Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-05

2
not returned home. While none Of the
pear TO be preparing for a long strike.
diners May Cali Again.
SCRANTON, Pa. May 4-District Presi-
Dent T.. d. Nichols Of the United Mine
Workers returned Saturday night from the
New York conferences with coal operators.
Like all others VINO attended the confer
ehce he was not inclined TO talk at any
considerable length on what was done. On
only two things he would permit himself
to be quoted. One was that the heads Of
the coal companies accorded the miners
Representatives a full and patient hear
ing and the other that nothing was &C
complished save that they we're told that
they could come again at any time and be
heard without any stipulation being made
as to the capacity in which they might
come.
As to whether or not the miners con-
slider this latter as the gain Of an impor-
tant point. Mr.. Nichols was silent. 1t is
likely. however. that It Is considered i'm
portsnt. for II is only logical that II the
president of a coal company is willing
to hear from his employees through the
officers Of their union the local superin-
tandents cannot, with becoming grace, re-
fuse to do the same thing. 1t vas stated
that one of the coal men at the confer
ences expressed surprise In hearing that
one of his district superintendent had
refused TO grant an audience to Mr.. Nichols.
Result Hard 60 Predict. e
Il would seem from the best Informal
tion obtainable that no one can even
guess as to what will be the result Of the
district ~oficials meeting called by Presl-
dent Mitchell for this city Thursday. There
are eleven officers in the First district, and
as many more In each Of the other two
districts. Twenty-Five Of these we're in
New York. The sentiment Of these twenty
ave we're not formally canvassed and there
IL no one with any definite idea Of how
the eight absentees stand. When all come
together President Mitchell will report the
results, or rather lack Of results OF the
conferences and submit 20 them the ques-
tion OF what they propose to do about It.
Under the action OF the Shamokin conven-
ton the district officers have full power
to declare a strike or adopt whatever meas
ures seem to them best suited to the emer-
sency.
There was not SUFFICIENT capitalization OF
sentiment among the miners today to give
ground for forming any general conception
Of how they regarded the Mitchell state
ment. 1t is a surety, however, that they
are loyal to a man to their union and
will enthusiastically obey their orders.
They have been hoping all along that there
would be no strike, but II the leaders be-
iieve the situation warrants one the rank
and file will be content to have one.
liners Are Discouraged.
SHAMoKIN, Pa, May Local members
OF the special miners committee returned
from New York today. They were diseour-
aged over the refusal OF the operators to
grant an eight-hour work day. the weigh
ing OF coal at the mines and an increase
IN wages. Notice has been sent to MEM
bers OF this 1.-THE Ninth disJrict) executive
board to go to Scranton to attend the con-
vention Of the three district boards to de-
eide whether a call to strike OF order e
general convention OF miners to resolve
how to treat with the situation. The board
from this district will go to Scranton Tues
day. In case OF q tie-up $4,000 men and
boys would be rendered idle In the Ninth
district. Many miners here tonight SAID
they are ready to cease work whenever or
dered to do SO. .l
People Are Disappointed.
wILKEsBARRE, Pa, May 4.--The fail
ure Of the coal operators and representa-
tives Of the miners to come to an agree
ment at their conference in New York was
q great disappointment to the people of
this section Of the anthracite field.
The prevailing sentiment now is that a
strike can hardly be avoided. Since the
operators have refused to make any conces-
sions, the miners must either back down
In their demands or quit work. The men
Of the Wyoming region talk strongly in
favor OF q strike tonight. The defiant at
itude OF the operators appears to have
united all the underground workers into
the belief that there Is only one thing
to do and that is to quit work and remain
out until such time as the coal companies
grant their demands. The Individual coal
operators OF this section have expected a
strike. They claim the presidents OF the
large eoal-carrying companies had made
up their minds some time ago not to recog-
niEe the miners union or grant any de-
manas that might be made upon them.
Opinions differ as to how long the miners
can hold out. One OF the officers Of the
miners union said tonight that they could
hold out long enough to win The general
belief Is that II a strike is declared it will
be prolonged.