New-York tribune., 1902-05-15
SAY THERE'L BE NO STRIKE
OPERATORS HERE TAKE \ HOPEFUL
VIEW.
THE CIVIC FEDERATION KEEPING Up ITS
EFFORTS TO AVERT TROUBLE.

THE CIVIC FEDERATION KEEPING Up ITS
EFFORTS TO AVERT TROUBLE.
The belief that there will be strike of an
thracite miners was expressed both by the rep
resentativ of the coal carrying companies. and
the Independent operators yesterday, in spite of
disquetng reports from the mining districts.
In Wall Street circles there seemed to be the
same feeling, and the market firm all day.
1t was learned that the Civic Federation was
still working quietly to avert strike. and that
even if a permanent strike ordered, it would
not cease its efforts to bring about a settlement,
though Ralph NJ. Easley. secretary of the Civic
Federation. would not talk on the subject
A member of the Civic Federation who did not
want to he quoted by name said: The Civic
Federation is still trying to find what it can do
to settle this dispute. All its resources are not
yet exhausted"
The representatives of the coal carrying com
panies had another Informal talk over the situa-
tion yesterday, and. whatever happens, the inde-
pendent coal operators will act with them. w. H.
Truesdale president of the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad. said yesterday
that he believed there would be strike.
Asked what he based this belief he said:
well. have believed right along that there
would be strike, from the sentiment among
the miners, for one thing, and l still believe it,
The miners have toyed too long with the situa-
tion to make it probable now that they will
strike. This of course, is my belief. Any one
else can believe what he likes"
THE Civic Federation is still ready to use its
good offices for peace. Are the operators still
decided to grant no CONCESSIONS"
Well he replied Il have heard of no one
waverng l am of the same mind 1 was in
at the first"
Henry s. Fleming, secretary of the Anthracite
Coal Operators Association. No. l Broadway,
representing the Independent operators also eX-
pressed the opinion that there would be no
strike. He also said that the independent oper-
ators would act with the coal carrying COM
panes
THE demands perfectly unreasonable, for
one thing" he continued, land a different con-
dition of affairs exists in the mining districts
from the conditions when the last strike took
place. Then there were benevolent societies
which collected money and aided the strikers
These societies are dsbanded now. Another
thing that will put the strikers in bad position
If a strike takes place is the fact that the
storekeepers have cut off their credits. They
had to do this because the wholesale houses cut
off their credits pending tie strike decision
The miners in demanding higher wages, he
said. were wanting the operators 10 do what
miners wanted increase OF wages in order
that they might pay higher wages 10 the la
borers. who were employed by the miners and
demanded mOTs wages
The gross earnings OF the mrers." he con
tiuued, range from 50 or SO TO Sli or $lJ
day. out OF this they pay from 81 - to So
day 10 their laborers. They also pay about s.
a day for powder. and this. with tool sharpen
Ing and other expenses. brings their net earn
ings down 20 ~ ~ a day
Mr. Fleming said that the talk Of the laborerS
getting from - cents to 81 % day non
sense Boys AT the breakers got those wages.
There a great deal OF false sentiment too.
ne said. about the way the Hungarians and
Savs were lodged and vivid descriptions had
been given Of the squalid huts they lived in
and the way they we're crowded into boarding
houses.
LAS matter Of fact" he concluded. they
won't live any other way. Separate cottages
have been provided for them. but they wouldn't
live in them Thirty people viii insist living
in boarding houses built 10 accommodate ten
people. That Is the difficulty with them. and
the pictures Of backyards showing people hud
died up together do not mean that they could
not live more comfortably II they wished