The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-24
Will Confer With Coal Carrying
Roads in Regard to Terms
for Their Product.
MAY BECOME TROUBLESOME.
Unless They Agree to the Peace
Terms No Settlement Could
Be Reached-Dragged
Into the Fight.

Scranton, Pa. Nov. 3.-The position to be
taken by the independent coal operators
with regard to the tentative agreement be-
tween the large coal companies and the
mine workers to settle their dispute outside
tho anthracite coal strike commission. but
with tho oonciliatory assistance Of the ar
bitr1tors, has not yet definitely been do
c1dsd upon
The independents held . meeting last
'u1oht at witch were present the Representa-
ttvos of about twenty-ax companies. and q
committee Of nine was appointed to go to
New York on Tuesday for the purpose OF
meeting the presidents Of the coal-carry1ng
railroads and learn from them what the in
dependent companies ara to expect provid-
ing they agree to go along and adjust the
labor dispute without arbitration
This decision was not reached until the
indepudent operators attorney, Ira H.
Burns. Of Scranton, Pa. had made a re-
port OF the conference he attended, at
which were present all the attorneys for
the large companies and the miners and the
'1concilAation" or subcommittee Of the COM
mission. Until they learn what the large
companies intend to do the independents
which they took In the hearing before tho
commission on Saturday. That was to the
eject that they object to the commission
approving any agreement in which the in
dependent operators are not Included.
INDEPENDENTS DEMAND.
Tho independent operators viii take a
firm stand fur some recognition In the mat
ter OF a settlement with the miners. II is
the attitude Of beliigerenis when the com.
mittee meets the coal presidents, nor will
they appear a. supplisnta
In wages Is agreed upon they Will want
some concession from the coal-carrying
railroads in order to compensate them for
wvo nj ffr1~ m frrNv to fho min
The independent companies, 1t is under
stood. do not sell their product directly to
the consumer. They turn it over to the
coal,carrying railroads. who give the In
dividual concerns. generally speaking. 70
cents on levery dollar, retaining Is cents
for hauling and selling the coal.
The independents say that II wages are
increased the large companies have It with
IN their power 10 increase the price of coal
high price at the mines. which was fixed
by some companies after the strike in order
to compensate them for the damage en-
tailed during the suspension.
The independents say they must take
what the companies give them-S5 cents on
the dollar. but will make an effort to have
It Increased to 20 cents or rs cents on the
The independents say they can complicate
matters II they cared to. but feel 1t would
do do So While T It has % not besn sasSss ofseiaiy iy
stated. It is understood that whatever
agreement is submitted to the strike COM
AAicStoH loT approval must uTSI nave TO be
approved by all the companies.
II the Independent companies were dis
posed to disagree on a settlement made
between the large companies and the
miners II would make matters interesting.
common remark heard in the anthracite
regions is that no matter what the big
companies do the. smaller concerns will
have to go along" The independents do
not see II in that light.
-si- DRAGGED INTO FIGHT.
The coal companies have been absorbing
the Independent companies. and in the case
OF several Of the small operators, it is
only a question of time when the large
In 1900, the year Of the last big strike, the
Independent companies mined about Is per
cent Of the entire anthracite production
but now they control about only Is per cent
of the coal output. A representative of one
of the coal companies, well versed to speak
in the present situation said to-day:
The indepedent operator is in an un-
fortunate position. Every time the large
companies and the union get into a con-
hict the smaller concerns. whose men as a
rule. have no grievance. are drawn into
1t and the independent company must share
the burden of the battle.
While the individual companies are not
willing to- do go. many of them feel II
United Mine Workers OF America and live In
peace than to have their business disturbed
evey time the others get into snarl.
which always draws them into it. 1t would
be matter Of self-preservation."
There has as yet been no definite time set
for the holding Of conferences between rep
resentatives Of the large companies and the
miEe workers. Attorneys and other per-
gone to New York and Philadelphia for ne in,
structtons and authority. to act. Nothing
will be done here until they return clothed
with the power to negotiate settlement.