The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-16
CRISIS COMING IN
 MINE SITUATION Settlement or Strike May Come
 Before End of Week BOTH SIDES DISCUSS IT
Farley Says Both Sides Should be Educated to a Greater Fairness That Both Are Too Grasp
 Ing at Present.

Notwithstanding lack of authentic in- formation. the impression still prevails that crisis in the miners wage ques- ton is question of but very few days.
 No startling news was given out by either the operators or miners yesterday. but in conversation both sides expressed opinions that in view of the present wage scale situation. both are of interest to the public at large.
 "One of the large operators in discuss ing the scale question said: "The opera tors have in good faith made what they think is a fair offer, and the men ought to accept or reject It. It would be differ ent if the conference had been called six or eight weeks before the expiration of the working contract; then there would have been an opportunity to make propo- sitions and counter propositions, and go over the whole ground without necessi- tating a cessation of work, But when the contract has expired and the works are lying Idle, 1t seems as though any fair proposal should be accepted no matter which side proposed it. In all such mat ters there must be certain amount Of give and take"
 Has Two Sides.
 When the above expression was repeat ed to a prominent member of the United Mine Workers he said: Every question has two sides. What Is needed on both sides is that they should be educated to a spirit of greater fairness. Both sides are too grasping. The operators seem to think that If they make a proposition, and give 1t the stamp of fairness, it should be ac- cepted without question by the Miners. If the miners cannot or do not accept the operators dictum as to what is fair and just then they are accused of being obstructionists and responsible for the delay in arriving at settlement of dis puted questions.
 "On the other hand the miners are equally sure that their demands are just, and should be accepted by the operators, and they cannot see why the matter IS not settled on the terms proposed by them They consider these terms to be fair and think that by not accepting them the operators are the onces really responsible for an unnecessary stoppage Of work.
 "As a matter of fact the difficulties that arise when two great bodies, each made up of numerous individual interests, endeavor to strike some common ground on which all can stand, without doing serious injustice to any one, are greater than an outsider can realize.
 Make Haste Slowly.
 Haste must be made slowly, and every phase of the question as it arises fully weighed and considered. Now until both sides to the question can become more enlightened, less grasping and more fair minded, 1t Is best not to start the discus sion of matters in controversy too long be- fore the expiration of the contract. Too much talking only leads to misunderstand- ings and trouble. Everyone wants peace and prosperity. Peace commands higher price. but the price demanded may be too great"
 A gentleman whose position makes what he says, almost authoritative, stated yes- terday that in conversation with Pres ident Edward Flynn of the United Mine Workers. he stated that no one could tell what the outcome of the matter would be, that 1t was quesion whether the men would return to work or go on a strike, but that the matter would, he thought, be settled one way of another by the end of this week.