Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-05-19
MINERS AWAIT ISSUE.
No Peace Offers Made by Either Side
In Dispute.
THE SCRANTON SITUATION.
Now Estimated That Three Thou
sand Reading RniIrOad Employ
ees Are Idle nv Result of strike.
Mitchell In Conference.

~ NV -
miners strike. No peace offers hay"
been made by either side, and there is
nothing on the surface to indicate any
immediate action Of Il settlement.
President Mitchell has remained
close to headquarters going over mat
tiers pertaining to miners in many
states. His time has been principally
taken up by a conference with the Iii
nois soft coal operators over a few
disputed points in the Springfield
bituiminous district. The matter was
finally disposed of, an agreement being
reached which was satisfactory to both
sides. The agreement was not made
public. but it will run for another year.
The Illinois delegation has left for the
west.
Nothing official has been given out
regarding the calling out of the btu
minous miners. 1t is understood, how
ever, that the district presidents of the
three anthracite districts are in COM
munication with the presidents of the
bituminous district for the purpose of
getting two of them to make up the
five necessary to call a special national
convention to consider the ACCESSIBILITY
Of calling out the soft coal miners.
This is believed to be Il mere formali-
ty, as it is thought the West Virginia
and Michigan districts will agree to
the assembling of such a convention.
Reports received at strike headquar-
tiers were to the effect that the order
to strike was being carried out to the
letter. Several rumors reached here
that nonunion men, of whom there are
comparatively few, had made attempts
to return to work in some localities,
but not one OF these could be verified.
Easley Confers With Mitchell.
The arrival here of Ralph Nj. Easley.
secretary of the National Civic fedora
ton, lends color to the reports which
have been current for the past few
days that the Civic federation is max
ing an effort to terminate the anthra-
cite coal miners strike.
Mr.. Easley reached this city from
New York and repaired at once to the
Valley hotel. where he met President
Mitchell, with whom he Immediately
went into conference behind closed
doors.
Secretary Easley was met at the rail
road station by a correspondent, to
whom he stated that his visit was for
the purpose Of Cooking over the
ground" Asked If he brought any
message from Senator Hanna or any
other members of the Civic federation.
Mr.. Easley replied in the negative and
added that he was not acting in the
capacity Of a messenger.
Despite Secretary Easley's %reticence,
however, his presence here at this time
is regarded as significant from the fact
that he has spent much time in Wash
ington in conference with Senator Han
ma and Samuel Gompers, president of
the Federation of Labor and a mem
Der of the National Civic federation.
1t is known that the strike situation
was discussed with a view to ascertain
means by which an adjustment might
be reached.
Situation In Scranton.
A dispatch from Scranton, Pa, says:
"There have been only two develop
ments of any Importance in the miners
strike situation here. One was an eff
fort made by the Delaware, Lackawan-
ma and Western company to induce the
firemen, engineers and pump unners to
act as coal and iron police. and the 9TH
er was a question Of supplying coal to
the silk factories and Oral school.
"Oficials of the ~Lackawanna cOmpa-
ny it is said. requested the firemen.
the collieries operated by that compa-
nv to be sworn in as coal and iron pO-
licemen. The matter was reported at
once to the headquarters of District
No. 1 Of the United Mine Workers of
America, with which organization the
men are affiliated. National President
Mitchell was communicated with, and
he advised the men not to be sworn in
as police. but to serve as watchmen
and do all in their power to preserve
law and order and to protect the com
pany's property.
"E. f. Loomis, head Of the coal de-
partment of the Delaware, Lackawan-
ma and Western company, was in the
city and had a conference regarding
the situation with the local officials of
the company. The Delaware. Lacka-
wanna and Western company is operat,
ing two Of it's washeries and will on
tinue to operate them"
The Philadelphia and Reading Rail-
way company suspended eighty-five
car repairers at st. Clair, near Maha-
noy City, and closed its station at Bear
Run Junction. Several powder mills
near GAINESVILLE have shut down owing
to a lack of fuel.
1t is estimated that 5000 employees
Of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail
way company aside from mine workers
have been rendered idle as a result of
| the strike in the anthracite coal region.
Banker Never Kept Books.
Syracuse. May 19.-Francis W. Grid