Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1906-02-15
BOTH SIDES ARE
REPRESENTED
MINERS AND OPERATORS ARE
IN SESSION IN NEW YORK
CITY TODAY.
Special to the Herald.


New York, Feb. 15.-Representa-
tives of the miners and operators
meet in joint conference today in an
effort to reach an amicable agreement
regarding the matters in dispute.
Upon the result of the conference
hinges the question of war or peace
in the mining regions. Statements
given out by the leaders of both sides,
taken into consideration with other
known facts, force the conclusion
that little may be expected in the
way of a peaceful settlement. If a
strike is averted it will be brought
about only by the miners receding
in their demands. So far as the
mine owners are concerned they
present an unbroken front and are
not expected to give in an inch. II.
is practically the first time in the
history of their organization that
there has been absolute harmony
among the operators. Their attitude
is one of perfect confidence and leads
TO the inevitable conclusion that they
are fully prepared for a strike. For
months past they have been heap
ing the great storage pockets through
out the coal region full to overflow
ing. 1t is estimated that the supply
on hand is sufficient to meet all de-
mands for a year to come and justi-
fies the belief of the operators that
now if ever is the time TO have it out
with the miners and If possible to
break the back of their great organi-
cation known as the United Mine
Workers of America
Among the miners, on the other
hand, all is not harmony. President
John Mitchell is stalking his all on
the success of the impending strug-
gle. Unfortunately for him he has
not the united support of the miners.
And more unfortunately still the dis
sentients include a number of influen-
tial leaders, such as Dolan of Penn
sylvania, who are able to muster a
strong following to oppose or balk
Mitchell's plans. But Mitchell real
ICES that he is in the game and must
stick to the finish. If he wins it will
mean renewed power for him and the
great organization of which he is the
head center. But If the strike is a
failure for the miners it will mean
the passing of Mitchell and in all
probability the breakup of the United
Mine Workers. 1t is estimated that
the great coal strike of 1902 cost the
operators upwards of $50,000,O00 and
the miners half that sum in wages.
But the enormity of these figures
and the certainty that another strike
would prove even more costly will
not avert the struggle. 1t is fight for
existence, and if it comes it will be a
fight to finish.
As stated before, the only chance
of averting a strike will be for the
miners to recede in their demands. |
These demands are understood to in
clude recognition of the union, an
eight-hour day, revision OF the con-
ciliation board so that grievances
may be quickly adjusted, a standard
ton, equalization of wages and uni
form scale for all dead work. Neither
an eight-hour day nor recognition of
the union will be granted by the ope-
rators. 1t is safe to say that the best
they will offer will be to renew the
agreement drawn up by the strike |
committee at the conclusion of the
anthracite strike four years ago.