Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-03
LOOK FOR AGREEMENT
Conference on Coal Miners Is
sue in New York.
EXPECTED TO BEAR FRUIT
Optimistic Feeling Among the Dele
gates Today.
RUMoRED CONCESSIONS DENIED
Decisive Meeting This Afternoon of
mmittees-Railway Officials
onferred-sessions Private.

NEW YORK. April 3.-A1thOugh nothing
has occurred to change the situation, there
was a general expectation today that the
conference between the subcommittee OF
the anthracite operators and the miners,
which will be held in the Jersey Central
building later in the day, viii bear fruit.
There was a strong optimistic feeling
among the representatives of the miners
that something will happen greatly TO re-
lieve the situation. President Mitchell dur
ing the forenoon said there was no change
so far az the miners are concerned.
The men still stand firm for what they
have asked and he felt confident that the
operators would not continue to maintain
the attitude they had assumed up to the
present time.
Mr. Mitchell denied all rumOrs that con-
oessions would be made by him today All
reports of that character, he said. were
mere speculation. 1t had been rumored that
the miners would not press all the demands
they have made, hut would, If the mine
owners showed a disposition to meet them
half way. drop some Of the propositions
they have made.
Notwithstanding Mt MitchelIs firm stand
It IS considered quite likely that the sha-
molHin scale committee would rather make
concessions than declare a strike at this
time.
Miners Committee Met.
The subcommittee OF the miners which is
made up OF District Presidents Nichols,
Dettrey and Fahy and District Secretaries
Dempsey, Gallagher and Harlein. with
President Mitchell as chairman, held a brief
meeting at headquarters IN the Ashland
House prior TO the conference with the
This Hu NOT
since the suspension order was issued at
Indianapolis last week What took place
at this gathering was not made public but
81 IS understood the committee reviewed de-
velopments in connection with the suspen-
sion OF mining which took place through
out the hard coal fields yesterday. The
subcommittee members all expressed them
selves as satisfied with the situation and
said they felt confident there will be no
break in the ranks of the mine workers,
The II members of the Shamokin scale COM
mittee, who number thirty-six, began ar
riving here during the forenoon. 1t has
been planned 10 hold a meeting of this sub
committee tonight TO receive a report from
the subcommittee of seven. Whether this
meeting will be held depends upon what
takes place at this afternoons conference.
The Bituminous Situation.
President Mitchell received another large
number Of kilograms today from the va
Tious bituminous districts of the union. He
Informed a reporter for the Associated
Press that affairs in the soft coal sections
are working themselves out just as he had
expected they would All his Information,
he said, was OF a favorable character
thousands of men have returned to the
mines at increased pay and he expected to
hear during the day that many more soft
coal companies had agreed TO the 1903
scale.
President Bser OF the Reading Company
arrived here from Philadelphia shortly
after 10 O'Clock and Immediately went into
conference with officials of other coal
carrying roads. 1t was the original inten-
tion to hold the meeting Of the subcommit-
tees Of the operators and miners IN the
forenoon. but the conference By agreement
was delayed until after noon in order to
give the operators an opportunity 10 con-
fer with one another.
The Meeting With Operators.
President Mitchell and the other mem
bers Of the anthracite miners committee
entered by the conference room In the Jer-
sey Central building, where they are 10
pleet the operators about noon. Just be-
tore going into conference President
Mitchell said. There has been no change
In the situation. l have nothing TO say
regarding the anthracite coal dispute"
The subcommittee OF the operators who
were awaiting the arrival OF the miners IN
the Cflces Of one OF the coal companies IN
the building entered the conference room a
few minutes after the labor leaders. The
members OF The operators committee are
George +. Baer OF the Reading w, II
TTUesdale, president OF the Delaware Lack
EWaEna and Western railroad; f. Is. Thorn
az, president OF the Lehigh Valley railroad
Morris Williams, president Of the Pennsyl-
Nauia railroads coal companies J. b. Kerr.
vice president OF the New York Ontario
ard Western railroad; David Wilcox, pfesi-
dent OF The Delaware and Hudson Company
and J. J.. Cake, representing the independ-
ent operators.
A request Of TIE newspaper men for ad-