Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-25

After seeing the tentative agreement sug
gested the railroad companies united In
telegram to the strike commission, declar-
ing that the general terms OF the proposed
settlement were agreeable. Mr.. MacVeagh
called attention to this telegram at this
forenoons conference, and emphasized the
fact that the railroad companies were still
of the same mind
Then what Is to be understood this con-
ference Is for?' was asked.
Nothing, except to go over the pfoposf-
ton back and forth"
us the basis a nne-hour day and g. 10
per cent increase in wages?'
II believe the general terms Of the pro-
posed settlement are practically known.
The contention of the miners Is known.
There are little differences here and there
that are necessary to be gone over. The
operators would not feel like signing con-
tract, neither would the United Mine Work
ers, until everything, all the details, were
thoroughly understood and settled"
'Will anything be given out after the con-
ference this afternoon?
Main Feature Agreed Upon.
'I don't think so. 1t may be necessary to
have still another conference. The main
features have been agreed upon and we are
now considering the minor details.''
Suppose the miners and operators agree
independently of the strike commission; will
the commission go on with its inveStiga-
tion?"
'The result of the agreement, with the
terms, will be submitted to the commission
for its approval or disapproval 1 do not
see why the commission must not do other
than go on with its work. President Roose-
welt authorized the commission to make a
thorough investigation and a full report
President Mitchell stood leaning against
the dresser and listened with interest to the
questions propounded by the newspaper
men. Several times he was sought to an
swer a question, but each time he referred
fhn int for tn Nv
President Mitchell was present at the con-
ference this afternoon. He said that he
should depart for Scranton this afternoon,
but had not decided the train.
There is every reason to believe from the
statements made by Mr.. Darrow and other
members of the party which accompanied
President Mitchell to Washington, and from
the actions of Mr.. MacVeagh as well, that
a satisfactory ending to the troubles in the
anthracite regions is only a few days off
at the most.
AS Mr.. Darrow said, thoughtfully, before
the conference was resumed this afternoon:
Il believe 1t is the beginning of the end
Congressman Howell's Purpose.
The following special dispatch was receiv
ed from The Evening Stars correspondent
at Scranton today:
: SCRANTON, Pa, November 25.-John
Mitchell, president of the United Mine
Workers, will be asked to make big sac
rifice of the immediate interests of his or
ganization in order that a far-reaching good
to union labor throughout the country may
be accomplished.
Representative-elect Howell of this city
has been urged by some of the foremost
labor leaders to introduce a bill in the next
Congress making the present strike COM
mission permanent, and he has agreed to
do this providing the miners refuse to sane
tion the movement now under. way for a
settlement of their differences with the coal
n nTr1la anil ItsiS hn mi
At a conference yesterday afternoon be-
tween Mr. Howell and President Mitchell.
G. s. Darrow. chief counsel for the miners,
and Henry d. Lloyd he outlined his atti-
THE strike commission, 1 think, was
appointed by President Roosevelt to re-
veal the true conditions that existed IN
the mining regions. If there Is anything
that the big coal companies do not want
the public to know. the public, through
the commission, has a right to demand
this. I do not know that the anthracite
coal companies are violating the statutes
of this state, but 1t has been said that
they are, and 1 think the public has q
right to determine this truth itself. The
miners should not become a party to any
movement which would keep this truth
from the public.
IF this settlement outside and separate
from the commission ia arranged 1t will
only defeat the real purposes Of the strike
commission. 1t is wrong and unjust and
a BODY blow to the interests Of successful
arbitration in Industrial disputes which
may arise in the future. I am anxious to
introduce in Congress a bill making the
present commission permanent. but l GER
tainlv will refuse to do this II the miners
sa notion this movement
An attorney of the miners who was pres
ent at the conference said: ''If Mr.. How
ell is allowed to accomplish what he seeks
to do it will be one Of the greatest victories
working for betterment of the industrial
Nf xL~k
been done so far"
Would Not Discuss It.
Neither Mr.. Harmon nor Mr.. Lloyd was
inclined to discuss the above after having
read it.