Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-25
To Confer There with Presidents of
Railroads.
q MAcyEAGH IN WASHINGTON.
He Invites Mitchell nnd His At.
torneys to Meet His and Other
Representatives OF the Operators
for a onferencc-ontlook for an
Agreement All 'Round More Hope
full Than Ever.

SCRANTON, PA, November 24.-The
scenes of the strike settlement negotia-
tions have been suddenly shifted from
Tomorrow. the commission of nine inde.
pendent operators expect to hold con-
ference with the presidents Of the coal.
carrying roads, regarding the s.tion OF
the individual companies, and a the same
time meeting betwt en- Wayne MacVeagh
and possibly other attorneys representing
the coal roads. and President Mitchell
and his attorneys. will be held in the
national capital.
Scranton and the entire coal regions
rable interest 10 hear what the Thanks
giving Offering vii! be.
The New Low conference has been
known fer twenty-iouls hours. though the
Washington meeting Swas decided upon
this evening. The Independents having
gone to New York to find out what the
large compa anies can 60 for them in the
way of freight rates. in case an increase
in wages is decided upsn. the mne-work-
ers' representatives went to Washington
10 ind out what the large companies had
to offer. Both ardently wish for success.
but.it was not within their power to say
what would be the outcome.
Proposition from Companies:
Although the miners representatives did
not know why they were summoned to
Washington, they believe the companies
have something to offer. Wayne Mac
Veagh was in Geographic communication
at noon with Clarence S. Darrow, Mr..
Mitchelrs leading attorney, and later Mr.
MacVeash called him 3up on the long
distance telephone from p Pnilade!ph;a. Mr..
McVeagh said he wished to- have con-
ference with Mr.. Mitchell and himself,
but as he was not feeling we'll, he de-
sired that they all meet IN Washington
tomorrow. instead OF Scranton. Mr.. Oar
row said that Mr.. Ma Yea gh did not tell
him what he wanted the conference for.
but he felt that Mr.. MacVeagh would
not summon them to the national capital
if he were not clothed with authority to
carry on negotiations. Mr.. Mitchelrs par
ty left here at 4:35 P. NJ. and are due
to arrive in Washington at 1850 A. M.
The m ssion of the independent opera
tors in New Yor!: is best expressed in a
statement made to the Associated Press
to-day by one of the representatives Of
the small companies. who said:
Freight Rate Matter.
THE independent companies are paying
the miners as much now as they can af-
ford, and if an increase in wages is grant
ed by the large companies the large ocm-
pan:cs must give the independent CON-
pan.es a lower freight rate to meet the
increase in wages. This is the mission
Of the committee. II they refuse to make
a concession in freight rates Or its equiv
alent. then it is proba BILE the Independent
companies Will insist upon the whole mat
ter's being threshed out before the COM
mission"
The outlook for a sett!cmen locke hope
full. in fact. more hopeful than ever. Con-
vcrsaticns with attorneys. coal opera tors
and rnlre-worI.ers show that all are
wearying OF the strife. and are willing to
waive a point here and there. in order
to end lie uncertainty Of the situation.
and restore peace and harmony to the
community and the coal trade generally.
THE Cancellation or subcommittee
of the commission. Messrs. Parker. Wat
k.ns. and Clarke. were at headquarters all
day but were not called upon to offer
their conclliatory assistance to either
side.