New-York tribune., 1906-04-04
NO AGREEMENT YET
MINERS STILL HOPEFUL
Conference Bet10eer Coal Operators
and Labor Leaders Adjourned.

Nothing accomplished at the conferences
between the anthracits operators and minerssl
committees OF seven IN this city yesterday. but
at the request OF President Mitchell OF tfr
United Mine Workers. the head OF the miners-
COMMITTEES. an adjournment was taken until 4,
D. m. Tomorrow. That the operators agreed to
this is looked on as a hopeful sign by the
miners though the operators have given no IN
dication of any change Of front.
The conference began az noon yesterday IN
the rooms of the Trunk Line Association in
the Jersey Central Building. No 143 Liberty
street. The operators represented By
George F. BaeT. president OF the Jersey Central
Railroad: ". z. Truesdale, president of the
Delaware. Lackawanna & Western Railroad.
John r. Kerr. first vice-president and attorney
of the New York. Ontario & Western Railroad:
David Wilcox. president Of the Delaware &
Hudson Company Morris williams. manager OF
the Pennsylvania Company. and J. 1. Cake
representing the Independents operators.
The miners were represented by President
Mitchell Of the United Mine Workers and The
three district presidents and secretaries OF the
anthracite fields. They are T. D. Nichols and
]. T Dempsey. president and secretary or Dis
trict No. 1: ". H. Dettrey and John p Gala
CHER, president and secretary OF District No :.
and John Fahy and George HartIein. president
and secretary Of District No Q.
MINERS FEELING THEIR WAY
Apparently nothing done at the confer
ence Of practical nature The miners. as they
did when the two committees were originally
appointed steered clear Of going into any de-
tails which would provoke discussion. and were
evidently only feeling their way TO ascertain
the temper Of the operators.
Before the meeting Mitchell asked why
he was not willing TO admit reporters to the
conference He said it was the coal operators
who desired secrecy
AS for me-" he said. Il see no objection what
ever 10 allowing the representatives OF the press
to be present at the proceedings"
As the conferrees We're about 70 go into tbs
meeting room Mr., Baer told that Mr.. Nit
cheH had objection to the presence OF re-
porters Looking at Mr. Mitchell. he said
How about it, Mr. MITCHELL
Mitchell looked a little uncomfortable. and re-
marked with dismal face that he was only
joking
Well then" said NIr Baer. 'ft win he an
executive session. as is usual in cases like this
After the meeting a report OF the actual results
will be made II the conference We're public.
YOU see. there might be forty or fifty different
versions of what actually took place. but we VIII
give out the actual report. in matters of
such Importance to the public we cannot be too
accurate"
STATEMENT OF THE OPERATORS
The conference lasted until nearly 3 o'clock
After ii was over the following statement vas
made on behalf of the operators:
The meeting convened with President F. p.
Thomas Of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in the
chair Mr. Mitchell spoke at great length. Civ
&c 80, raasons vvhv the demands which had been
80 - ViloJvaJ nv Disrrict President T. D Nichols
Nt4o ofFa Very Il va
said by the operators. Mr.. Mitchell and Mr..
Nichols practically doing all the talking. At
Mr. AIitcheIrs suggestion il was agreed 10 meet
again next Thursday at p m. No modihca-
tions Of the proposals from either side We're
made.
Mr. Mitchell would say anything further
than that there would be a meeting of the scale
committee Of thirty-six before Tomorrow Then
he went. with his committee Of miners. 20 the
Ashland House.
After the conference the operators went 20 the
tenth floor and had luncheon in the Office uf
President Thomas OF the Lehigh Valley Rail
road. President Baer Of the Jersey Central
Railroad seen after the luncheon. and was
asked n nothing definite had been accomplished
at the conference.
Nothing practical was done al all" he said.
The representatives Of the miners told us a
great many stories. Mr. Mitchell and Mr..
Nichols spoke at great length. giving their rea-
sons why the demands. in their opinion. should
be granted. without making any suggestions Or
coming 20 any point They talked and talked ot
labor matters. Of the brotherhood OF man and
the rights Of the working people but proposed
nothing OF a practical nature"
MINERS DID ALL TALKING.
Asked il the operators had done no talking.
Mr.. Baer said:
No. except 20 ask question now and then
when they were not sure as 10 the drift OF the
remarks of the miners representatives. The
meeting consisted simply IN great deal OF gen
eral explanatory talk by the miners without the
latter making any suggestions. Finally. on the