The Washington times., 1906-04-03
Mitchell Offers This as
the IrreduCibIe
Minimum.
OPERATORS TO REFUSE
Futility of Anthracite Con-
ference Assures Long
Battle.

NEW YORK. April 3--Prospects for
peace IN the hard coal fields seem re-
LlOte today. and there is little Hkeii-
hood that the Joint conference Of the
operators and Miners which meets A.
noon al the Jersey Central building. will
result i'm an adjustment Of the differ
ences, unless the attitude OF both sides
undeTgOss a great change The oper-
ators this morning say they will not
Weld an inch IN their position bur are
willing % sign an agreement TO continue
operations under the award OF the an
thracite commission for another term
Of years The miners viii absolute
~ refuse 70 enter into another agree
ment under the commission award. but
are willing 10 modify their original de-
mandS for the sake Of peace.
How FAR these notifications will 60
- a matter Of speculation. for Mitchell
would NOT discuss the matter al All
this morning. II is understood thar the
miners scale committee has prepared
an an lFreduci bic minimum. which viii
waive al the original demands and
make demand for an eight-hour dav-
rms VIII mean an increase in wages
~ many instances, and give the outside
men what they most desire
Baer Is Gloomy.
President Baer. Of the Reading. takes
gloomy view OF the situs ton. and b.
iieves that nothing viii come OF the con-
ference The reply 10 the miners viii
probably be not made today. but VIII
b. given tomorrow
The answer Of the operators 10 fha
new or modified demands presented 20
day Viii, II the present temper Of the
I operators undergoes no change. be a fat
refusal President Baer will move the
counter proposition or the operators.
thar The miners continue for another
period Of years under the award OF ths
! anthracite commission This vii. b..
refused By the miners. and then after
some argument on the original 0e-
n1ands. Mitchell viii present the ire
I ducIble minimum. which il IS said n :
morning viii be complete waiver OF
al the demands and offer to resume
work for an eight-hOUr concession
I mis- move. Mitchell and the members
/ or the miners committee believe WI
( create public sympathy for the miners.
and the operators VIII be forced 10
| make terms rather than submit TO a
J general strike.
Reports have been current for several
/ days that IL the operators decline this
offer. Mitchell viii intimate that a
Congressional investigation CT the an
! tnracite coai-carrying roads and their
Subsldiary mining companies viii be
asked for Mitchell made z similar
move in the bituminOUS convention. and
the operators did not like the idea biz
! President Bser said again today that
/ the outlook was not promising.
The local condition remained un-
changed today The retail dealers still
! insist that the operators are withhold
/ ing coal from them. while the opera
: tors declare that any dealer can Sc
/ cure normal supply al any time No
Z dealer viii he permitted to procure a
/ corner in coal by OverbUying. and the
Z Ill
any dealer 1t was stated that the coal
I now in the possession OF the operators
VIII be dOled out in such fashion as 10
| make il last as long as possible. but
/ that the price will not be increased a
penny ton so long as Il lasts.
Greetings Cordial.
I Exactly at noon the subcommittee OF
the anthracite scale committee COM
! posed Of Mitchell. the three district pres
ideuts. ard the three secretaries of the
anthracite union. entered the offices OF
Jhe Grand Trunk Line Association in tile
( Jersey Central building. and there met
the operators committee Of seven. head
ed by Baer. The meeting on both sides
was cordial Baer shook hands with
Mitchell and then he. the operators
| representative. and The miners repre-
I sentatiEes exchanged greetings all
| around
/ The newspaper men were asked 10
step out. and the final conference began
4 behind closed doors
/ After standing his ground for two
/ hours Dolan was forcibly elected from
the chair shortly before neon and Ush-
cred from the hall. The sergeant-at-
| arms. assisted by his committee OF ten,
I literally threw DOlan out
The hght has only begun. said
l Dolan outside THE matter is entire
( " in the hands Of my attorneys. and
proper steps viii be taken TO prove
strictly in couteuapf of court