The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-25
FIFTH MAN STILL
 THE MAIN TROUBLE
Arbitrators Meet But Adjourn
 Without Definite Action
PUBLIC BECOMING ANXIOUS
Real Estate Man Says a Large Amount of Business Is at a Standstili Awaiting Some Definite Ac-
 ton in Mine Controversy.

Another day has passed and still there is no fifth man named for the board of arbitrators.
 The executives committees of both the Operators association and the United Mine Workers of America. District No. 20. were in session yesterday morning, but members of neither committee would state what formed the subjects of discus sion at the respective sessions. It was stated on reliable authority, however. that the identity of the fifth man" was the most important thing deliberated upon.
 In the afternoon at o'clock Charles McCreery. Robert II. Pearson. William R. Farley and Edward Flynn, the four members of the arbitration commission, who have already been selected, met at the offices of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company in the woodward building. and were in executive session for two hours.
 Arbitrators Are Silent.
 After the meeting the various mem bers of the commission were asked for information. but they would go no fur ther than to say that nothing had been accomplished in the selection of the fifth member of the board.
 The commission Is to meet again this morning at 10 o'clock, and those in a position to know the feeling on both sides state that there is good reason to think that a fifth man will be chasen today.
 Individual members of the commission stated that they saw no reason to feel blue over the prospect, and the members on both sides seemed serene last even- ing.
 A gentleman who has a vital interest in the settlement of the question, and who would know all that could be known. stated last night that the com mission did not even discuss the fifth man" at the meeting yesterday after noon, but occupied all of the time of the session in the discussion of preliml- nay details, but that they would prob ably get down to the business of select ing the fifth man today.
 It was stated at the miners headquar- ters that nothing had been heard from T. L, Lewis, who is to act for the miners on the arbitration commission. That he was probably away from the Indianapolis headquarters and could not be reached easily, but would communicate with President Flynn as soon as he received the telegram sent to him on Thursday.
 Mitchell Heard From.
 MT. Farley stated that he had heard from John Mitchell by wire yesterday, but that there was no present prospect of his coming to Birmingham.
 A prominent real estate agent, who has branch offices in the surrounding towns. said yesterday: 'I suppose that 1t would be incorrect to call the present suspension among the miners a strike but that Is what it amounts to, so far as business is concerned. Values have dropped and sales are at a standstill. Every evening I am called up on the phone every two minutes and asked, What Is new about the miners? or Have they settled the strike question? The last two or three days the question has been changed somewhat and 1t now is, Have they chosen the fifth arbi- trator? You will see from this how wide spread Is the anxiety over this matter. It Is a matter of vital interest to the pub lie that this matter be settled without unnecessary delay"