Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-05
MAY TRIM DEMANDS
Anthracite Miners Preparing New PROPOSE
tiOn to Operators.
SCALE COMMITTEE WORKS ALL DAY
Mr.. Mitchell Refuses to Discuss Report that
Men Will Make Concessions,
COMPROMISE IS NOW EXPECTED
SCALE COMMITTEE WORKS ALL OE
COMPROMISE IS NOW EXPECTED
0ne-Year Contract on Basis Of Award with
Certain Notifications. Z
SITUATION IN SOFT COAL FIELD
Ten Are Gradually Returning to
work in Many Districts and
Union OnicIaIs Are Pleased
with Outlook,


NEW YORK, April At was the general
belief tonight of those who are closely
watching the situation about the anthra-
cite miners headquarters in this city, that
the miners have definitely decided to mod
ify their emands and will present them to
the operators probably tomorrow. Some
Of the members Of the committee privately
admitted before coming to New York that
the original demands were greater than
the miners really expected TO get and the
leaders could afford to trim them down and
still leave the workers enough to be sat
ished. j. is believed that II the operators
will meet the men half way or some of
the demands they Ia 5e made. such as a
reconstruction OF the conciliation board,
an eight hour day and an increase in pay
for some classes of labor, the miners
would seriously consider the proposition of
renewing the strike commission award for
not more than one year. The miners have
all along assertd they would not bind
themselves to any agreement for three
years. When the reports that the miners
would modify their demands and other
rumors to the effect that they would sug-
gest that the differences between them
selves an their employers be arbitrated
and that convention of anthracite miners
would be called within a few days, were
called to the attention of the members of
the committee, they referred the inquirers
TO President Mitchell who when APP
preached would shake his head and say:
There is nothing l can say at this time"
Mitchell Says Little.
Preparations for another meeting tomor~
row between the subcommittee represent
ing the anthracite operators and miners
kept the Shamokin committee of miners
busy today. Two long sessions were held,
but beyond the following statement by
President Mitchell no information was
given out:
The committee appointed by the Shamokin
convention met at the Ashland hotel today
and had under consideration the commune
cation from the governor of Pennsylvania
and the offer of the anthracite coal oper-
years the award of the anthracite coal
strike commission. II was decided that
tho matter of further negotiations and the
propositions OF the anthracite. miners he
referred 20 the subcommittee appointed by
meeting of the general committee be held
tomorrow at a. m. The subcommittee
Is now in session.
All the district leaders received reports
from tho anthracite fields during the day
and evening and, Notwithstanding reports
that more coal was mined today than yes
terday or Monday. they declared the situa-
tion was satisfactory TO them.
soft Coal situation Satisfactory.
President Mitchell is devoting almost as
much time TO the situation in the bitumin-
GUS field as he is TO the hard coal region.
He is hourly in receipt of kilograms from.
the west. When asked tonight how matters
stood in the soft coal field he said
Entirely satisfactory TO me. Everything
is turning out l expected and believe
the situation in the west will be
cleared up
When President Mitchell was informed
that President Roosevelt had declined to
interfere with the soft coal troubles he
showed great interest and inquired IL the
text of the presidents communication had
been made public. He refused to COM
ment on the presidents action, but he
plainly showed he was much gratiied at
the stand the president has taken. Among
Mr. Mitchell's visitors today was ]. l..
Marston OF the Texas and Pacific Coal
company He had short conference with
Mr. Mitchell over the matter OF signing
the 1908 scale, but II conclusion was
reached by them 1t was not disclosed.
Nen Expect a settlement.
PHILADELPHIA, April AIN anticipa-
tiOn that a satisfactory arrangement will
be made by the operators and miners
representatives when they again meet IN
conference today in New York. hope pre-
Vans throughout the anthracite region.
Unlike the years 1900 and 1902. when both
strikes were preceded by pronounced agi-
ton, the mine workers appear TO believe
that when the conferees finish their de-
Iiberations they win have adopted a plan
which. II II does not comply with all the
demands Of the mine workers, will at
least grant concessions, resulting in a re-
sumption OF mining operations. While
hopeful OF peace, however. the miners are
preparing for war, as is evidenced by the
fact that picketing has become general
throughout the region. In many cases men
on their way to the mines were stopped
by these pickets today and compelled to
prove that they were exempted in Presi-
dent Mitohelrs order suspending work. Al
Yatesville, near Wilkesbarre, a number OF
pumpmen employed at the Fernwood
eoiliery OF the Pennsylvania Coal company
were attacked BY foreigners. which resulted
in a call for the state police. No arrests
were made,
PittsburE Men Returning.
PITTsBURG April 4-Notwithstanding
the fact that tho Pittsburg Coal company
has signed the scale demanded by the
miners and the announcement that the mer
would return 10 work at once. not more
than half of that companys operations
are under way. Patrick Dolan, who {.
one OF the contesting officers Of the loca
district and who was charged with hold
ing back the miners from returning tC
work, made a statment tonight in which
he denies that he sent out any orders re,
suaining the miners and advising them tC
return to work al once. further de
velopment in the soft coal situation il
this district that appeared tonight Is in
dlcated in the statement OF an independent
operator who has been present at the meet
ings OF this body and was one OF IN,
charter members Of the organization
formed last night This gentleman saiC
tonight
Pittshurg Coal company gets all their mef
back 10 WOrk by next week there will b,
nOthiug left for the Independents 10 dt
but sign the scale
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