Perth Amboy evening news., 1909-03-13
Miners Scale Is FlatIy Refused and
Under No Circumstances Will the
Union be Recognized Bv Owners.
SHOW DEFIANCE
Operators Tell President
Lewis to Do His Worst
Latter Believes Union
Demands Are JUST
Draft a Report.
Special BY Untted Press Wire.

Special by United Press Wfre.
Philadelphia, March 13-The del
egates of the anthracite coal miners
held a conference today and decided
to call a convention of the miners to
be held in Scranton, Pa, March 23.
A report Is being drafted of the
fruitless conference with the opera
tors last night.
President Lewis said today that
he considered every demand of the
miners justified and the convention
of the three districts will decide
what will be done April 1.
In FIVE hour conference yester-
day Lewis made a last desperate bat
tie for the miners who have asked
that their wages be increased and
that their union be recognized. The
local barons told Lewis that they
would do nothing. They brushed
aside all arguments made so vehe-
mently by the mine workers chief
and let him know they had no fear
Of the outcome.
The mine operators are not worrying
over the prospect of strike. They
know that the anthracite miners are
numerically weak. While there are
1872, 900 anthracite miners In the Penn
sylvania regions, fewer than $4,000 of
them are in the union, 1t is said. OPP
orators can see nothing but losing
fight for the workers IL there is a
strike, and they virtually dared Lewis
to do his worst.
Lewis has called conference of his
lieutenants, and they will decide to
call convention to be held within the
next ten days. Lewis has not made
up his mind whether he wants the
council to recommend that the conven-
tion cali strike. 1t is said he, does
not know what to do.
When the conference between the
mine owners and the representatives
Of the miners broke up President Lew
is told President George F. Baer of
the Philadelphia and Reading railway
that he would like to have the privi-
lege Of making another joint meeting
later on If the miners happened to
want one. President Baer assured
him that there could be another con-
ference at any time.
But" he added, you need not ex-
pect US ito change our attitude, Mfr.
Lewis. We will listen to what you
may have to say, but we have no con-
cessions to make, not one"
At the conference there were sharp
clashes. President Lewis, when he
saw how unalterably opposed the oper-
ators were proposed compromise,
something to which, he had told his
conferees, he could never consent. This
was on the question of recognition of
the union. Every one of the coal mag
mates was against any such recognl-
ttcn. They informed Lewis they were
not treating with the delegates as un-
ion men, but as representatives Of the
Individual miners.
Lewis argued the point desperately.
At length he declared:
"If you will agree TO recognize the
union will sign the three year agree
ment."
Lewis associates looked at him in
blank dlsmay. Their president had
held out for year agreement. The
coal operators promptly turned down
Lewis proposition.
''Under no circumstances will we
recognize the union,' said President
w. II. Truesdale Of the Lackawanna
railroad, and his colleagues nodded ac-
quiescence.