Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-14

and to weaken IL the organization changed
ne 80 Is 60 GIVE the whs se
objection was partially removed by that
action, the Indianapolis committee has ig-
nored the point and gone back to the origi-
nal proposition.
In the Soft Coal Region.
The anthracite operators assert that con-
ditions IN the two fields are as different as
they can possibly be. In the anthracite re-
gions the miners, as a rule, are prosper
GUS. contented and happy, and have been
getting big wages. There was 10 per cent
increase in their incomes three years ago.
and at least rs per cent in the last ten years
In the bituminous districts the miners are
not so well situated. Under the last agree
ment there was a reduction OF per cent
In wages In the central district which the
miners accepted because OF the low prices
of coal and because of a feeling that the
operators needed 1t; but the latter imme-
6Sately cut prices again. not at their own
expense, but at the expense OF the miners.
The latter now feel that they have a right
to insist upon restoration of prices and
restoration of wages, - not an increase IN
both. They have demanded an increase OF
IL per cent all around, but they probably
would have been satisfied with or = per
cent, and 1t Is the general opinion that they
had a right to expect It. They claim that
the business OF the operators is very badly
managed that competition has been too
close. that the output has been excessive,
and that the prices of coal are too low, and
that they have been compelled to suffer Tor
all Of this. But they do not propose to
suffer any longer.
The visible supply of soft coal at the
mines and the factories is not much greater
than the current demand The consumers
practically live from hand to mouth; and
If the bituminous mines should shut down
it IS asserted that the railroads and facto-
ries would not be able to run for more than
thirty days.
Content in Hard Coal Districts.
In the anthracite regions everything is
different. Everybody is prosperous. All
prudent miners have money in the bank,
the price of anthracite coal is very high
and is continually advancing The output
for 1905 was "A, 6O7, 06s tons, the heaviest IN
history and an increase of 5oJ,0OO tons
over 1904, and of 7,S00,OUO tons over 1919
The visible supply is not less than 10,0O0-
600 TONS and has been estimated as high
as 100000 tons. This does not include
vast quantities In the hands of consumers,
who purchased an extra supply at the be-
ginning of the season in anticipation of
strike. The winter has been unusually mild
and the consumption has been much less
than usual. while the production has been
much greater. The big operators say that
the surplus will be increased to 15,o0000
tons before the LIST of April, when the strike
will go into effect If one is ordered.
The anthracite miners. realizing all this,
have not been inclined to strike They have
recognized that conditions are not favor
able, and, furthermore, under the concilia-
ton board provided by the Roosevelt com
mission, everything has been going along
smoothly They are making good money;
everybody who cares to work can get salts
factory wages and all through the mining
regions the wives and daughters have been
buying planes and wearing silk dresses.
Therefore, there was general disposition
to meet the operators in friendly spirit
and renew the existing agreement. But
since the action Of the committee at Indian
apolis this disposition may have changed.
1t is too early, however, to judge. Very
few of the men have opinions of their own.
They follow their leaders, and the leaders
have had no consultation. The conference
on the 18th will take place as agreed upon,
but the result is in doubt. If Pres dent
Mitchell and his associates insist upon
chasing the hard coal men with the soft
coal men the meeting will be very short