The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-31
COAL MEN TO MEET MITCHELL,
BUT BLAME HIM FOR CALLING
OUT ANTHRACITE MINERS.
They We're Ready TO Work on Old Agree.
ment Until Conference Was Over
Workers Themselves Surprised
Prices Hero Raised so Cents a Ton.

anthracite districts will be suspended on
Monday was a surprise both to the coal
dealers and the operators yesterday. So
little did the operators think that a strike
would be ordered before the conference
with Mitchell took place that they had
given out a statement to the effect that A.
q matter Of courtesy they would keep the
mines running after April 1; pending the
conference, on the assumption that no
strike would be ordered until the conference
had been held.
Mr.. Baer received a telegram from
Mitchell yesterday morningI which read;
George F. Bder, Philadelphia, Pd.s
If agreeable to you a meeting OF the joint
subcommittee would be held In New York
at 10 o'clock Tuesday. April 3. for the purpose
of further considering the wage scale In the
anthracite field. JOHN MITCHELL.
To this Mr., Baer sent the following reply:
John Mitchell. Indianapolis. Ind,
Is 1t true that. pending negotiations, you
have, as stated In the newspapers, ordered
your followers not to work in the anthracite
mines after April /? GEORGE F. BAER.
At 4 O'Clock the following telegram
reached Mr.. Baer:
George r. Beer, Philadelphia, Pa.
Telegram received. Committee appointed
Shamokln convention December II, repre-
senting mine workers In anthracite region,
wired you last night proposing meeting
of Joint committee appointed on February is.
Pending adjustment of differences. instructed
that, m as there will be no contract
by agreement aftersApril 1 between an
thracite miners and operators, men necessary
to run pumps and preserve property continue
work. We are now waiting response to our
suggestion for Joint meeting on Tuesday.
jon MITCHELL.
Mr.. Baer sent this answer:
John Mitchell, indianapolis:
Although your order to quit work pending
negotiations is most extraordinary, the delay
In meeting having been yours and not ours,
nevertheless We will meet your committee as
requested. GEORGE +. BAER
E. B. Thomas, president Of the Lehigh
Valley Railroad, made the following coru-
ment on the situation:
The operators are in no sense responsible
for the cessation OF work. We have been
ready at any time since we made Our reply
10 the miners committee to meet with them
and canvass the situation. MIR. Mitchell has
been so busy. however, with the affairs of
a rival industry that 1t has now come to
pass that a sufficient length Of time cannot
elapse within which it will be possible to
complete negotiations with us before April /.
We are most graciously allowed, however.
the privilege of operating our pumps, and to
do other acts which will prevent the absolute
destruction of our property.
Mr.. Mitchell has by this act closed a largo
industry and opened the door to idleness and
waste, through which their followers-law-
- It,@~l- ,.1I -. - 4.
enter.
The operators say that the strike appears
to have been as much of a surprise to the
miners as it was to the operators. AS tn
the soft coal strike, it had been expected
for some time. President Truesdale Of the
Lackawanna said: .
have been advised that 90 per cent. of the
anthracite mine workers in our collieries are
either Indifferent to the strike order or op-
posed to 1t. The Scranton miners were dun
founded on hearing the news, Many of them
were incredulous at first and were disinclined
to believe that the suspension of work had
been ordered. The mines of the L~ackawanna
company Will be continued in operation on
Monday next and the company will endeavor
TO continue them in operation. Our en-
ployees will be notified as soon as possible
that they may continue at work under the
same conditions as now eAlSt unueT tne antnTd~
cite strike award.
s. D. Warmer, general manager OF the
Lehigh Valley Coal Company, shd that
there was great resentment apd dissatis-
faction among the men around the mines
at the strike order. His company would
protect its property and get ready to re-
sumo work. A report that the Delaware
and Hudson and the Lackawanna had made
arrangements for breaking the strike was
denied.
1t was asserted that the operators gen.
orally nave no idea Of raising the price of
coal at present. If the price is raised to the
consumer the dealers will be responsible.
they say. The reserve of 5000, 900 tons
held by the companies will be judiciously
sold, it is understood, without any advance
in the price as far as the operators are
concerned.
The immediate effect OF the strike an
nouncement in this city was an increase In
the price by the Manhattan dealers from
90. so a ton to 81 a ton for ordinary white ash
anthracite and from 81 and $7.25 for red
ash to $7.75 a ton. The increase, the dealers
say, was rendered necessary on account of
the scarcity Of coal and the non-delivery
of orders by the sales agents Of the COM
panies. Soft coal was advanced in price
rs cents a ton and another advance in do
mestic anthrac cite is talked Of in Brooklyn.
j. Samuel Smoot, commissions Of the
Coal Merchants Association Of New York,
gave out the following statement last night
At a meeting of the Coal Merchants Asso-
citation OF New York. held late this afternoon.
IL was decided to increase the price OF do
mestic sizes Of white ash anthracite coal 50
cents a ton and Of red ash anthracite rs cents
a ton. making the prices respectively 81 and
17.75. The price for No. 2 nut or pea coal
for family use was increased 10 so a ton.
The prices for the anthracite steam sizes
and soft coal were made as follows:
Pea coal. e5; b~uckwheat No. /. $3.50; buck
wheat No. 2, -; soft coal. IS.
The yard prices for white ash anthracite
were made $3.50 and red ash anthracite t7.26.
The prices are to take effect this Saturday
morning.
Mr.. Smoot aid that his agents were
watching the soft coal situation very
closely. The soft coal strike will send the
price Of hard coal still higher.
THE PRESIDENT RELUCTANT.