Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-13
MITCHELL IS HOPEFUL
Despite Outlook Believes There
Will Be No Strike.
LOOKS FOR SETTLEMENT
Does Not Consider Baer's Letter as
Final.
TIME YET FOR ARBITRATION
Expects That Another Reply Will
Come From Operators Shortly
Opening Up New Line.
TINE YET FOR ARBITRATION

NEW YORK. April 13.-President Mitchell
Of the miners union was busy today pre-
pairing to close his headquarters here and
return to Indianapolis tomorrow. All the
members of the general scale committee
have left for their homes in the anthracite
regions and will not be called together
again until after the operators reply to the
propositions submitted to them yesterday
by the miners.
In the face of the pessimistic expressions
Of some of the members Of the scale COM
mittee, President Mitchell is hopeful Of a
peaceful ending of the controversy with the
operators. He believes the operators will
make an answer which will permit the con-
tinuance of the negotiations, instead of
abruptly ending them.
President Mitchell goes to Indianapolis to-
morrow to prepare for the meeting of the
international executive board of the miners
union. At this meeting the proposition made
last week the Ohio operators to arbitrate
the dispute between the mine owners and
the striking miners in that state will be
considered.
E. B. Sturgis of Scranton, an independent
coal operator, and one of those who signed
the letter sent to the operators urging them
not to concede the demands of the miners
cdieu Ou TTeSluellt MllCneli OF tne miners
today. After a brief conference with Mr.
Mitchell. he said: II am here to see Mr..
Mitchell about one matter and that is all
am sorry that my visit has become known,
as none of the other operators knew that
| was coming here or the nature Of my
business with Mr.. Mitchell. l still think
there will be a strike
President Mitchell declined to discuss the
conference. Touching the reply Of the op-
orators yesterday. Mr.. Mitchell said:
do rof thot
yesterday from President Baer is final. 1t
was written on the spur Of the moment and
without delfberation. l expect that the an
swer yet to come from Mr.. Baer in day
or two will open up new line, and dc
not think the situation is such that there
will be strike. There is reason to believe
that the operators may see new light"
Believe Strike Inevitable.
sIIAMOKIN. Pa. April 13.-About 5OO
miners from this secthh of the anthracite
region. believing that a. strike is inevitable,
left last night and today for North Caro-
hna and the western states to work for
railroad contractors and in the soft coal
mines.
Advertising for Workmen.
PITTSBURG, Pa, April 13.-Pittsburg
coal operators who have signed the wage
scale with the miners are advertising for
workmen. This is partly due to the fact
that last month, when a shutdown seemed
inevitable in this district, many of the for
eigners decided to visit their old homes,
and have not yet returned According to
the statements of local operators every
mine that is in condition for operation is
running full time.
Already there is a scarcity of cars in GER
tain districts.
|" The first strike in the Pittsburg district
under President Feehan's administration
began here today, when the 1900 miners
employed at the Great Lakes Coal Com
pany at Kay or Penn quit work by order
of the district officials. The refusal of the
company to agree to certain concessions
asked for by the mine workers. and includ-
ed In the 1903 scale, was the cause Of the
strike.
No Concessions Considered.
WHEELING, w. Va, April 13-Oper-
ators Of eastern Ohio who are to meet in
conference with the miners of the fifth
Ohio district this afternoon stated previous
to the meeting that no concessions short of
an agreement to arbitrate the differences at
issue would be made.