The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-16
MINERS PRESENT
 FORMAL DEMANDS
Details Will be Worked Out at
 Once
STRIKE MAY BE AVERTED
Meeting With Operators Is Held Be- hind Closed Doors and Indications Are That Everything Will
 Be Harmonious.

New York February 15.-The special scale committee of the United Anthracite Mine Workers of Pennsylvania, who ap- peared before the presidents and other officials of the coal mining companies here today, stated in general terms the propositions it desired the operators to grant, and then retired to formulate in detail the demands. Before the con- ference adjourned two subcommittee of seven men each were appointd one rep resenting the miners and the other opera tors to take up jointly the questions at issue and endeavor to reach an agree ment. When the committees have com pleted their work they will make a re- port to the conference
 The utmost good feeling prevailed dur ing the meeting. and there were many signs that all matters at issue may be settled without resort to a strike. That the mine workers were not completely prepared to go ahead with the nego- tiations came as a surprise to the oper- ators, as they had been led to believe that the miners had perfected their case. The operators were fully prepared to proceed, and some of them were disap- pointed that the representatives of the men were not quite ready. The con ference, so far as it related to the coal companies, was the most representative that has ever been held. Every coal company in the anthracite region was represented. President Mitchell of the miners union was the spokesman for the employees, and made a speech that was well received by the operators.
 Behind Closed Doors.
 The meeting was held behind closed doors in the general offices of the Trunk Line association and lasted less than an hour. After the conference the follow ing statement was given out:
 There was a full representation of the mine operating companies and the miners. The meeting was called to or der with MT Connell in the chair MT. Mitchell addressed the meeting, giving in general terms the proposition desired by the miners and stating that the same had not been entirely formulated in de- tail. After a brief discussion, it was concluded that the miners and mine op- orators should each appoint commit tee to represent them in the future in reference to the matter, the commit tees to consist of seven each. The fol- lowing gentlemen were appointed to rep resent the miners: Messrs. John Mitch ell, John Fahy, George Hartlein, w. H. Dettrey, John H. Gallagher, T. D. Mich oils, John T. Dempsey and the following to represent the mine operators: Messrs. Baer Truesdale, Herr, Wilcox Williams, Thomas, Cake.
 "The understanding was that after the committee terminated their work they should report to the committee of the whole'
 Decline Further Comment.
 Beyond the information contained in the statement given out, nothing could be learned as to what occurred at the conference. Neither MT. Mitchell nor the operators would discuss the nature of the demand made by the miners but it is believed that they are substantially the same as those made public at the time of the meeting of the miners at Shamokin last December. These demands call for an S-hour day, without any re- duction in wages, for employees paid by the hour day or week; a uniform wage scale for all classes of employees; ten or twenty per cent. increase in wages; reconstruction of the board of con ciliation and the recognition of the union. Some other grievances of minor nature were included
 President Mitchell when seen tonight refused to make any comment on the outcome of the first meeting.