The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-04-04
STRIKE A MONTH OFF
That Is the Situation Relative TO
the Trouble in the Anthra-
cite Region.
CANCELLATION rs TO BE TESTED
Civic Federation, Coal Operators and
Miners Leaders Agree to Talk
Things Over.

New York. March 29.-President
Mitchell last night sent the following
telegram addressed to the secretaries
OF the three anthracite districts: I'VE
held conference with presidents OF
ccal-carryinG railroads and Cancellation
committee of National Civic Fedora
ton today. After discussing the stu
alton the Civic Federation requested
DOstpOnement Of action for I period
not to exceed thirty days, within
which time operators agree to meet
us in conference with Civic Federation
for the purpose Of trying to reconcile
differences between U.S. In the mean
time mines are to continue in opera
ton as usual. We are hopeful that
questions at issue will be satisfactOr-
lily adjusted and strike averted. Nc
tlfy all mine workers to defer action
upon resolution adopted at Shamokin
convention
Claims of the Two Parties Stated.
The foregoing telegram tells fully
the result of the gathering referred to-.
Senator Hanna, as chairman of the in
dustrial department of the Federation,
was empowered to call another confer
cnce at any favorable time within
the next thirty days. The workers
asked for an increase in pay, a short
ening of the working day to eight
hours, and the adoption of a scale
for the entire district The operators
declined to grant the demands as to
time and pay, and refused to permit
the complete unionizing of their prop
critics. The operators offered to meet
employees with grievances at any time,
| but insisted that there be no distinc-
| ton between union and non-uniOn men.
| They also asserted that present mar
| ket conditions did not Warrent any in
| crease in wages or decrease in work
| ing time.
Men Who Were in Conference.
| Senator Hanna, Oscar s. Straus and
| Frank Duncan. a subcommittee named
| by the conciliators, arranged for the
| conference, which was held at the
| Church Mission Home. The operators
present were w. III. Truesdale, presi-
| dent of the Delaware. Lackawanna
and Western railroad; e. 3. Thomas.
| chairman of the board of the Erie
| railroad; George S. Baer of the Read
| ing railroad, and Robert Olyphant,
| president of the Delaware and Hudson
| company. The spokesman for the min
! ers were John Mitchell, president of
| the United Mine Workers, and Dis
! trict Presidents Nichols. John Fahey
| and Thomas Duffy. The presidents
| made the point that the ultimatum of
! the union to strike on April 1 did not
| give proper time for a discussion of
! the differences existing and seemed
! like a threat held over them.
Mitchell Makes a Concession.
President Mitchell and his assistants
said they were highly DESTROYS of i'm
| proving the condition of their fellow
workers by peaceful means, and that
while there was any prospect of ac-
ccmplishing their purpose by such
means they were prepared to withhold
| the strike order. Mitchell agreed to
! withdraw the order temporarily to give
| opportunity for the second conference
| which Senator Hanna is to call. When
! Senator Hanna came from the confer
! ence room he said that an agreement
| seemed likely, and Oscar Straus agreed
| with him. Mitchell and his coileag CUES
| refused to talk.