New-York tribune., 1912-03-18
WOULD AVERT COAL STRIKE
Operators Point to Possibility
of Holding New Conferences.
THIS HAPPENED BEFORE
E. E. Loomis Says Relations
Between Owners and Miners
Are Not Strained.

An impressIon seemed TO prevail yester-
day among some OF the coal dealers ana
anthracite operators that when the ex-
pected suspension OF work IN the anthra-
cite coIlierles took place, April l, there
would be a good chance that the operators
and the conference committee Of the mine
workers might come together again.
Both sides have said they would not re-
cede from their respective positions. but
the committees did not part in anger ana
It was pointed out by those who recalled
what happened when the last agreement
expired that there was suspension cl
work because the demands of the mne
workers we're refused. followed by new
conferences, and the renewal OF the agree
ment under the award of the anthracite
strike commission. which the mine WORK
ers had previously refused TO accept.
e. e. Loomis, vice-president Of the Della
ware, Lackawanna & Western Rallroau
Company who has had more to DO WITH
the mine workers than any OF the other
officials of this road. said yesterday that
while there was a similarity in the circum-
stances following the refusal of the de-
mands of the mine workers when their last
agreement expired, he would not preulct
whether or not there would be strike
Nothing had happened so far to prevent
renewal OF conferences If new PROPOSE
ton was made which would form the basis
for negotiations.
"The relations between the companies ana
the mine workers are not strained In any
way" he continued. up TO the present
their relations have been friendly and there
has been no actual breach. The pody oL
the mine workers do not want to strike.
They have been earning good wages, ana
worked more days last year than on any
preceding year"
On the subject OF the supply OF coal he
said there WAS n normal supply for any
year where no strike was expected, but
the demand for anthracite had been
greater than usual on account OF the long
and severe winter. The companies had
not advanced the prices OF coal, and had
no intention OF advancing the prices at
present. he said, though prices had been
advanced by a number OF Independent
operators: but the circulars announcing
the usual discount OF 80 cents a ton. which
goes into effect on April /. and is Increased
10 cents a month until winter prices are
regained, would not be issued until all
trouble was over-whether in the way of
suspension or n strike
Asked what he thought. OF the bill OF
Congressman Lee to bring Ae mines under
the Erdman mediation act, which applies
now only to railroads, he said he could
not discuss the matter offhand. The arbi-
traitors under the Erdman act could not
enforce their decisions. but might reduce
the chances Of a strike 10 a minimum.
Henry c. Fleming chairman OF the Btu
mlnous Coal Trade Association. composed
OF soft coal operators and other repre-
sentatives OF the association said that the
situation. so far as bltum!nous coal was
concerned. had not changed for several
days. and probably would not change until
the conferences between the bItuminous
operators and minors had been held. Mr..
Fleming added that no meeting Of the as
ISOLATION had been arranged for In the
mean time.
Among q number OF labor leaders In this
city Yesterday was Frank j. Hayes. Vice
president Of the United Mine Workers, who
said that Il was for the anthracite oper-
ators TO avert strike or suspension OF
mining on April l. The men would stop
work after midnight OF March 81 unless
the operators abandoned their present po-
sitIon. As 10 the soft coal situation, hs
continued, anything that might be said
would be mere guesswork prior 90 the con
ference on March % between the commit
tees OF the hituminous operators and bitu-
minous miners.
The organ of the Lake Seamen's Union
in n recent issue quoted paper which II
said was an organ Of the Illinois coal op-
orators as stating that thee was move
ment for an alliance between the miners
and the railroad brotherh1ods, by which
union miners would not mine coal for use
on railroads whose employees were on strike,
and In return railroad employees would not
aid in shipping coal mined by non-union
men, and that the mine workers had
through their organization Endorsed this
plan.
The railroad brotherhoods never have
gone into any sympathetic strike, however,
and have kept aloof from entangling al
liances. The United Mine Workers Is an
American Federation OF Labor organiza-
ton, besides, while none OF tho railroad
brotherhoods, except the Order OF Railroad
Telegraphers, is in the American Fedora
tion OF Labor.