The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-02-24
THINK MINERS
WILL KEEP JOBS
Opinion That There viii Be
No Strike Grows Among
Operators.
OFFER CHANCE TO BACK DOWN
Employers Assembled at New York
Declare Men viii Be Given oppor-
tunity to Wriggle Out OF Unpleasant
Situation In Graceful Manner.

New York. Feb. 1.-THE impress
sion OF those closely following the
proceedings preliminary 10 the con
ference next Thursday between the
officials OF the mine workers and the
operators that there will not be
strike is growing stronger. The rep
resentatives OF the miners In session
at the Ashland hotel seem to be in a
concniatory mood The tone OF the
| coal operators who are gathering here
for Thursdays meeting is firm. but
one who will not permit his name TO
be quoted declared that while the
miners must either strike or back
down an opportunity will be given
them 20 save their faces and back
down gracefully.
President Mitchell seems anything
but pleased over the situation. or else
Patrick Dolan's letter is ranking In
his BOSOM The subcommittee Of six
made up OF union presidents and sec
retaries Of three anthracite coal dis
tricts, were In session all day Tues
day framing the set OF demands 10 be
presented TO the operators on Thurs.
day.
This subcommittee was not anxious
10 assume all the responsibility and
asked 10 have the entire scale commit.
tee Of 30 members summoned TO New
York. and President Mitchell issued
the call
President Baer In New York.
George f. Baer, president OF the
Philadelphia G Reading railroad. was
in this city Tuesday afternoon al
though he sent out word that his
visit was for the purpose Of talking
over railroad matters with w. G. Bes.
Ter, vicop president and general ran-
agcr Of the Central Railroad cf New
Jersey. II was reported that Baer
also attended the conference dealing
with the strike situation IN the Cen.
trail building In Liberty street
The coal mine operators have al
ready come TO full understanding
as TO the general policy they will
pursue at the conference with the
committee from the mine workers
union on Thursday. The president OF
one coal carrying road said "The
miners will either have to strike or
back down.
I'VE do not propose 10 accede TO
their demands in any way he con
tinued. Il do not see what else they
can do but strike. They are coming
into this conference to demand an
eight-hour day and recognition OF the
unions, besides other things.
Miners Within Their Rights.
1T was clearly shown in the report
OF the anthracite strike commission
in 1902 that the miners will not work
eight hours a day. and their claim Is
only a disguised demand for higher
rate Of wages per hour. as was ex.
planned In Wilcox's recent letter to
Mitchell. The anthracite commission
also decided II was right for the op.
orators to employ their union or ron.
uniol miners without discriminating
These two main points In the demand
the miners committee will make,
have both been already decided by
an eminent commission hand have
been adhered 10 vigorously. The min
ers have no complaint to make. and
they vimply make another demand,
which they have n perfect right TO do.
But ! wish their leaders would UNI
derstand that these demands will not
be met We shall couch our refused
10 meet them in most courteous and
diplomatic terms and give them every
opportunity to back down gracefully"
asserted the president. at Is our
sincere hope that there will be no
rupture. We are willing TO continue
under the present arrangement where
by the miners are receiving to-day the
high-water mark in wages"
Scale Committee Is Ready.
While the scale committee has de.
clded upon It's main points. there are
some minor grievances on which II IN
not agreed. These are OF no great
Importance. however. and according
TO the district officers will be disposed
OF without any friction.
President Mitchell Is working hard
70 make his position for his own or
ganizatlon impregnable before the
conferences with the operators are
begun. Mitchers friends say that
without any question he will win and
that the opposition 10 him by Presl.
dent Patrick Dolan OF the Pittsburg
distrIt, will amount to nothing.