Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-04
NEITHER SIDE YIELDS
Hard Coal Miners and Operators Discuss
Situation for Three Hours,
PRINCIPAL SPEECH IS BY Mr.. MITCHELL
Miners President Makes Extended Argu-
ment for Granting Advance,
OPERATORS PROPOSITION NOT ACCEPTED
Employees Think Present Conditions Should
Not Be Continued,
PRINCIPAL SPEECH is BY Mr., Mitchell
OPERATORS PROPOSITION NOT ACCEPTED
ADJOURNMENT TAKEN TO THURSDAY
All Mines In Anthracite Regions Are
Idle and There IL No Trouble
Men Are Expecting an
Early Agreement.


Early Agreement.
NEW YORK, April S.-The substitute
committees representing the anthracite
operators and the mine workers of east
ern Pennsylvania held their first joint
meeting here today, and after nearly
three-hours' session adjourned until 1 p.
m. Thursday, without coming to an agree
ment. Each side to the controversy had
refused to make the slightest concession
and the whole question apparently is as
far from solution as 1t was before to-
days conference began In the meantime
the tieup of the anthracite industry re-
mains as complete as it was yesterday
without indication that resumption of min
ing will occur very soon Notwithstand-
ing the fruitless session and the apparently
hopeless deadlock between the workmen
and their employers. rumors still cur
rent that a way will be found that will
enable the operators and miners to stand
on common ground and settle their diff
ferences.
Statement by Operators.
After. the conference the following state
ment was given out by representative
OF the operators
The conference began at noon with. Pres
company in the chair. Mr.. Mitchell made
long speech detailing why, in his judg
nent, the original demands of the miners
ought to be granted. He was followed
BY Mr. Nichols, president of the Lacka-
wanna wyoming district OF the -, miners
union, who supported Mr.. Mitchells argu-
ment. There were other speeches by the
representatives OF the miners. In fact,
that side did nearly all the talking.
There was no disposition on either side
70 recede from its original position or to
accept any modification of the original
demands MitClelg attitude
Gated that the counter proposition made
by the operators for a renewal OF the
thracite stke commission was not ac-
ceptable to the miners.
Tn motion of MIR. Mitchell the conference
aoJ.LIned until Thursday.
he entire situation remains the same
as before the meeting. The suspension
of work In the anthracite mines win con-
tinue pending the negotiations.
Each member OF the operators commit
tee was sought for an interview giving
further details OF the meeting, but none
of them cared 10 say anything beyond
what was contained In the statement. The
members Of the miners committee. includ-
ing President Mitchell, also refused abso-
lutely TO pass an opinion to the out
come OF the conference.
Scale Committee Roll.
There was a full attendance at today's
meeting of the members of the subcom-
operators-George F. Baer. president of
the Reading company, chairman; w. H.
Truesdale, president of the Delaware,
president OF the Lehgh Valley railroad;
Morris Williams president of the Pennsyl-
vania railroads mining companies; David
wilcox, president of the Delaware & Hud-
son company; j. b. Kerr, vice president
and general counsel of the New York,
Ontario a. Western railroad, and j. L.
Cake. representing individual operators.
Miners-John Mitchell; chairman; T, d.
Tetary SnS' o piStriet S No of GPSl thd Miners sSS
union; w. II. Dettrey, president and ].
?. Gallagher secretary Of the District No.
4, and John Fahy, president, and George
Hartlein, secretary of District No. 8.
The ShRmokn scale committee, which
numbers thirty-six men, and which was
appointed last December held a secret
session tonight at the Ashland house. as
planned at Indianapolis last week. II is
understood that the committee went over
the situation as it presents itself tonight
and discussed what action shall be aiken.
The scale committee was in session less
than an hour. The subcommittee which
had been in conference with the operators
made it's report. after which President
Mitchell read the following letter from
Governor Pennypacker of Pennsylvania:
HARRISBURG. Pa, March I-Dear
Sir: The commonwealth of Pennsylvania
expects that every reasonable effort will
be made by the parties interested to ad-
Just the differences between coal operators
and coal miners and TO avert the strike
which is now threatened.
(Signed)
SAMUEL w PENNYPACKER.
TO George r. Baer Reading Terminal.
John Mitchell, indianapolis.
Mr.. Mitchell stated 70 the committee
that he had acknowledged receipt of the
letter and had notified Governor Penny.
packer that he would communicate its con
tents TO the shRmokin scale committee
The scale committee will meet again to.
morrow.
Reports received from the anthracite
felds during the day, according to labor
leaders, were satisfactory to them Their,
were no breaks reported in the ranks OF
the mine workers and none is expected.
Mr.. Mitchell In discussing the situation n
the bituminous fields said he had received
a large number OF kilograms during IN,
day from the soft coal fields which satisf,
him that affairs in those regions ar,
working themselves out just as he hat
anticipated. Thousands OF men. he said
returned TO work today under the seal,
OF 1903. which gives them an increase o.
$50 per cent over the wages received
ha Ia fxra