The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-25
Leaders of Both Sides Meet in
 Washington Today
ALL ARE ANXIOUS FOR PEACE
Scranton and the Entire Coal Region Are In the Meantime Waiting to See What the Thanksolv-
 ing Offering va Be.

Scranton, Pa, November 24-Ihe scenes of the strike settlement negotiations have been suddenly shifted from this city to Washington and New York. Tomorrow lfthe committee of nine of the independent l operators expect to hold a conference T with the presidents of the coal-carryfng roads regarding the position of the indi- vidual companies and at the same time a meeting between Wayne McVeagh and possibly other attorneys will be held in the national capital. Scranton and the entire coal region will in the meantime I wait with considerable interest to hear l what the thanksgiving offering will be. The New York conference has known for 1 twenty hours that Washington was de- cded upon this afternoon. The indepen- dents have gone to New York to find out what the large companies can do for l then in the way of freight rates in case an increase in wages Is decided upon. The mine workers representatives went to Washington to find out what the large capitalists had to offer. Both ardently wish for success, but it was not within their power to say what will be the out come.
 1 Although the miners representatives did not know why they were summoned to I Washington, they believe the companies have something to offer. Wayne Nc- Veagh was in telegraphic communication ct noon with Clarence s. Darrow, MT. Mitchelrs leading attorney, and later MT. Mcveagh called him up on the long distance telephone from Philadelphia. MT. Mcveagh said he wished to nave a conference with MT. Mitchell and him self, but as he was not feeling well he desired that they all meet in washington tomorrow instead of making the Journey to Scranton.
 MT. Darrow said that MT. Mcveagh did not tell him what he wanted the confer ence for, but he felt that MT. McVeagn would not summon them to the national capital if he were not vested with au- thority to carry on negotiations
 MtcheIPs Party Start.
 Mir. Mitchells party left here at 4:3o p. m. and are due to arrive at Washing ton at 12:50 a. m. Those who went along besides MT. Mitchell and Mr. Darrow were Henry D. Lloyd of Chicago an ad- wiser, and Miss E. c. Morris, Mir. Mitch els private secretary. From Washing ton 1t Is expected the party will go to New York, returning here Friday. That was the programme this afternoon. Be- fore leaving MT. Mitchell had confer l ence with his district presidents, Messrs. Nichols, Duffy and Fahy The nature of it could not be learned. The district of- ficials of the union now here will remain in the city.
 The larger part of the committee ot i independent operators left for New York at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon. Some of the members of the committee left earlier in the day. The mission of the indepen- dent operators to New York is best ex- pressed in statement made to the As- sociated Press today by one of the rep- resentatives of the small companies, who said:
 'The independent operator has no in- come beyond the profits derived from mining. When the mining of coal and the breakers are stopped his revenues also sease, but the expense in maintaining the property goes on.
 The large companies owned by the railroads depend their freight rates to maintain their collieries while in idle ness. The independent companies are paying the miners much now as they can afford and if an increase in wages is granted by the large companies, the large companies must give the inde-
 
 increase in wages"
 Mission of the Committee.
 This is the mission of the committed If they refuse to make a concession in freight rates or it's equivalent then it is probable the independent companies will insist upon the whole matter being threshed out before the commission. The independent companies feel that they have a good case and are willing to leave 1t to the commission. Mir. Mitchell. in his testimony before the commission last week. said that $500 year would be fair American standard of living wages Some of the independent companies are paying an average of over s700 a year. while the large companies are paying un- der those figures Therefore, if a 10 per cent increase is agreed upon, the amount of money to be paid to the men by the Independents would be greater than that of the large companies.
 Several of the resident attorneys of the large companies also went to New York. departing for the purpose of comforting with the head offices of the corporations they represent. They pleaded ignorance as to any developments in the situation, saying they were going to the metropolis to get information. Nothing was done here looking towards a settlement of the existing differences without the aid of the strike commission.
 Brief Conference.
 Mir. Darrow had brief conference with Ira H. Burns. one of the attorneys for the independent coal companies but both gentlemen said there was no significance to 1t. Mir. Darrow said
 We met merely to know one another'' The outlook for a settlement remains hopeful. in fact more hopeful than ever Conversations with attorneys, coal opera tors and mine workers show that all are wearying of the strife and are willing to waive point here and there in order to end the uncertainty of the situation and restore peace and harmony to the com munity and to the coal trade generally. "The conciliation' or subcommittee of the commission, Messrs. Parker, Watkins and Clark, was at headquarters all day. but was not called upon to offer its conciliatory assistance to either side.
 There is some talk here of having con- gress enact a law making permanent board of arbitration of the coal strike