, and it is now almost cer-
tain that the final adjustment of the
points at issue will be referred again to
the Gray commission. At meeting be-
tween the presidents of the coal roads
and a large number of independent op-
orators strong protest was entered by
the latter against treating directly with
the miners An invitation to meet Mr..
Mitchell al Washington on Friday was
declined peremptori1y, and it was agreed
that IN the judgment of the operators
1t was best for the present to go on
with the hearing before the commits
sion.
OPERATORS BACKED OUT.
fhliadelphia, Pa, Nov 26--President
Mitchell of the United Mine Workers of
America, accom2anied by his counsel.
Z. s. barrow and H. d. Lloyd, arrived
here from Washington at 10 o'clock last
nlgnt. Mr.. Mitchell was asked concern
ing the settlement of the Mine workers
strike He said; Counsel for the ooer-
ators and some of the operators had
laid before the presidents of the rail-
road companies a tentative proposition
which had been drafted join
ly by the representative of railroad
companies and counsel for the miners
The railroad companies wired the strike
commission that the general terms of
the proposition were satisfactory save
minor details to be adjusted later This
message suggested that the commits
sion adjourn until December in order
that these minor details might be ad-
justed.''
Mr.. Darrow here interrupted by say
ing: The initiative was taken by the
operators
Mr.. Lloyd said: when the commits
sion adjourned it was understood that
satisfactory adjustment would be
made. The commissioners were so GER
tain of this that a subcommittee con-
sisting of Messrs. Clark, Watkins ana
Parker was appointed to adjust the
minor details Attorney MacVeagh
counsel for the Hillside Coal company
and the Pennsylvania company, request
ed Mr.. Mitchell and his counsel to meet
him in Washington for the purpose of
working out the details of the strike set
tlement. While we were in conference
with Mr.. MacVeagh a message was re-
ceived from the coal presidents an
nouncing the first proposition was not
satisfactory and the coal companies
would prefer a continuance of the hear
ing before the arbitration committee"
Mr.. Mitchell declined to express an
opinion regarding the attitude of the
coal road presidents. Mr. Darrow,
ly back on their word
Supplementing this Mr.. Lloyd said
I'VE have no knowledge of the cause of
action of the presidents excepting thar
between the independent operators and
the coal road presidents"
Mr.. Mitchell was asked if he consid-
cred the action of the coal road presi-
dents had weakened their case before
the commission. He said: Il don't
want to say what they have done, but
have no doubt that we will win our
case"
7
THE commissioners know something
now which they did not know before.
They know the terms of the proposed
settlement. They know the coal road
presidents proposed the settlement and
then backed out"
INDEPENDENTS DID IT.
Scranton, Pa, Nov. 26.-The independ-
ent operators committee on their return
smiles I'VE have won our point" said
DR.. ]. N. Rice, of the Riverside Coal
company. I'VE are ready to show to the
public that we are paying all the wages
agreement with John MitchelPs or=ani-
cation is undesirable because of its un-
American ideas. The big companies have
come to our way of thinking. and a
settlement out of court is no longer a
possibility
Other members of the committee spoke
in a similar strain. AS viewed from
this point the hearings will be proceeded
with on December as if the recess of
the commission was nothing more than
an adjournment to give the interested
parties an opportunity to spend Thanks
giving at home
WILL WORK THANKSGIVING.
Pottsville Pa. Nov. 26.-The United
Mine Workers have decided to keep all
the collieries open with full force of
men on Thanksgiving day. The oper-
ators requested the men to remain at
work and this action is in compliance
with their request.
Agents from New Work and Phila-
delphia are here buying up all the pro-
duct of the independent operators. They
are paying 81 and $S per ton for coal de-
livered on board at the collieries. For
this reason individual operators are re.
fusing to sell coal for local consumption
for which they only get $3.50.