Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-09
SIGNS OF SETTLEMENT
Mitchell Has Important Con-
ference in New York.
WALLSTREET AFFECTED
GENERAL BELIEF THAT STRIKES
END IS NEAR
Operators Said to Have Submitted
Proposition to the Mine
Workers.
WALLSTREET AFFECTED
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.

tlement of the coal strike. The morning
conferences between President Mitchell.
Gov. Odell. Senator Platt, Senator Quay.
Senator Penrose and the railway operators
through the Intermediates. Mr.. Hartman
and Mr.. Lauterbach, were very satisfac-
tory.
That is the conferences were satisfac-
tory to the point that the railway mag
mates were willing to acknowledge the ex-
istence of John Mitchell. fact which they
have up to this time ignored. The prelim-
mary conference ended shortly after the
noon hour, and recess was taken until
o'clock.
At the afternoon conference the three dis
trict presidents who accompanied Mr..
Mitchell to New York will be present. This
is considered very good sign. 1t is taken
to mean that a definite proposition is to be
presented by the coal operators and is to
be considered by the mine workers leaders.
This is more progress than has yet been
made. Everybody is hopeful.
Hurried Departure From Wilkesbarre.
NEW YORK, October 9.-The center Of
interest in the coal strike shifted rapidly
yesterday afternoon. Along about o'clock
everything seemed quiet at Wilkesbarre.
President Mitchell was in his office. re-
ings, announcing their decision to stick to
the strike The afternoon newspaper men
had got their stuff off and were planning for
lead for the next day; the morning news
paper men were blocking out their story
for the night and there was no sign of any
thing out of the routine.
But a little after 3 o'clock there was a
stir about strike headquarters. John
Mitchell went to the long-distance phone
and talked with New York. A few min
utes afterward he came out, accompanied
by the three district presidents. and an
nounced that they were off to New York.
Then there was Commotion among the
newspaper men, Such scattering and
packing up and settling of bills and hus-
Ting of baggage to catch the train Within.
fifteen minutes the town was stripped of
newspaper men, and the whole bunch were
speeding to New York with the strike lead
ers. President Mitchell went to his hotel,
the Ashland House, on 4th avenue and oath
street, and soon thereafter disappeared.
Some of the correspondents who had gone
to the Fifth Avenue Hotel, the rendezvous
of republican politicians, ran across Mr..
Mitchell half an hour later, as he went up
stairs in the elevator.
Conference With Prominent Men.
Governor Odell of New York, Senators
Quay and Penrose Of Pennsylvania and
Senator Plat were at the Fifth Avenue. Mr..
Mitchell went into conference with those
men and talked until after midnight.
Senator Quay made desperate effort to
induce the strike leader to call off his men.
For three hours the politicians pleaded with
him.
Mr. MitchelTs invariable response to every
argument was that the settlement of the
strike must come from the operators. He
told his auditors that the strikers were
sodly back of him, and read to them some
of the kilograms he had received during the
day. One of those kilograms was from the
miners employed by John Markle, the gen
tlemen who affronted President Roosevelt
in Washington few days ago with his in
solent assertions That telegram said: I'VE
will stay out until h freezes over, or
until we are ordered back by our president,
John Mitchell
Mr.. Mitchell told Senator Quay that with
hts men in such a mood as that, it was
useless to talk of concessions from the
strikers. Concessions must come from the
operators.
But Governor Oder and Senator Quay
would not give up. 1t is a desperate case
with them. They urged Mr.. Mitchell to
stay over today and enable them to talk
with Mr.. ]. Pierpont Morgan and the oper-
ators. To this Mr.. Mitchell willingly con-
sented. He said that he was glad to go
more than half way to bring about a set
tlement. He realized the interest of the
public in the situation, but he insisted that
the interests of the $4,000 miners, who had
intrusted their fortunes to him, formed his
first concern.
The conference ended at 1890, without
anything definite, and with the understand
Ing that efforts would be resumed today.
Penrose Predicts Good News.
Senator Penrose said this morning that
he had reason to expect good news before
the day was over, promising settlement Of
the strike. Wall street also was in hopeful
mood early in the day. The coal railway
stocks advanced rapidly in the forenoon on
the strength of reassuring reports. 1t was
rHmored that President Baer Of the Read
ing had resigned. and this led to the report
that Mr.. ]. Pierpont Morgan had intervened
and demanded that the railways make con-
cessionS.
Governor Oden left the Fifth Avenue Ho-
tel and went to Senator Platt's Office at 40
Broadway, where they were Joined by Ed
ward Lauterbach. After short talk, Mr..
Lauterbach, who Is very close to Mr.. J.
Pierpont Morgan, walked over to Mr.. Nor
gan's office and conferred with him. In
the meantime Mr.. Mitchell and Senators
Quay and Penrose were together in an
other office awaiting the result of Senator
Platt's efforts to enlist the aid of Mr.. Nor
gan to settle the strike. The -rumor of
President Baer's resignation was denied.
At noon today 1 was told by one of the
prominent men engaged in the conference
that there is probability of an important
official announcement late this afternoon.
He said that while there was possibility of
hitch in the plans, the present prospect for
early settlement was excellent.
Mr. Hartman the Go-Between.
Mr.. Mitchell and Senators Quay and PEN
rose spent the forenoon in the Office of
W. T. Hartman at 120 Broadway. Mr..
Hartman acted as the go-between for Mr..
Mitchell with Mr.. Morgan and the oper-
ators. Governor Odell and Senator Platt
were at 40 Broadway, as stated, with Mr.
Edward Lauterbach their interme diary
with the operators The most intense in
terest was displayed in Wall street ever
the conference, and the market continued
strong on the prospect of good news.
N. 0. NJ
NOTHING DEFINITE OBTAINABLE
Mitchell and the Operators Are All