The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-22


Element Yet Reached-MitchelI end
His Lawyers Hold . Conference.
SCRANTON. Pa. Nov. 2l,-An effort 10
being made in this city and in New York
and Philadelphia TO settle the differences
between the operators and their miners.
Matters have already progressed 20 far
that it is likely that brief session Of the
strike commission that will be held at 10
O'Clock tomorrow morning will be the last
it will ever hold for the purpose Of taking
testimony.
1t appears that these overtures for Q
settlement have been in progress SINGS
Tuesday last. They did not arise from
any hasty motion taken by either side Of
the dispute. but are a gradual getting to-
gether of the representatives Of the miners
and the operators.
Both sides have arrived at the conclusion
that a settlement Of this case with the aid
Of the commission can only be arrived At
after the expenditure OF great amount Of
time and tremendous sum OF money In
the way of fees and expenses Both sides,
too. it is whispered, have had reason to
dislike the making public Of certain matters
Of detail that must come out II the ex-
animation of all the witnesses summoned
il allowed to proceed.
There are all sorts Of rumors as to basis
Of settlement flying about here to-niGht,
but it Ifs safe to say that every story OF that
character given out is debatable. No real
offer has probably been made by eithep
side. Suggestions Of certain kinds have
been made as feelers. but there IL no evidence
that either side is prepared to accept
any one OF them.
The lieutenants Of John Mitchell, who
have not been appraised OF all the in6t1B
facts, are asserting tonight that the miners
will get the long end Of the settlement
that il likely TO be made. but this claim
is secuted by men on the other side who
are in a position TO be well informed.
1t is said by them that the counsel for
the miners are the ones most clamorous
for a settlement and that it is upon their
initiative, mainly, that the operators are
considering an adjustment Of the difficulty
outside Of court
An attorney connected with the case who
Is in position 10 be well informed. informed
the representative OF THE SUN tonight that
the settlement overtures now being ex-
changed grew out Of the fact that Mr..
Darrow, chief counsel for the miners, IL
surprised to learn how much weaker IL the
case Of the miners than he thought it to be
when he left Chicago to take charge Of II.
Mr.. Darrow Is a keen and able lawyer,
he knows the value Of testimony and he
has not been deceived by the Developments
OF the past few days. He was surprised
when he called Mitchell to the stand TO
find that the President Of the United Mine
Workers, despite the excellent showing
that he made, was no more than theorist,
he had had no experience in the mines Of
the anthracite region. and. according to
his own testimony, could only remember
having been in one the ISIS, In Wilkes
Barre.
The Rev. DR.. Roberts had been relied
upon as tower Of strength for the miners.
but owing to the book that he had pub
lished and his writings for the Outlook he
was a much stronger witness for the opera.
tors than for the side Of the controversy
that he represented
Mr.. Darrow had reason TO fear that when
the practical miners were called to the
stand they would be as wax in the hAnds
of the counsel for the operators and that
the latter would be able to prove by the
witnesses called by their opponents even
more than they have claimed about the
hours worked by the contract miners and
the wages that the miners have been MAILING
The operators have thought since the
time that the commission was named that
the latter would give the operatives some
thing in the way OF compromise. There
fore they have been willing to agree to some
arran cement that would come within tho
provisions of the agreement that they made
with the President that led to the appoint
ment Of the commission.
As a result Of the negotiations that have
beel in progress there vas mid night meet
ing Of counsel held at the Hotel Jsrmyn
in this city last night. This had been pro-
ccded by a hurried trip to New York and
for the Erie, the Hillside Coal and Iron
Company, and the Pennsylvania Coal
When Mr.. Macveagh, who saw in New
York the high officials OF his company.
returned TO this city yesterday. he brought
the company named would agree to. This
resulted in this midnight conference, which
was attended by nearly all the counsel OF
the coal companies. who are In this city,
as well as the counsel for the miners, In
Guiding, il is said, the youngest among
them
At this session II became evident that
sctt Element could probably be reached
without calling upon the good offioee OF
the members Of the commission, but u Ii
said that no real offer was made by either
side and that there was no formal negotia-
tion for an ending of the trouble.
One authority says tonight that tha
operators suggested this az basis Tor q
settlement. An advance OF rs per cent.
In wages; nine hours to constitute dAy's
| work mirers to be paid by the weight
system. and a contract TO be made with
the miners, This was satisfactory to the
miners, this authority SAYS. with the ex-