New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-21
MITCHELL CONES TO SPEAK
SAYS THAT HE HAS NO INTENTION Or
MEETING OPERATORS.

President Samuel Gompers of the American
Federation of Lar and President John Mitch
ell of the United Mine Workers came here yes
terday to speak at the mass meeting In support
OF the striking anthracite miners whlch was
held in Madison Square Garden last night Mf.
"ompers arrived early in the day, ana MT
Mitchell came from Wilkesbarre on the tram
arriving at Jersey City at 100 p. m he was
accompanied by District President Jonn + any
OF the United Mine Workers. and was met at
Jersey City by Herman Robinson, secretary of
the miners relief committee of the Central
Federated Union, which arranged for the mass
meeting. Mr. Mitchell as usual. registered at
the Ashland House and said before he reached
the hotel that he would try to return to Wilkes
barre this afternoon. Regarding the coal strike.
he said:
Everything is going on satisfactorily, and
am more than pleased with the support that
trades unions giving to the strikers. New
York has done spendidly. and the other towns
ana cities are following her example. The strike
In Is III GOOD shape. and few of the miners nave
gone back to work. Nothing has happened to
discourage US. | was confident at the first that
we should win and am equally confident now
that we shall win. 1 may add that at first
we are still willing to submit the matters in
dispute to arbitration. and to abide by the de-
clslon of the arbitrator or arbitrator.
Mr.. Mitchell denied reports that have been in
circulation that he had or intended. to submit
modlned demands to j. Plerpont Morgan or to
the presidents of the coal carrying companies
he mad no Intention. he said, of trying to meet
any Of the operators. and did not expect to meet
any Of them.
1t was learned that John Brisben Walker pro-
prietor of The Cosmopolitan Magazine" was in
the anthracite mining district few days ago
investigating the condition of the miners He
had conference with Mr. Mitchell, in which 1t
was said he suggested plan for settling the
strike but nothing came of it. The main object
of Mr.. Walkers visit, it is said, however was
to get material for ma gazine article about the
strike
Coal dealers who were seen yesterday APP
parently did not like to think that the coal
strike would run into the winter. Some of them
predicted that. though it breaking up slow
ly, something likely to happen soon which
would hasten the end of the strike. None of
them believed that the strike would be ended
any other way than by the return of the miners
to work. One of the largest dealers, who is sup
posed to be well informed on the question. said:
NO matter what Mitchell may say, the oper-
ators have the whip hand, and if Mitchell
does not realize this before it is too late he VIII
meet the fate of most labor leaders. The oper-
ators will now take the aggressive. and Mitchell
will have a lively time if he thinks he can keep
his men in line. There may be riots, but they
are the sign of a lost cause.
AS to mixed coal coming here, he said IT was
arriving in small quantities, but with the pres
ent demand for anthracite he thought II couio
not affect the market If the same quantity
had been coming two months ago it would nave
been more noticeable.
Now he continued. though no more eoai IS
heine burned the demand in anticipation or
winter is three times as great. ABOUT D pei
cent more coal is being mined daily.
He could not say what price coal Wouio De
neyt week He believed the strike would pc
over before winter actually set in, but IN tne
mean time It would be dearer and scaTceI eNeiy
carving companies, he believed, would insist OH
not more than Sc 80 or 81 a ton being charged