The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-12
Another Meeting Will Be Held Between the Two Parties
 to the Conference
OPERATORS ARE FIRM
 IN THEIR POSITION
1t Is Said That a Majority of the Miners Are Against Strike, But President Lewis Declines
 sf to Make Statement,

Philadelphia, March n.-she anthracite coal operators met the committee of hard coal miners in the Reading terminal build ing here today and fiatly refused to grant the men any of the demands they laid be- fore them. and at the same time proposed to the mine workers that the present agreement, which will expire March 3l, be renewed for another term of three years. This decision was not unexpected Ly the mine workers as they had long ago learEed that the operators were against
 any concessions. Thomas Lewis
 al president of the United Mine
 ITS of America, declined to com
 on the developments of the day, d stating that he and his commii-
 rt n will meet to discuss the situation
 miners will meet the operators
 tomorrow at ? o'clock.
 formal announcement made for the of the public of the refusal of the
 .ors to grant the demands of the
 was made in a statement agreed upon by both sides. It follows:
 "A committee of seven representatives of anthracite mine workers and a commit tee of seven representatives of the an- thracite or rerators held joint meeting in the Reading terminal building this aft ernoon to discuss the mine workers de- nands. TEese demands are the same t'iat were drafted in Scranton last October.
 ..The operators declined to accede 10 the demands. The chief reason offered for the rejection was that any increase in the cost of production would neces sitate an advance in the price of coal ard that such an advance was impractioable. The operators said that wages in the an- thracite mining industry were already at a high level and could not pc increased.
 Free Discussion.
 "The announcement of the operators re- fusa was followed by a free discussion of the various demands, each side stat ing it's v-ews fully in regard thereto. The operators declared their unwilling ness la reopen the S-hour day question and other questions passed upon by the anthracite strike committee of 1902. They also declared themselves opposed to tho mine workers proposition for a one-yCdr agreement.
 They declined to recognize the United Mine Workers of America, chief ly on the ground that it was controlled by bituminous workers. They said  as representatives of the anthracite workers and not as officials of the union. The operators called upon the report of the strike commission to support their refusal to deal with the United Mine Workers.
 "At the end of the discussion the op- orators made the definite proposition to renew the present agreement Tor term of three years"
 While President Lewis has not an- nounced what he will do, it is believed le had prepared himself for the result of todays conference, and that he will impart his intentions to his fellow committeeman and perfect the details of the next move before they again go into conference tomorrow after noon.
 So far as could be learned from the miners today majority of the work CTS are opposed to a strike
 Lewis Is Riled.
 President Lewis was much exasper- ated tonight when shown the statement that had been given out. He said the arraneements with the operators was that the sub committee was to act as press committee and prepare state mont for the public.
 George W. Hartley represented the miners on this committee and George F Parker or New I OTk acued TOT tne operators Mr. Lewis left them long before the statement was prepared. When he was shown a copy tonight he expressed great surprise that Hartley sh ould agree to such "a one-sided state ment," and declared that he wanted an explanation from Hartley as to wether the statement given out is the one agreed to. Mr. Lewis added:
 "The statement shown to me tonight as coming from the joint conference is not complete and simply statement giving the operators position. Hav- ing agreed with all members or the conference that the secretaries of the operators and miners reports should act as a press committee, do not feel at liberty to give out statement as to what transpired today in the confer ence, and in order not to violate con fidence l shall refrain from giving out . statement until tomorrow night"
 MT. Lewis added that hereafter he will act as his own press committee
 Indicted for Murder.