The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-30
Important Conferences Held Be- tween Governor and Miners
 Officials Yesterday
MANY RUMORS OF EXTRA
 SESSION OF LEGlSLAT URE
President Lewis Last Night Said He Was Not Yet Ready to Make Any Statement on the Strike
 Situation.

The miners strike has not been called off and T. L. Lewis, the executive head of the United Mine Workers of America, declined last night, when seen by a rep resentative of The Age-Herald, to make be in the matter.
 MT. Lewis, Vice President White, Sec retary-Treasurer Ryan and a number of the national board members of the United Mine Workers who arrived in Birming- ham Friday, have held several confer ences with local officials of the union and MT. Lewis has had several with Governor Conner
 Yesterday at ? o'clock MT. Lewis met the governor by appointment at the First National bank, and conference was held in the directors room. At this con ference Gen. D. w. Fucker was present by invitation of the governor The ru- mor went forth that General Fucker was there to represent the Alabama Coal Operators association, but this proved to be without foundation. In fact, the general said emphatically that the oper- ators adhered to their open shop policy, so often and so clearly stated, and that nothing could induce them to change their position. While none of the con- ferees would make public anything that was said at the conference it Is known in a general way that General Fucker spoke in very plain language as to the futility of the United Mine Workers con- tinuing the strike and the advisability of ending It. Prior to the conference General Fucker was introduced to Sec retary-Treasurer Ryan and pointed out to him the reasons why the strike should be called off.
 At o'clock Governor Conner and Mr. Lewis had another conference and 1t is said that 1t would probably be the last. While the governor is extremely reti- cent 1t is believed that if the strike is not called off by Monday the legislature will be called in special session to take action on the situation and make such laws as will give the governor a free hand in dealing with iawlessness in the Birmingham district
 The operators are increasing their coal output and the iron companies report that conditions with them fast ap- preaching normal; but merchants and citizens in general say that the strike is
 
 mercantile quarters are worse now than at any time since the strike began. They say the suspense is what hurts.
 MT. Lewis was asked if 1t were true as had been asserted by some members of the miners union, that the strike could not be called off or continued without the proposition being first submitted to the locals for their vote. He replied that the whole matter was in the hands of the officials and the national executive board MT Lewis was then asked If he would give out his promised statement to the public before leaving Birmingham or wait until he returned to headquarters at h. dfanapolis. He said that whatever he had to say for publication would be said while he was in Birmingham and he in timated that his statement would be a hot one.
 Little else was discussed in Birmingham yesterday but the strike. It was the topic of conversation everywhere. Some there were who expressed the firm belief that the strike would be ended within the next day or two. Others were inclined to believe that it would continue until it wore itself out until the legislature met and took action that would break it up.
 Members of the legislature in every sec ton of Alabama are said to be much wrought up over the strike They and their constituents feel outraged at the murders committed and the attempt to establish social equality between whites and blacks among the strikers, to say nothing of the heavy expense placed upon the state. And if the legslat ture is called those in a position to speak by the card say that its work will be speedy and dras- tic.
 A few tented camps of the strikers put out of commission by the soldiers with a few arrests for intimidation and tres- passing after warning was all that was doing in the strike district yesterday.
 It was one of the quietest days which has been experienced since the Fourth of July. The soldiers had a quiet day of 1t, and the longing for the time when they would be relieved reigned uppermost in their minds.
 But few imported men were placed yes fav-1 -1oxy