Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-17
COMPERS VISITS MITCHELL
TIVE Labor Leaders, with the District
Presidents Hold Conference.
STATEMENT TO PUBLIC is PROMISED
working Force at Greenwood Coll
liery il Increased md More
Men Arc Expected ut some
of the other Places.

wILKESBARRE. Pa. Sept. 16.-samlel
Gompers, president of the American Fedora
ton OF Labor, arrived in town this morn
ing. He Immediately went to President
Mitchell's headquarters, where he met
President Wilson and district presidents of
the Mine Workers.
Mr.. Gompers and the executive officers OF
the Miners union held a lengthy confer
ence. Before he went TO the meeting Mr..
Gompers was asked what his mission was.
He replied that he came to confer with
President Mitchell and the other miners
officials regarding the strike. 1t was stated
that after the conference a statement would
be given out.
A { / o'clock the conference adjourned for
dinner. Mr.. Gompers was the only one who
would speak regarding the deliberations. He.
said the strike situation was discussed in
all its phases; the finances were found to
be in a good condition; the relief funds
were coming in promptly, and there was no
reason why the strike should not continue
without inficting any hardships on the
strikers.
Mr.. Gompers was asked whether 1t was
proposed to levy an extra assessment in Or
der to help the miners out. He declined TO
answer the question. He also refused TO
say whether the American Federation of
-~H 'a@A ~ ~ @-
take action on the strike.
TAMAQUA, Pa, Sept. 16.-Today the
working force at the Greenwood c%olliery,
which resumed yesterday, was increased
somewhat and the plant is now running
apparently without difficulty. Last night
a committee from the Tamaqua local of the
United Mine Workers visited M. A.. Gerber.
the superintendent Of the operation, and
asked him to close the plant. This he
refused to do.
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation com
pany is today overhauling the machinery at
its No. IL breaker. It Is said that the
plant will be converted into a washery and
that work will be started there the latter
part Of the week. The officials CT the COM
pany will neither confirm nor deny the re-
port. The No. 4 and No. IL collier,es Of
the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company,
the Smith-Myers washery and the Green
wood Coal company combined shipped about
1000 tons Of coal TO market yesterday.
No Concessions to he rRnted
NEW YORK, Sept. ia conference Of
the leading anthracite coal interests was
held this afternoon at the Philadelphia g.
Reading company's office. Those present
included President Baer Of the Reading
road, President Truesdale. OF the Delaware.
Lackawanna & Western. President Fowler
OF the New York, Ontario & Western, Pres
ident Waters OF the Lehigh Valley, Presi-
dent Oliphant Of the Delaware & Hudson.
Irving Sterns of Coke Bros. & Co, and
John Markle Of ]. b. Markle & Co. The
last two named represented the independ-
ent operating interests in the hard coal in
dustry.
The precise object Of the conference could
not be learned, but It was stated in advance
Of the meeting that no concessions would
be granted and hat recent events Of a
semi-political character would not be seri
ously considered.
Following a meeting with ]. p. Morgan,
John Markle made this statement:
| do not think It necessary TO repeat that
oil concessions on the part Of the operators
Is foolish and certainly without foundation.
our position low is the same as when
Mitchell made his original propositions and
no different than when the strike began.
We said then that we would make no con-
cessiOns and we repeat II now. There Is no
reason why this should not be understood.
The operators have shown that they mean
II and | repeat only by way Of emphasis.
There Is Just one way to end the strike
by the men returning to work, and every
day they remain away by giving willing
ear TO MitChells specious promises viii
only entail further loss and suffering 20
them. Conditions are improving daily
more men are returning to work and more
coal Is being mined.
So far as recent attempts at settlement
are concerned IL Is only necessary 10 add
that every effort from Senator Hannas
down has been futile. We have defined our
position and will maintain IT,