New-York tribune., 1906-04-05
MINERS MAY WEAKEN.
RUMORS or CONCESSIONS.
anthracite Strike Hinges on Result
of To-dan's Conference.

President Mitchell Of the United Mine Work
ers and his couferrees spent yesterday IN ar
ranging for tn. conference with the anthracite
operators in the Jersey Central Building to-day.
There were many rumors ahoat OF modified de-
mands on the part of the miners. and n II pos
sible that they may modify them that there
will be little OF them left
Mitchell and his Heutenants would not talk on
the subject Of the demands but Mitchell him
self professed to be piqued at President Baer oe
the Jersey Central Railroad stating in an inter-
view after the conference on Tuesday that
Mitchell and Nichols talked and talked but said
nothing practical
II look on the interview as more or less OF a
breach OF faith" he said 1T was agreed be-
tween the committees that nothing more would
he made public than that the conference had
adjourned until Thursday. In the face OF this
some OF the operators gave out statements that
L asked for adjournment"
The attitude of the operators yesterday seemed
to Imply that the miners are not likely to get
any concessions. NO formal statements were
given out by any OF the operators
Mitchell had many talks with the subordinate
officials of the anthracite miners at the Ashland
House. The scale COMMITTEES of thirty-six had
two long sessions after which Mitchell made tho
following announcement:
vention met at the Ashland House to-day and had
under consideration the communication from tho
thracite coal operators TO renew and continue for
three years the award OF the Anthracite Coal com
mission II decided that the matter of further
negotiations and the propositions OF the anthractts
by the general committee ard that further meet
ing be held tomorrow at a m.
Later Mitchell made public the following lat-i
ter in reply to the letter he received from Gov
ernor Pennypacker of Pennsylvania urging both
miners and operators to make an effort for
peace:
De Dear Sir: Repiying to yours Of March slst. which
you that every reasonable effort will be made by
a strike. JOHN MITCHELL
1t was learned that the I.ehgh Valley Rail-
road was making preparations for emergencies
in case there was a prolonged anthracite strike
1t was stated that il had decided to cut down
the working force on it's lines and to postpone
some improvements which II had projected.
About $3.50 per cent of the freight traffic of the
| company consists OF coal and coke. and strike
means therefore. fewer cars. Other lines. It is
| said. are making similar preparations. so as to-
| be ready for all emergencies
/ II was said last night on behalf Of the opera
/ tors that special police are being engaged in
/ New York to go to Pennsylvania during tha
/ strike. The companies. it was said. will rely on
/ the Pennsylvania authorities and place a good
/ deal OF reliance on the new Pennsylvania state
| cOnstabulary. They also say they believe Gov
| ernOr Pennypacker will show more energy ic
| special protection is required than Ex-Governor
! Stone did.
/ It was denied the part Of the companies
/ that there was any real scarcity OF domestic
| anthracite. They are anxious 20 know any cases
| where consumers cannot get coal II was said
| that all needs would be supplied and favors
| shown Where a consumer needs only ten tons
| he viii not be allowed to have fifty tons.
/ A prominent member Of the Coal Merchants
Y Association said that none OF the coal reserve
/ at Perth AmbOy had been released. The dealers.
he said. were doing all they could to get coal to
| customers
| There is a great blockade OF boats and barges
| loaded with coal" he said and one gets in the
| others way. This causes delay, but middemen
| have been stocking up"
| Representatives OF transport companies which
| have contracts for bringing coal 10 New York
/ and Brooklyn said that independent boat owners
were charging double freight to the dealers. One
/ anthracite was held in boats and barges by deal
i ers who were paying demurrage at the rate OF
/ from one to two cents a ton day. They looked
/ forward to getting big prices later.
/ Nothing could be learned from Mitchell az a
/ late hour last night as to what he is going to-
/ put before the operators to-day.
II