The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-10

New York, October 9.-Replete at its opening with a promise of a solution or the long drawn out struggle between the United Mine Workers of America and the operators of the anthracite properties in Pennsylvania this day has closed without apparent appreciable progress toward an agreement upon the issues in controversy Most noteworthy of the days events was a conference at the office of Senator Thomas C. Platt, at which there were present, among others, the two senators from Pennsylvania and the governor or New York, and nearly all the heads or the big corporations controlling the an- thracite fields. In all seeming this con ference had a contrary effect to that which had been hoped from 1t, and the operators departed declaring adherence to the policy they have followed from the first of resisting the demands of the miners union to the bitter end. There were other conferences during the day iE which President Mitchell and people of more or less consequence in the industrial world participated, but these, so far as information goes, were barren of result, as the principal meeting, details of which are given below on the authority of one who was present.
 In brief there has been no change in the situation today so far as it might have been affected by the gathering in New York of labor leaders, mine. operators and public men.
 Will Not Consider Politics.
 From what may be described as an in- side and authorative source, it may be announced that the conference at the office of Senator Platt was absolutely without result. the operators refusing to consider the political aspect of the situation and maintaining the position that the question was one between the employer and employe as to the man agement of the properties concerned.
 Acording to the authority above indi- cated, Senator Quay and Governor Odeil expressed the opinion that if the strike continued for another fortnight or longer, the effect would be to so impress the public mind with the one subject of the shortage of fuel that political duties would be neglected and the voters re- main away from the polls on election day, with the natural result that the ma- jority party in Pennsylvania and New York would be the greater sufferer. Sem ator Penrose expressed his concurrence in the representations of the others. and Senator Platt and MT. Lautenrpacn sroke in similar strain. These latter odvised something in the nature Of an armistice, under an implied promise to the miners that their union would be rec ognized by the operators.
 On their part the operators declared that the question at issue was entirely o.1t ortu md fhaV refuS- ed to be influenced by representations as to the effect the strike might have upon the fortunes of one party or the other.
 Another Suggestion.
 One of the political conferees next suggested that to protect the struggie with the miners union would be to open the way for the advocates of anti-corpo- ration legislation at Harrisburg and All hanv to move for the introducing or measures calculated to impair the value of railroad and coal properties, anu tnal it was 'even possible in the stress or pup lie opinion that laws might be enacted that would impair for years the vaiue ol the properties and the operators repre- sented. It was said by one speaker that a bill of this anta agonistic character had already been framed and was ready for s,hrnission to the Pennsylvania legisla- ture. The possibility of harassing litl- gation both in Pennsylvania ana New York was also dwelt upon and the Tear expressed that in some instances the state of the public mind might influence the determination of such suits
 These representations failed 10 move +be onerators who further expressed their confidence in the integrity or the courts and said they had no fear or the s,ccess of any attack that might be made through the state legislatures upon the property interests concerned.
 Late tonight there was conference III inc rooms of the republican state com mittee between Governor Odeii Cnalr- man George w. Dunn, of the state com mittee. and Edward Lauterbach. con cerning this conference Governor odeil would only indicate that the talk was along general lines. He said, however, that the approval, of President Mitchell had not been obtained to any suggestion or propositions for settling the strike: He added that If there was renewal or the conference at Senator Platts office he would in all likelihood take part in 1t.
 Senator Penrose was about the hotel up to il o'clock tonight. He declined 10 be interviewed.
 About this time Mir. Lauterbach and David Lamar drove up to the Ashland house and went in to see President Mitchell. They were taken up stairs to MT. Mitchell's room where they re- ofxad tr 1onforap0a aho11t twenty r1fp-