Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-04
A BARREN CONFERENCE
Failure of Miners and Oper-
ators to Agree.
STRIKE WILL CONTINUE
COURSE OF THE ADMINISTRA-
TON HAS BEEN CONSIDERED.
The President Will Consult Public
Sentiment in Dealing With
the Subject.
STRIKE WILL CONTINUE

Sentiment in Dealing With
the Subject.
| The pre- sdents of the coal roads and the
representatives of the miners met at the
| temporary White House, on Jackson place,
at 3:15 yesterday afternoon, resuming the
conference with President Roosevelt in the
morning. President Baer of the Reading
opened 1t with a statement setting forth
| the views of those he represented. He was
| followed by President Mitchell of the
Miners Union. Then Mr.. Thomas of the
Erie followed and was succeeded by Messrs.
Marke. an independent mine operator, and
Truesdale, Wilcox and Fowler of the Lack
awanna Delaware and Hudson and On
| taro and Western railroads, respectively.
| A tinge of the dramatic was given to the
| proceedings by Mr.. Markle who, in addi-
ton to the prepared statement, told the
President that he wanted to present the
case in another light and, as Exhibit A,
he handed the President a copy of an IL
| Illustrated paper with cartoon showing
union miner being abused by the union
| miners and prevented from going to work,
| with justice bound and powerfess 1t was
laid on the table with other papers. the
President making no comment.
|
was considerable general. and what might
perhaps be regarded as informal, converse
| ton The President called attention to
part of the statement made by Mr.. Baer,
in which the latter said that the operators
were willing to submit grievances to the
courts of common pleas in Pennsylvania.
| The President asked Mr.. Mitchell if he,
not as president of the union. but as an
| individual, would agree to that.
Mr.. Mitchell promptly replied that he
| would not.
Mr.. Thomas supplemented his statement
| by saying that he came to Washington
during the civil with gun his
shoulder to fight for a principle. He was
| contending for a principle now, which was
that man should not be denied the right
! to WORK because he did not have a license
| from labor leader.
The operators made 1t plain that they
would listen to no proposition whatever
| minutes to o'clock when the conference
ended. The operators came down stairs and
held brief consultation and then left in
| their carriages for their train, where they
| met a number of newspaper men, to whom
| they furnished copies of the statements
they had made to the President.
Blamed the President.
STIMULATING that they should not be
| quoted, they talked quite freely of the con-
ference. Several of them declared the in
| reference of the President had resulted in
retarding rather than forwarding the settle
ment. They asserted that no progress had
| been made, and said they would return to
continue the contest. They declared that
| the situation was most serious as to coal
| supply, but said that coal would be fur
nished to the public, and that If given pro-
lection they could get men to mine coal to
at least 20 per cent of their capacity. They
declared there would be no compromise,
and that the strike would continue until
the miners succumb. They asserted their
determination to make concessions
| offers
special train Of the operators remained in
| the yards. 1t was stated that 1t would
President Baer said he expected to be In
New York city by o'clock this morning.
| He and the other operators put in an hour
or more walking around the city.
President Mitchell's Statements.
During the evening President Mitchell Of
the Mine Workers Union dictated formal
statement concerning the proceedings of the
| conference and Its results In which he an
nounced that the strike would continue as
a result OF the failure Of the conference.
Following is the text Of Mr.. Mitchells state
ment:
| AT the morning session Of the conference
| between the mine operators and the COM
mittee representing the miners President
| Roosevelt outlined the purpose for which he
| had called the operators and the miners to-
| gether. After the President concluded his
statement the miners at once proposed to
| refer the questions and Issues of the coal
| strike to the President for adjustment, but
this proposition was afterward rejected by
| the operators.
| AT the afternoon session the miners SUBJ
mtted formal statement of their PROPOSE
| ton. To this proposition each Of the opera
tors read a reply. In which they refused to
accept the services OF the President OF
tribunal to be appointed by him to deter
| mine the issues Of the strike. and in each Of
their statements they INDUCED in perfect
| TRADE of abuse of the miners organiza ton
and It's officials. 1t was evident to the
miners representatives that the coal opera
| tors were without regard for their former
| employees and for the public. which Is suf-
fering so much for the lack of fuel
As consequence Of this refusal Of the
operators either to grant concessions OF to
defer to Individual arbitration the coal
strike will go on. 1 am firmly convinced
that the miners will win, although we
presidents to defer to the wishes Of the
| chief executive of the United States.
THE President expressed the hope that
there would be no lawlessness in the coal
fields and the representatives of the miners
assured him that every effort would be
erted to maintain peace"
In reply to questions Mr.. Mitchell said
that the President had said nothing in reply
to the proposition of the miners to submit
the question to arbitra ton. but he added
that their offer was In the line of the Presi-
dents suggestion for an Immediate settle
ment of the dispute. He also said that the
merits of the strike had not been entered
upon at any length, all were familiar
with the questions at issue.
| Referring to the manner of conducting the
strike in the future. he said he thought Il
would proceed hereafter about as It had
proceeded in the past.
/ The Sidewalks Thronged.
Deep interest manifested In the con-
ference on the part of the public. The side
walks and street in front of the temporary
White House were thronged with people,
who anxiousiy awaited the result. News
papermen lined either side Of the entrance
to the White House from its doors to the
street. At the close of the conference Mr..
Baer came to the door first and when he
saw the array turned to his associates and
said: We'll. look here, We have got to run
the gauntlet. and We may well go to-
| gether."