Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-31
MINERS MAY WORK ON 1903 SCALE

Government Anxious to Avoid Great
 Labor Struggle, hut Executive h aa
 Yet Undetermined as to What Ac-
 tfon Would Do Justice to Both
 Sides In Coal War Mitchell and
 Robbins Dispute Facts as Stated
 In Winder's Telegram to Washing
 ton = Western Pennsylvania Men
 May Not Strike.
 I WASHINGTON, March 31.-The cab
 inet at its session had under consider
 ation the coal situation, and the tele-
 grams from Indianapolis of John H. l Wlnder, John Mitchell and Francis l.. Robbins were discussed.
 The president said that he is anxious I that strike be averted and is ready to 1 do all in his power to prevent clash
 between the miners and operators, but he does not think the present moment opportune for government interfer- elce. What he may do in the near fu- ture is not disclosed. In fact, no deci- sion regarding action by the president has been determined upon.
 The telegram from Mr. Winder pro- poses that the president appoint con- mission to investigate all matters which in the judgment of such com
 mission had an important bearing up- on the scale of wages which should be paid all classes of labor in coal mines of the territory involved. The telegram signed by Messrs. Mitchell and Robbins sent to President Roosevelt says:
 1 Responding to your suggestion, we have fulfilled our highest duties as citi- zens of our country by advocating bituminous coal scale on reasonable compromise. We understand that tel egram has been sent to you purporting to speak for 80 per cent of the bitumi- nous tonnage That telegram does not represent the real facts. At least one half of the tonnage in eastern Penn sylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois is produced by operators who are willing to pay the compromise scale" ,, It is evident that an optimistic view is held at the White House regarding the impending struggle. It is regard ed as doubtful that strike declared at this time will prove as serious as that of three years ago. It is pointed out that the operators themselves are divided on the question and that there are indications that the serious aspect of the situation may be resolved with out government intervention.
 A Wilkesbarre dispatch says that some of the coal companies in that re- zion have issued orders to take the mules out of the mines and put the eollieries in condition for an idle spell. At the headquarters of :. the United Mine Workers there the statement is made that the order to quit work will be obeyed by the men. It is not be- lieved that the operators will attempt to work any of their mines. The belief prevails in the business community that the miners and operators will reach an agreement and that the sus- pension will be of short duration.
 A report from Indianapolis says that the Mine Workers national convention has adopted the Perry resolution.
 Under it there will be no bituminous strike at any place except where a ,l95 1 cal mine refused to sign the 1903 scale. !
 The national convention of the Unit i ed Mine Workers of America has ad- 1 journed sine die.
 The anthracite mine operators have decided to meet the miners committee in New York on Tuesday, April 3, as by John Mitchell. of the for a further conference on the wage scale in the anthracite coal field. It had been reported that the operators would refuse because the miners were ordered to strike. but telegram from President George F. Baer.i the chair man of the operators committee. to President Mitchell accepting the offer has been received by him. Mir. Baer's message said:
 Although your order to quit work pending negotiations is most extraor- iinary, the delay in meeting having been yours and not ours. nevertheless