Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-27
The Coal Strike Commission
and Miners and Operators
Representatives Meet
IN THE COAL REGION
Mitchell and Fahy to Represent the
Miners and Coal Carrying Roads to
Be Represented by Baer, Thomas and
aIaree Number of Attorneys-Gen-
eral Resumption Of Mining.

Washington, Oct 27.-With one or
two exceptions the parties to the an
thracite coal controversy have arrived
in the city for the purpose of attending
the conference with the presidents
commission at two. this afternoon and
it is expected all will be present when
the conference opens. The members OF
the commission are all in the city.
Notwithstanding there are quite num-
members of the commission are hope
full that they will be able to complete
the preliminary arrangements at one
sitting. So far as the operators ana
miners have expressed themselves. they
have indicated a willingness to SUI
borniate their desires in the matter OF
time and place Of the hearing to the
wishes Of the commission. 1t Is the gen
eral understanding that practically all
the meetings for taking of testimony
will be held in the antracite regions
and it is believed the commission Will
be able to get to work during the
present week. Another preliminary
question which will require attention
is that as to questions to be taken
up by the commission. Mitchell will
press for a very general inquiry, while
it is understood the operators will seek
TO restrict the inquiry.
The commission met at this after
noon in the room OF the interstate CONS
merce commission.
AL! members OF the commission were
present. President Mitchell, of the
mine workers, and District President
Fahy, appeared for the miners.
The coal carrying roads are repre-
sented as follows:
President Baer. president of the Phil
adelpl1ia and Reading; Chairman Z. B.
Thomas, of the Erie; President Walter
Of the Lehigh Valley; President
Truesdale, of the Lackawanna; Vice
President Wilcox, of the Delaware and
Hudson; John b. Herr,yice president.
OF the Scranton Coal Company, and
Elkhill Coal and Iron Company: j. III.
Torrey, attorney for the Delaware and
Hudson; Francis I. Gowan. attorney,
for the Lehigh Valley Company.
It is agreed that Mitchell should file
with the commission next Monday q
detailed statement of the claims of the
miners. Representatives of the opera
tors announced they would file an an
swer to that statement within three
days. The suggestion that each side to
the controversy appoint an expert to go
thru the books of the coal companies
for the purpose of securing data on
which to work drew forth objections
from the Representatives of the compa-.
;ott
The commission decided to begin in
vestigation into the conditions in the
coal regions Thursday next at Scran-
ton.
Before opening proceedings the mem-
bers Of the commission and represen-
tatives of the contesting parties We're
photographed. Judge Gray, president
OF the commission, read the order Gre
ating the commission and in general
way outlined the procedure to be fol-
lowed. He stated the commission would
first receive a statement of the miners,
who were to be regarded for the pur-
pose Of the case as prosecutors. The
reply of the other side would then be
heard, in order that the commission
might have before it a definite issue.
At the conclusion of Gray's report Nit
chell read the statement of the miners
adopted by the ShamolSin convention,
rejection OF which resulted in the
strike President Baer objected to the
appearance of Mitchell as represen-
tative of the United Mine Workers. but
said he had no objection to his appear
ance as representative Of the anthra-
cite coal miners generally. Baer's OBJ
iect was to avoid recognition of the
union as an order. Mitchell in reply
said he appeared as a representative of
the anthracite coal miners and dis
tinctly refrained in his reply from
mentioning the union. Baer and Thorn
as suggested that the commission pro-
ceed at once to the coal fields in order
that it might be Informed at the outset
as to the conditions there