Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-02-27
IntePvenpS Between Miners
and Operators.
GREAT PEACEMAKER SENDS
LETTER TO JOHN MITCHELL
Urges Both Sides to Greater Effort
to Avoid Dire National CaIam-
ity Which Threatens


Roosevelt has again interviewed as
peacemaker between the coal miners
and operators and as result of a let
ter addressed by him to John Mitch
ell, president of the United Mine
Workers of America, a national con-
vention of the United Miners will be
held March / to try to reach an
agreement with the soft coal operators
in the hope of avertlng the threatened
strike of April / in the bituminous
coal fields
The presidents letter and the an
nouncement that the national conven-
ton would be called were made pub
lie tonight by Mr.. Mitchell after Il
long conference with Francis l.. Rob-
bins, president of the Pittsburg Coal
Co. and chairman of the bitumnous
operators, who came to New York this
morning
Also present at this conference We're
W. G. Perry, of the Southwestern Coal
Association, and b. II. Bush. repre-
senting the soft coal interests allied
with the Gould railroads.
Il note with very great concern the
failure of your late convention on
the joint interstate agreement to
come to a basis of settlement of the
bituminous scale of wages. You in
this business have enjoyed a great in
dustrial peace for many years. thanks
to the joint trade agreement that has
resulted in the action of your sue
cessive conventions.
"A strike such as h threateirstf on
April / is menace to the peace and
general walfare of the country. |
urge you to make a further effort to
avoid such a calamity.
you and Mr.. Robbins are joint
chairmen of the trade agreement COM
mittee of the National Civic Fedora
tion, and it seems to me that this inn
poses an additional duty upon you
both and gives an additional reason
why each Of you should join in max
ing a further effort.
VERY respectfully,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Agree to Call Convention.
The conference did not adjourn up-
til nearly o'clock tonight, when Mr.
Mitchell announced that after the
reading OF President Roosevelt's let
ter it was agreed both by himself and
the operators that the national con-
vcntion should be called The miners
were in session recently at lndianapo-
lis but failed to reach an agreement
with the operators President Mitch
al bipacaIr has bpan 1,tntaI Gavin .
that so far as he knew there would
certainly be a strike in the bituminous
fields April /
The negotiations for an agreement
between the hard coal workers and
anthracite operators have been pro-
crossing smoothly to all outward ap-
pearances and arrangements have
been made for joint conference
Wednesday between the sub-commi,-
tees having the settlement of the DIFF
hculties in hand.
With the anthracite negotiations
well under way President Mitchel
has been devOtins most of his time tC
bringing about a settlement of the
differences in the soft coal regions.
Mr. Mitchell has not announced any
details of today's conference nor die
he say just when the call for the con
vention, which will fix The place a
meeting, will be sent out March Is
he believes is the earliest date th'
convention can be summoned and h'
believes, that If there Is to be peace
the two weeks between the date fiXeC
for the Miners assembly and April
when the present agreement with thu
operators expires, is sufficient time t'
bring about the desired result. Mr.
Mitchell would not indicate what ney
propositions will be placed before tn
miners. but significance is attached {
,his statement that the operators at to
days conference agreed that the con
Vention should he called.
Concessions maybe on both sides
will be offered and President Roose
velt's interest in the situation Will b
held as an additional reason for bring
ing about new agreement.
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