New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-31
SURPRISE TO OPERATORS.
Had Not Erpected Strike Order
Mitchell Silent.

The ordering OF the strike in the anthracite dis
BY Mitchell and the officials OF the district TO
go into effect on Monday. was not expected by
the operators here. Though President Baer Of the
Philadelphia & Reading company has agreed to
meet MI Mitchell Tuesday in spite Of the
strike order, it is unusual thing for employers
to renew negotiations with employees just after a
strike has been declared.
The most remarkable feature in the ordering OF
the strike that. while it announced to the
public a Indianapolis Thursday night that work
would be suspended Monday, Mitchell made
no mention OF the fact in telegraphing TO Mr. Baer
yesterday asking for the conference. In order to
bring this out, the following statement was wired
yesterday by the operators:
Mr. Baer received the following telegram at Il 80
o'clock: 80
George F. Baer. Philadelphia, Penn.
II agreeable TO you a meeting OF the Joint SUB
Tuesday. April 8, for the purpose Of further CON
sidering the wage scale in the anthracite neiG;
JOHN MITCHELL
Later the following telegram was sent by Mr.,
philadelphia, March 80 1906.
John Mitchell Indianapolis, Ind; -.
rs il true that, pending negotiations you nave
stated in the newspapers, ordered your toIoW-
April l? GEORGE F. BAER-
No further word was received until o'clock,
when the following telegram reached MI Bser;
Indianapolis, March 80. 1906
9STs R 2seev Pha @omRee appointed sham
okin convention December a. representing mine
proposing meeting Of joint committee appointed on
February 10 Pending adjustment Of differences. IN
by agreement after April l between anthracite min
preserve t properly Continue WORK We are now
ing Tuesday. JOHN MITCHELL"
To that Mr. Baer addressed the following reply:
philadelphia, March 30. 1906
John Mitchell, Indianapolis.
Although your order to quit work pending nego-
uitliQns is most extraordinary, the delay IN meet
ing having been yours and not ours nevertheless
GEORGE F. BAER."
Z. B. Thomas president of the I4high Valley
Railroad, made the following statement:
The operators are in no sense responsible for the
Cessation Of work We have been ready at any time
since we made our reply to the miners committee
70 Eeet with them and canvass the situation Mr
Of rival Industry R it has now wi c0n 5ne "a Sass
that sufficient length Of time cannot lapse within
with Us before April l. We are most eTaoiouslS
eiI%Su 6o%eEer, me privilege OF operating our
absolute destruction of our property.
through which their followers aWlessness and ais
order-will not be slow to enter" ~
Dispatches received by the operators here from,
their collieries developed the fact that the rank
and file Of the miners were surprised at the strike
ORDER ana that the majority Of them are not in
sympathy with IT,
Most Of the coal carrying companies will not try
70 break the strike at first Though the effect of
the news that strike had been ordered was the
cause Of raise in the price OF domestic anthracite
by the dealers in Manhattan, il was stated that
the companies have intention of raising pr4cas
at present.
The dealers began 10 raise the prices Of dor,as+t,
anthracite without any concerted action in the
morning White ash was increased in prtce from,
3 80 ton TO s. and red ash from 81 and n q 70
8 r. Later a meeting Of the Coal Merchants As
ISOLATION was held at No. $50 Sixth avenue yvbera
the Increase was made official The following stare
ment was made last evening by j. Samuel suoot
commissioner Of the association:
At meeting OF the Coal Merchants Assocfa+ior
o., new York held late this afternoon II was de-
cIqed 10 increase the price Of domestic sizes of
white ash anthracite coal 50 cents a ton and ~
[SI ASH anthracite, 20 cents a ton, making the
8FlCes respectively s. and 81 Is. The price for No
nut or pea coal for family was Increased 10
The price for the anthracite steam sizes and soft
coal were made follows: ~
Fea coal, $; buckwheat No. 1. 81 80; buccwheat
No. p 81; soft coal, IS.
The yard prices for white ash anthracite were
mace = ~ and red ash anthracite 81 %.
Inc prices are 10 take effect Saturday morning
Mr. Smoot said that if the soft coal strike goes
mo erect the prices Of anthracite NAV 20 stilI
ilgLer The prices raised in BROOKLYN "a rlfer
N the week and are expected to get a further
raise on Monday ~
The dealers say that the increase is necessary On
account OF the scarcity of domestic anthracite and
he nature OF the sales agents OF the companies
20 ceLVer orders. Spectators are making anthra-
cite scarce by buying il up.