The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-06

in the Bitume'iOus Fields Satisfae~
torS 10 the Miners.
New York, April 3.-The s%uO-cora-
mlttees representing the anthracite
operators, and the mine workers OF
eastern Pennsylvania, held their first
joint meeting here today. and after
nearly a three hour session, adjourn
ed until 1 p. m, Thursday without
coming to IN agreement. Each side
TO tie controversy has refused 20
make the slightest concession, and the
whole question apparently is as far
from solution as it was before The
days conference began. In the mean
time, the tie up of the anthracite in
dustry remains as complete as it was
yesterday, without Indication that a
resumption Of mining will occur very
soon. Notwithstanding the fruitless
session, and the apparently hopeless
deadlock between the workmen and
their employers, rumOrs are still cur
rent that a way will be found that
will enable the operators and miners
to stand on common ground and set
tie their differences.
After the conference the folio wing
statement was given out by a repre-
sentative Of the operators.
The conference began at noon,
with President e. B. Thomas. Of the
Lehigh Valley company. in the chair.
Mr.. Mitchell made a long speech de-
failing why, in his Judgment, the
original demands # the miners ought
to be granted. He was followed by
Mr. Nichols, PRESIDENT of the lLacka-
wana-Wyoming district of the miners
unicn, who supported Mr.. MitcheiPs
argument.
There were other speeches by the
representatives of the miners. In
fact that side did nearly all the talk
ing.
There was 60 disposition on either
side to recede from it's original posi-
ton or to accept any modification of
the original demands. MI. Mitchell's
attitude indicated that the counter
proposition, submitted by the opera
tors for a renewal of the working
agreement drafted by the anthracite
strike commission, was not accept
able to the miners.
"On motion of Mr.. Mitchell, the
conference adjourned until Thursday.
The entire situation remains the
same as before the meeting. The sus-
pension of work in the, anthracite
mines will continue, pending the ne
g~otiations."
Nome of the operators would say
anything beyond what was in the
statement.
President of the Delaware, Lacka-
waaa & Western railroad said the sit
uation was unchanged.
The members of the miners COM
mittee, including President Mitchell,
absolutely refused to talk of the con-
ference
There was a full attendance at to-
days meeting of the subcommittee.
The Shamokin scale committee,
which numbers Sc men. and which
was appointed last December, held a
session at the Ashland House, rs
planned in Indianapolis last week.
The scale committee was in ses-
sion less than an hour. The sub
committee which had been in confer
ence with the operators, made its re-
port after which President Mitchell
read the following letter from Gov
ernor Pennypacker, Of Pennsylvania:
Executive Mansion, Harrisburg, Pa,
March 31st, 1906.
i'Dear Sir:
The commonwealth of Pennsy1-
vania expects that every reasonable
effort will be made by the parties in
terested to accommodate the differ
ences between coal operators and coal
miners and to avert the strike which
is now threatened.
(Signed)
SAMUEL w. PENNYPACKER.
ITO George F. Baer, Reading Ter
mina1. Philadelphia, Pa.
John Mitchell. Indianapolis, Ind. "
Mr.. Mitchell stated to the commit
tee that he had acknowledged receipt
of the letter and had notified Govern
or Pennypacker that he would COM
muntcate its contents to the Sham
oxen scale committee.
Reports received from the anthra-
cite fields during The day, according
to the labor leaders, were satisfactory
to them. There were no breaks re-
ported in the ranks of the mine work
ers and none is expected.
Mr.. Mitchell in discussing the stu
| ton in the bituminous fields said he
had received a large number of tele-
grams during the day from the soft
coal fields that satisfied him tina. af-
fairs in that region are working them
selves out just as he had anticipated.
Thousands of men, he said, returned
ito work today under the scale Of
1908, which gives them an increase
OF $50 cents over the wages received
during the last two years.