The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-08
Meeting Held in Buffalo But Nothing of Definite Na-
 lure is Done
STRONG APPEAL 10 MITCHELL
Says His Men Have Offered to Submit to Fair Arbitration, and Next Offer Should Come From
 the Operators.

l Buffalo, N. Y, October 1.-The confer ence between the committee appointed by the National manufacturers and Pres- ident Mitchell and his lieutenants held at the Iroauois hotel this afternoon did not result in any definite plan being agreed upon for the partial resumption of work in the anthracite coal fields. but the mem bers of the manufacturers committee stated that they were greatly pleased with the progress made. The fact that communication was established with the operators by long distance telephone and an appointment made to meet commit tee representing them in Philadelphia to- morrow is looked upon as significant, as 1t has been announced by members of the manufacturers that there existed no un- derstanding with the operators prior to today's meeting and no step in that di- reotion would be taken until the nego- tiations with President Mitchell reached a stage where such meeting would pro- nise results.
 MT. Mitchell this afternoon positively declined to discuss the request made by Pre- sidsnt Roosevelt that Mitchell use his l influence to induce the miners to resume work with a promise of an appointment 1 of a committee to investigate the miners l grievances. It was learned, however, that MT Mitchell does not regard the propo- sition favorably and that he will decline to ask the miners to resume work under the conditions stipulated.
 The Manufacturers.
 The following gentlemen represented l the manufacturers at today's meeting David NJ. Parry, president of the manufacturers association, Indianapolis; George H. Barbour of Detroit. Richard Young of New York, Frank Leake of Philadelphia and John Maxwell of In dianapolis. The miners were represented l by President Mitchell, Secretary Treas urer Wilson and District President T. D. Nichols, Thomas Duffy and John Fahy.
 The conference was held behind closed doors and only a brief statement was given out at the end of the meeting. 1 The statement is as follows
 .'The committee of the National Asso- l ciation of Manufacturers has listened to the explanation of the present strike diff ficulty as offered by special committee of the United Mine Workers at the head of which was MT Mitchell. The national association of manufacturers had learned what it could of the conditions and now goes to Philadelphia for the purpose of meeting a committee of mine operators with tie idea of getting their side or the difficulty The National Association or Manufacturers committees carries no | proposition from the mine workers ana | has no other mission than the desire to speedily bring about a settlement or tnis dispute.
 "GEORGE H. BARBOUR of Detroit,
 "RICHARD YOUNG of New York. "FRANK LEAKE of Philadelphia
 On Ground of Humanity.
 It is known that MT. Mitchell was ap- healed to on the ground of humanity to concede every possible point so that the country might be saved from the hard shins and sufferings incident to coal famine which seemed inevitable. It is also stated that a proposition or some kind was submitted to the mine workers' but the terms specified are not optalna- | ble.
 Tn reply Mr. Mitchell pointed out in substance that offers for conciliation all ready brought forth by those high In authority had been spurned by the op- orators He would not place the miners in the position of supplicants for peace. I They were willing to abide by the decis- ion of fair arbitrators. As the matter now stood, a proposal from the operators was the thing to be expected.
 After the meeting President Perry was 1 asked if the conference had resulted in bringing any nearer the solution Of the strike question.
 we have great hopes that something definite will be done he replied.
 What If this attempt at conciliation proves to be a faiure?
 'sThen the prospect is bad one. Man ufacturers are trying to run on soft coal, but they cannot get a sufficient quantity of that. One cannot contract for any large quantity. In a short time this will be exhausted. This will mean the shut ting down of factories, depriving work ingmen of an opportunity to earn live ihood and adding hunger as well as cold to the miseries of the people"
 .How many men are employed in fac tories represented by the association?'
 .srhere are 1500 manufacturers. and each employs from 800 to 15O0 men,
 The five members of the manufactur- CTS committee left here tonight for Phil adelphia.
 cure ANAIMCT RAII RnAnC