New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
CONFER ON COAL STRIKE
Miners Demand for Union Rec
ounition May Prove Snag.
LIKELY TO GET 8-H0UR DAY
President George T. Baer in
Town, but Does Not Attend
the Conference.

rhs subcommittee Of the Joint confer
"a committee Of the anthracite mine
..rlsrs and operators resumed confer
ras Yesterday in this city over the de-
e.,rds Of the workers. In the meantime
4,.rSnyion Of work in the anthracite dis
trcts continues
The conference yesterday took place in
.As Union League Club. Fifth avenue and
60 street. and it was agreed that no
S,,ails as 10 what took place would he
made public until a report is made TO the
r,n committees Of the mine workers and
che operators George F. Baer. president
n the Philadelphia & Reading, was in
,oun Yesterday, but is not on the sub
,ommittee and had nothing 70 say.
The mine workers were represented at
,ssterdays conference by John 7. White.
,resident Of the United Mine Workers. and
Iohn T. Dempsey. John Fahy and Thomas
kennedy. presidents of the three anthra-
.,te districts-of the United Mine Workers
The operators were represented by S. d.
warmer. Of the Lehigh Valley Coal Com
many: ". j. Richards. OF the Philadelphia
and Reading Coal Company: Colonel r. a.
phillips. OF the Delaware. Lackawanna and
,ams. of the Susquehanna Coal Company.
Alvin Markle. an Independent operator, is
chairman of the Joint subcommittee, but
has no vote in its proceedings
James A. German. of HaEleton. Penn.
sscretsry Of the board of conciliation ap-
pointed under the award of the anthracite
strike commission after the settlement Of
the strike of 1902, is secretary Of the pres
ent Joint conference committee.
Before the committee went into session
,esterday John T. White. president Of the
United Mine Workers. expressed himself as
hopeful that a settlement would be reached.
Il was learned that the principal obstacle
TO settlement is the demand for recogni-
ton of the union. The eight-hour workday
Is disposed of, as far as the contract miners
are concerned, by the operators offering TO
fhov that these miners work on an average
less than eight hours day.
Secretary German of the conference COM
miitse. which met yesterday, said that all
that could be stated on behalf Of the com
mittee was that II reported progress. He
would give no opinion as 10 whether set
tlement was likely or how soon settlement
eould be expected.
Shippers and dealers in coal said yester
day that the demand. both wholesale and
retail for anthracite is light and that the
mild weather has reduced the demand for
domestic sizes almost 10 a summer basis.
Some dealers in outlying districts, who laid
IN heavy stocks. have now more on hand
than they can dispose Of a few middle
men, who have some individual lots in their
possession. it was stated, are holding out
ats ton on the chance Of the present
suspension developing into strike.
This tonnage, it was said, is virtually
withdrawn from the market at present, as
no dealer, while there is a prospect of
settlement Of the mine workers demands.
wants 10 buy anthracite at such price
The companies, IT is said, have enough coal
on hand at circular prices 10 supply the
present demand. There was little change in
tbs market for the small steam sizes. The
consumers of soft coal. in anticipation Of
strike, had laid in large supplies some
months ago and are now drawing on their
reserve stocks.