Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-16
IN ANTHRACITE REGION
PROSPECTS OF PEACE CLOUDED
BY BITUMINoUs OUTLOOK.

SCRANTON, Pa. February Ii, 1908.
The prospects Of peace In the anthracite
region, which were so encouraging a short
time ago, have been clouded somewhat by
the disrupted condition of things in the
bituminous field That President Mitchell
and his associates are in favor Of
peace, on reasonable terms, Is generally
believed in Pennsylvania, but his best in
tentions are liable to be thwarted in case
there Is any truth In the report that the
entire body Of miners in the hard and soft
coal districts are determined to make com
mon cause and insist that no section shall
continue work unless all sections are sat
isfled
Unless Mr. Mitchell is able to deny this
a the meeting with the coal presidents IN
New York 1t is feared that the cause or
harmony VIII not make much headway,
since the operators hold that 1t would be
futile to make any agreement in the an
thracite territory that might be rescinded
somewhere in the soft coal jurisdiction.
The hope of the conservative elements
here is that Mr.. Fitcheil will be able to give
such assurance to the mine owners as Will
satisfy them that any settlement made for
the anthracite region will not be upset by
the mine workers In the btuminous field
He VIII probably be asked to do this be-
fore the negotiations proceed very far.
The coal operators contend that 1t would
be useless to make any terms in PennSyl-
FaUld tIlal GOuiu Dc SET at HduSHl III
diana. They are also opposed to making an
agreement that might be used merely for
the purpose of coercing the soft coal inter-
ests into settlement.
The Operators Position.
Their position is that any negotiations
they may enter Into must deal specifically
with conditions in their own territory and
must not be subject to the approval or dis
approval of the bituminous miners.
The pronounced spirit manifested at the
recent conference In Indianapolis did not
accord with this view The sentiment there
expressed was that unless an agreement
was made which would be satisfactory TO
the miners Of the entire country there
would be a cessation of work In all The
mining reg1onA of the United States on the
LIST of April.
This would involve the id,eness of half
million men. and produce state of in
dustrial chaos unparalleled In the history
OF the country.
The hope is generally expressed here that
President Mitchell will be able to offset this
menacing declaration by being able to give
the assurance that he and his associates
are in position to make independent terms
with the anthracite operators without hav
ing to consult the wishes of the bituminous
miners.
The conditions In the hard coal industry
are entirely different from those in the sort
coal districts. There an advance in wages
is strongly urged. Here the principal de-
mands of the men are for recognition OF
the union and an eight-hour day. The most
thoughtful among the miners do not regard
these as constituting sufficient cause for
strike, with all its terrible consequences
to all concerned. including the public, upon
whom the consequences fall most heavily.
Confidence In Mitchell.
Tho people OF the anthracite country
have great confidence In Mn MitchelIs
cor servatism. and II is believed the opera
tors. too, will show the right spirit this
time, and not precipftate q conflict for
trivial techn1caIities II John Mitchell and
his associates are able to convince the coal
presidents that they are prepared to make
terms for the anthracite region without
being subject to review by the miners or
the soft coal districts, It IS believed that
a harmonious settlement can be enected.
This is the nub Of the situation.
There would be no uneasIness were It not
that the national organization Of which Mr.
Mitchell is president, has recently shown g
disposition to refuse settlement for any par