New-York tribune., 1906-04-07
OPERATORS MAY YIELD
HOPE FOR ARBITRATION.
Nay Agree to Submit Whether
There Are Ne7C Phases.

The prevailing impression yesterday was that
the anthracite operators will on Monday refuse
the arbitration proposition OF President Mitchell.
but may be willing to arbitrate the question
whether not there are any facts which
were not covered by the award OF the Anthracite
Strike Commission.
meeting of the anthracite operators viii be
held in this city to-day in the office OF the
president of one of the anthracite companies 70
consider the answer to be given TO Mr. NIitchells
proposition. 1t is thought that this meeting
may he attended by operators outside the allied
companies. so that every anthracite interest may
be represented.
President David Wilcox Of the Delaware a
Hudson Company IN his latest pamphlet on
the anthracite situation says that the only ques-
ton open is whether there any new facts
which raise questions beyond the scope OF
the Anthracite Strike Commissions award He
also says that no such new facts have been
made public. and this may open the way for
arbitration to whether such facts exist
None Of the coal presidents would talk on the
subject yesterday. f. B. Thomas president OF
the Lehigh Valley Railroad. said that he would
not discuss the question of what reply would
be made to Mr.. Mitchell before such reply was
made.
President Raer OF the Philadelphia & Reading
OF statement attributed to him IN published
dispatch. in which he is made to say that he
had made canvass OF the operators and found
them opposed to arbitration. In his denial hs
says that he made no statement whatever ON
the subject
There is nothing In the story he said The
independent operators are IN session, and even
II I were so inclined. which was not. I could
not authorize such statement as was attr1b-
uted TO me-
President Dettrey of District Z OF the Antnra.
cite Mine Workers. who Is a member OF tbs
board Of conciliation OF the Anthracite Coal
Strike Commission. and would be one OF the ar
bitrators II the anthracite operators accept tbs
arbitration proposition as IT stands discussed
the question of the arbitration proposition when
seen at the Ashland House
THE presidents of the coal carrying roads"
he said. have for some time been upholding tbs
awards Of the strike commission We now pro-
pose to arbitrate with the agent OF the commis-
sion created-the conciliation board. As tn.
operators have all along praised that board.
do not see how they can refuse to arbitrats the
existing differences"
II was stated that IT was question whether
Judge Gray would be willing 70 act as an urn-
pire appoint an umpire. In such he
would be practically arbitrating the awards "
his OvgR board.
President Mitchell sent the following telegram
yesterday in reply TO John Fl. Winder. president
OF the Ohio operators who suggested arbitration
Of the differences between the miners aGd soft
coal operators OF western Fennsyivsnia, ohio.
Indiana and Illinois:
Telegram forwarded from indianapolis re-
ceived New York City. 1 have no authority
either to accept or decline the proposition you
make 10 arbftrate difference between bttum1nouS
operators and miners The internationa eNe,I I,1
tive board United Mine Workers of America VII
convene at Indianapolis the 1lth inst, at Whlrh
time your telegram will be laid before II and me
decision communicated 10 you
In reference to the soft coal situation. Mitchell
said he was pleased with II.
"Frrorn the papers," he said. IT see that not a
coIIierv I'm Indiana is working. They VIII not Do
working until the operators sign our scale
II was learned that many soft coal agreements
NAV be signed If there is an anthracite strike
which will not be signed II there Is an anthractte
settlement
President w r. Sweet OF the Empire CoaI
Mining Company. No. 1 Broadway, which has
interests in CIearfeld. said yesterday;
"I believe If there is an anthracite strike tns
c7aarheId operators viii sign the union scale. as
the price Of soft coal will then go up- If there
is no anthracite strike they could not afford To
sign IT,"
The complaints OF the New York coal dealers
that they are getting anthracite from the
sales agents OF the companies were borne out by
some OF the sales agents yesterday. Win me
evcen+ion OF the Lehigh Valley company. the
oT16aDies ara shipping little or no anthracite to
New York at present. The reserve held Dy .ss
conpanies would be devoted largely TO provid-
ing for the wants of poor people II case OF q
long strike.