New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-23
INDEPENDENTS HANG BACK
THEY WANT HEARINGS BEFORE COM
MISSION TO CONTINUE.
ADJOURNMENT TAKEN UNTIL DECEMBER
AND ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR
CONFERENCE TO BRING ABOUT
\ SETTLEMENT
TBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


of a speedy settlement of the questions at issue
between the operators and the mine workers.
The big coal companies and their employees may
be able to agree so far as to submit TO the
Strike Commission, when it reconvenes on De-
cember g. a plan for a settlement which the
Commission would approve. but the individual
operators. believing their position stronger than
that OF the big companies, insist that their SIDE
be fully heard. AS the commission cannot dis
criminate. and as the independents are as fully
parties to the agreement the big companies.
the request will probably have to be granted,
unless. in the mean time, an agreement is
reached.
Attorneys for the mine workers and some OF
Che attorneys for the big operators have been
after President Crawford, head of the indie
pendent operators and other members of that
body, all day. But Mr.. Crawford maintains
that their position is impregnahle. He insists
on further hearing before the commission,
and saws that there is a mass of testimony to
be submitted The large companies Will, DC
tween now and December 3, endeavor to reach
an a1nicable understanding with the mine WORK
ers upon the questions of wages and hours OF
work
The independent operators had an IDEA Wheh
shev came TO the session this morning that Mr..
barrow. the attorney for the mine workers ana
some of the big operators were endeavoring TO
mission and settle it among themselves IheS
made 4 vigorous protest. Ira Burns. their at
4ornev complained that in the conference u
decide on the time of adjournment they mao
not been consulted. He said: We have no oo-
lection whatever to adjournment ana an
endeavor to conciliate, but we would not wan
It understood that Mr.. Darrow and someoous
else could get together and settle the "hoie
thing without letting know anything ABOUT
st"
You will have ample opportunity as Tar %
we are concerned" said Judge Gray.
eft seems TO us" continued Mr.. Burns. that
.bere are other people who should be consulted
besides the people who arc here represented tlie
rublic who have TO pay all the expenses IN tiie
end If there is an increase in wages, or an! :
thing of that kind, It is 10 rest on the po"eu
shoulder of the consumer. While the consumer
g not actually represented here. yet he no
Doubt has the utmost confidence. as We al
have. in the integrity of this commission anu
,ho in7nartial Judgment which it shall exercise
For o,1r own part. We would like to have the
,birg fought out instead of an arrangement
,,atO.eeu the parties Immediately Interested.
I,,dga GRAY assured Mr.. Brown that the com
mission had no intention of settling the questlolS
,,itrou+ hearing the terms of agreement and
said that whatever plan was decided on "ouiu
have TO be submitted to the commission.
Ny N@
..But % he continued, Il am saying we want the
Judgment of the commission and we want a
fun hearing, and want judgment that the
YeorIe Of the whole country viii have confidence
in and which will tend to make things per
rnanent rather than temporary arrangement as
every arrangement heretofore has been. we
think that--the judgment Of the commission
viii be something that Will last for years while
A temporary arrangement between the operators
rIs--fr7 Hrl1 EeF
will be something that they viii quarrel over
next year
Mr. Burns then submitted the statement OF
the independent operators, which fol-
lows:
If the commission please. we are not a party nor
were Ne consulted in the submission, as agreed
panies and tie representstives Of the United Mine
Workers Of AmeTG9 Af b the 1ai Presiaenf e we're
invited by the recorder OF this commission to be
come party to its deliberations. with the under
standing that the agreements were to be plnolng
the independent operators signihed their willing
ness to become rarity TO and 10 submit TO TINS
nal onerafors are concerned Nothing has deveI-
oped in this prelin nary hearing that tends to
change our minds to the position We took on
pendent operators point OF view. there is some
hing more vital, that concerns not only the OPP
orator. but every American citizen living In the
consequence than the mere advancing Of wages
or the recognition Of any labor organization.
been assaed; terrorism. intimidation and, indeed,
anarchy have prevailed throughout the anthracite
least have expression of the American peo-
pie. through this honorable commission appointed
by their President, thereby placing their seal OF
dsapprova upon future acts. that any one
claiming 10 be a citizen and under the protection
Of American government would hesitate before
he would assail the rights of another individual
As 10 the increase Of wages. the independent op-
orators believe, stated in their answer to the
fbst The wages rsid to- The mine ~ u,oer ti
q IN ma nv fpCfa ~
ceed the price paid for skilled Labor In te yicnjt
wherein their collieries are located Under the
competitive conditions Of operations the indie
pendent operators are not in a position 10 concede
an advance Of wages: so therefore thev desire
after "A reasonable adjournment Of your commits
sion for the purpose of obtaining the uecessa r.
statistics opportunity OF presenting facts and
figures 10 the commission, which figures will show
working for the indep, ndent operators is over 500
a year, and in many instances from 1000 to 81 200
year that when receive the decision of
your honorable body il will mean something more
than temporary peace.
Mr.. Darrow removed any doubts as to the po-
sition of the mine workers. He said: I'VE have
no desire and would not consider it wise to
take the matter out Of the hands of this COM
mission We have no power to do IL and have
no desire to do it, and could not accomplish
anything without the assistance of the commits
sion We have had no conference, and we GER
tainly do not wish TO ignore anybody who is
interested mere, and nothing would be accom-
pllshed without consulting every one who IL
mere AS far as the mine workers are con-
cerneo, they want a full report from the com
mission; but, like any other controversy settled
IN court, II seems to that agreements bv
the parties concerned. on the facts or any other
phase, are always helpful
The position of the non-un3op mon ,rae a.
pressed by Mr.. Lenahan representing them IIa
said: i can only say on behalf of my clients
lnat the Steps now being taken for this concilia-
"oH meet WIN the highest and greatest favor
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