The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-24

! submitted to the strike commission for
approval must first nave TO be approved
by all the independent companies. If
the independent companies were not
disposed to agree on a settlement made
between the large companies and the
miners, it would make matters inter
esting. A common remark heard in
the anthracite regions is that no mat
ter what the big companies do, the
smaller concerns will have to go
along" The independents do not see
it in that light.
The large coal companies have been
gradually absorbing the independent
companies and in the case OF several
of these small operators it is only a
question of time when the large COM
panies viii have control of all of
them.
There has as yet been no definite
| time set for the holding of the con-
fererces between the representatives of
the large companies and the mine
workers. Attorneys and other persons
representing the big companies have
| gone TO New York to get instructions
and authority to act. Nothing viii be
done here until they return clothed
with the power to negotiate a settle
ment. Clarence S. Darrow, leading
/ counsel for the miners union. was in
New York today on private business,
it is said.
Forecast of Agreement.
While nothing has been agreed upon
/ the best forecast that can be made at
this time is that the men will receive
| in the neighborhood of a 10 per cent
| Increase, d nine-hour day, the weigh
ing of coal to be adjusted as best can.
and agreements between the men and
the company by whom they are en-
ployed. The agreements, it is expected.
| VIII run for a term of two or three
years, from Nov. l. The four prin-
! cipal demands of the miners are for
a 20 per cent increase, an eight-hOur
! day. weighing of coal wherever prac-
ticable by the ton, and yearly trade
agreements.
A representative OF the miners said
today that it is possible that the men
| employed by each company will have
a committee or organization to deal
! with the company officials. the men
| to have the privilege of calling into
the conference for advice the national
president of the union in case of dis
| putes. If this scheme is not adopted,
| then another which win have the col
4 lectiye bargain idea, it is believed, viii
be agreed upon. The report that the
commission was the first to suggest
that the opposing forces get together
ton was made TO leading counsel on
each side, and Mr.. MacVeagh went to
| New York and received the consent OF
the officials there. The commission
saw that the proceedings will be in
terminable, and, if possible, il would
be better to have them make another
effort TO settle their differences with
out having the commission cOmpe
them to take something which would
not satisfy either party. In the mean
time, the commissioners viii go ahead
and study the situation from facts ano
figures to be presented, just as they
have been doing. The Subcommittee
did not meet today COMMISSIONS
! Clark, who is now president of the
Order of Railway Conductors, attended
the regular meeting of the district or
ganiza ton of the order here yesterday
A representative of one of the small
err companies, well verSed to speak or
the present situation, said today:
1.-The independent operator is in al
unfortunate position. Every time the
large companies and the union get in
to a conflict the small concerns, whose
men as a rule have no grievances, art
drawn into it. and the d Independent
, company must share the burden of thu
battle.
while the Individual companies arr
not willing to do so. many of then
feel it would be better to make term
with the United Mine Workers o
America and live in peace than <
! have their business disturbed ever!
time the others get into a quarrel
t which always draws them into it.
: would be a matter of self preserva
} ton