The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-25
Operators Decline to Entertain Proposition Advanced By
 e President I. 1. Lewis
WILL NOT TREAT WITH
 UNION LEADERS AT ALL
White Goes Back To Indianapolis and It Is Rumored Will Recommend Giving Up the Struggle
 In This District.

Developments of yesterday lead to the inference that the miners strike will probably be called off in the next few days
 T. L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of America telegraphed yesterday to the Alabama Coal Operators association, of which G. B. Mccormack is president, asking for a conference with quest was promptly turned down. Presi- dent Lewis telegram was dated Indian apolis. It was laid before the executive committee of the operators association and while 1t was decided not to make public the correspondence, it is said that Lewis alluded to the lawlessness that had resulted from the strike and ex- pressed his desire to bring about a settle ment which would restore law and or der; and to that end he intimated that he was ready to meet the operators more than half way.
 
 mack wired to President Lewis. it was stated that the operators were unalter- ably committed to the open shop prin- ciple It is understood further that in the message sent to Lewis reference was made to the murders and other acts of violence which had been committed by the United Mine Workers and also to the attempt to force social equality be- tween whites and blacks
 These acts were strongly condemned by the operators, but as conference be- tween the President of the United Mine Workers and a committee of the opera tors which Lewis proposed would mean recognition of the union it was made clear that his request, could under no cir cumstances, be entertained
 Four Years Ago.
 When the United Mine Workers ordered a strike four years ago the furnace com make the fight for an open shop and that they would never again treat with the union. In the present strike the lead ing commercial coal operators joined the furnace operators and the position taken today and maintained by the latter in 1904 was simply reaffirmed. The Alabama Operators association which organized re- gently published a statement in which conditions were reviewed and while ad- ..;<~ @l.z union and refuse to work whenever they thought 1t to their interests to do so, they insisted on the corollary, namely. the right to conduct their business inde- pendent of the union, employing only such miners as they saw fit to employ. All they asked was non-interference on the part of those who joined the strike.
 Left for Indianapolis.
 Vice President J. w. White of the United Mine Workers, who came to Bir- mingham about three weeks ago to di- rect the strike left Sunday for Indian apolis to confer with President Lewis. It was rumored yesterday that he would advise calling off the strike. W. R. Fairley, Alabama member of the execu-  ing the rumor, declined to make a state ment. He refused, however, to deny the rumor. It Is said that MT. Farley was called to Indianapolis last night.
 It was rumored also that Vice Presi- dent White had asked to be relieved of further duty in the Birmingham district, in the event that the strike was not called off. On the other hand it was stated by friends of MT. White that when he left here Sunday 1t was his intention to return later in the week. It is said, however, that he remarked to citizen of Birmingham had he known of the bitter public sentiment here against the officials of the union in the conduct of the strike as revealed at the mass meet ing held at the Bijou on Wednesday, August 12, he would have remained away. This, at least was a part of the gossip of yesterday.
 The rumors pointing to an early ending of the strike naturally formed the ab sorbing topic in mercantile and industrial circles yesterday, and further develop ments will be awaited with intense eager ness.
 At yesterdays meeting of the opera tors all the furnace companies and sev- eral of the commercial companies re- ported encouraging increases in produc- tion.
 BEGIN FIGHT