The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-21
COAL MEN GRANT CONFERENCE
BAER TELLS MITCHELL THEY En-
PECTED TO MEET AGAIN,


The reply of President George F. Baer Of
the Philadelphia and Reading Company,
chairman OF the anthracite operators oom-
mittee OF seven, to the letter OF President
Mitchell Of the United Mine Workers was
written by Mr., Baer late Yesterday after
noon after a conference with the other
members of the operators committee.
The conference took place In the office Of
Il. B. Thomas. president OF the Lehigh
Valley Railroad in the Jersey Central
Building, l43 Liberty street, and lasted
about an hour and a half.
AS stated in yesterdays sun, the operators
are willing to meet the miners again in
conference. though it is indicated pretty
plainly in the letter that the operators will
stand by the award Of the Anthracite Strike
Commission and its methods, as agreed to
after the strike of 1902.
The wholesale coal dealers knew that
this was the stand to be taken by the opera
tors, and they said yesterday that they
had been told by the operators that the
situation was a strenuous one and that it
LOOKED more like an anthracite strike at
present than it had looked since the negotia-
lions first started in February.
The letter to Mitchell was made public
last evening, and is az follows:
Mr.. Joha Mitchell. Chairman. India a polls. Ind,
DEAR SIR: beg to acknowledge receipt
Of Your letter OF March II. There il no mis-
understanding between us as to future meet
ings Of the tee. The minutes OF the
meeting held on the 18th Of February, to
which YOU refer, clearly state thf understand
! ing. To my suggestion that committees be
appointed the record of the minutes is as
follows:
MIR. Mitchell-What we understand ~
| that separate committees be appointed, seven
on each side, and that the miners formulate
in detail the propositions we have to make
and give such reasons as they choose therefor;
and after their scale has been prepared they
will submit that to the seven representatives
of the mine operators for their consideration;
that the seven gentlemen representing the
operators will then reply to the seven miners.
the committee. and if there is finally an agree
ment or disagreement 1t shall be reported
back to our whole committee. II there Is an
agreement, and OF course II there is a disagree
ment that will be reported back to the whole
committee,
MIR. Baer-I have no objection to that.
speak for myself only. 1t is a mater OF
detail.
MIR. Wilcox There are no objections;
only it seems to me it will take a little more
time.
Mr.. Mitchell want to be perfectly
frank in this matter, and we do not want
! to enter into these negotiations under any
Misrepresentation. We do not want to dis
| cover later on that there has been any decep-
ton or anything that win lead YOU 10 believe
we practise deception on our side. OF course,
any agreement arrived at by this whole COM
mittee would be subject to the ratification OF
a convention OF the anthracite miners.
Mr.. Baer-ls that go? Do you come here
without power
MIR, Mitchell--Anything that we do is
subject 10 ratification.
MIR Baer All YOU can do Ia to make a
tentative arrangement, and that has to be re-
ported TO the convention and to be passed
upon by the con ton :?
MI Mitchell-Yes, sir. But that really
amounts to nothing. That ia the %instrnc-
ton from the Shamokin conference of an
thracite mine workers.
Mi. Thomas-It the anthracite convention
votes Tor it will that settle it. or will it have
to 20 further, to the central committee at
Indianapolis;
MIR. Mitchell That will settle Abe matter.
And there will be no trouble: that Is not i'm
portsnt. This committee represents the
anthracite mine workers and they are the
executive officers
In accordance with this understanding
we have frankly and fully answered your
propositions. We made n counter PROPOSE
ton to YOU to continue the existing condi-
tons, which have been so highly beneficial
to the MIXERS AMI to the community. You
have not answered the proposition We made
to you.
We sincerely believe that nothing can now
he done to improve the situation as 1t eSises
and has for the post three years existed in
the coal regions. The miners are contented.
They have been fully employed. They have
been paid large wages. They have saved
money. And the conditions attending the
workin gmen's prosperity are IA favorable in
the anthracite regions as it il possible to
make them. Under these circumstances
We have hoped that You would accept our
proposition. and until we hear from yon
We still continue To indulge that hope,
assumed from n report of a conversation
over the telephone you had with Mr.. f.. b.
Thomas that, owing TO Your engagements at
Indiana polls. an earlier day than the 2oth OF
March would not suit You for a meeting.
We are prepared TO meet you at any time
YOU may name. ] naturally supposed that
YOU would notify us when you desired to
meet us. You will observe that your own
statement says: IL there Is a final agree
ment or disa Rreement 1t shall be reported
back TO our whole committee" We never
had a thought OF abrogating this understand
ing, and have acted throughout on the as
sumption that there would be n meeting of
tue NHOle COiliHlJlft w HtdI p"l itbuit'
Yours truly.
: GRoRGE r. BAER. Chairman.
NEW YoGK. March 20. 1904.
Members Of the Coal Dealers Association
who were told Of the contents Of the letter
last night said that they expected the opera
tors to write just such a letter. Their
general belief was that there will be
a strike unless Mitchell and his committee
completely back down.
Bitumlnous Operators Refuse an Increase.
INDIANAPOLIS. March 2n.-Notwithstand-
ing the decla ira tion that the animosities
between Vioe-President Lewis and Preei-
dent Mitchell we're to be held in allegiance
during the present convention, it became
apparent to-day that Lewis had determined
to be a factor In the formation Of a scale
agreement in the face Of Mitohell's opposi-
ton. Lewis can control the four votes Of
Western Pennsylvania, and with these he
can block any policy that Mitchell may
suggest.
When the operators met the miners this
afternoon the scale on Tered in January
49, -