New-York tribune., 1912-03-20
TAFT TO CONFER WITH
MINERS FORMER CHIEF
Has Heard Operators Side OF
Difficulty and Wants to Talk
with John Mitchell.
STRIKE MAY BE AVERTED
Governor of Pennsylvania Says
There Will Be Only Short Sus-
pension at Most-One Oper-
ator Offers an Advance.

|
Washington, his interest in the threatened
anthracite coal miners strike. The Presi-
dent wished to make it clear that he had 10
intention of interfering. but conferences ar
ranged for the White House during the next
! few days showed his desire to become ac-
ouainted with the situation. one OF the
| first TO give information Of value TO Mr.
Taft will be John Mitchell, who probably
will reach Washington for a conference on
March %.
| Although no plan for this meeting had
! been worked out tonight, it was said that
! Secretary Nagel OF the Department or COM
merce and Labor and Commissioner OF La
! Dor Nell Will be present also. Both MT
Nagel and Mr.. Neill have kept in close
| touch with the miners and operators, ana
the President looks for a report on present
conditions when he arrives in washington
| Several mine operators have already pre-
sented their side of the case TO Mr. lait
/ but others probably will he invited to the
White House after Mr.. Mitchell makes his
side clear. Although the President took
pains 10 show his unwllingness to inter
fere at present developments in the future
/ may cause him to change his mind.
! Chicago. March 19.--John Mitchell, former
president OF the United Mine Workers to-
night said that President Taft had called
! him 10 Washington for conference, but
whether it would relate to the coal situa-
tion Mr.. Mitchell was unable to say.
President Taft may or may not want 10
! discuss the coal situation with me- SAID
Mr.. Mitchell. He has asked me to come
TO Washington for a conference with hlm'
but he has not said what the nature OF our
talk will be ] shall leave for Washington
within the next day or two. III the Fresi-
dent should want to discuss the miners
troubles I shall be glad TO give him what
ever information IS in my power.
Announcement was made here to-day
that it would be impossible for the opera
tors and miners in the btuminous Goa!
fields 10 reach wage and working agree
ment by April l, and that suspension OF
business on that date was certain.
II was said that even il the miners and
operators of Western Pennsylvania, ONO
Indiana and Illinois at their conference In
Cleveland tomorrow decided To come 10
an amcable agreement II would be I'M
possible to draw up the terms OF two
wear agreement by the first Of the month";
and that therefore a suspension OF busI-
ness II not a strike, was inevitable.
PHILADELPHIA, March Ex-Governor Toner
expressed the opinion to-day that the I'M
pending coal strike in Pennsylvania VIII
not matcrializc and that saiistactors
agreement between the miners and opera
tors will have been reached 10y May /. h"l
there Will be no actual strike" repeated
Governor Tcner I'm an emphatic manner.
within month and a half tn" present
difficulties will have been entirely ad-
justed."
The posltive expression Of Governor Te-
ner that the peace negotiations VIII be
entirely successful IS looked upon by local
dealers AS particularly significant
Although "A brief suspension Of work al
the mines II expected on April J. its dura-
ton. according 10 Governor Tener's opin-
ion. will be only long enough TO allow
novv agroornent TO be executed The scnu-
ment in the anthracite region Is that there
will BE- a short suspension OF work only.
Pottsyille. Penn, March l9.-The Pine
Hnl Coal Company, operated by Scrdhl""
capitalists and located al MinersVliIe' near
here, to-day posted notice ahhouhcihE
that the employees would be granted an
increase Of wages of 10 per cent, TO take
effect April l. and that working matters
Will be satisfactorily adjusted by the com
pany with the men.
The company agrees TO give 10 per
cent increase. starting April ], ana In the
event Of a strike and the strikers DtlhS
awarded a 10 per cent Increase OF more
the men will also be given this additional
increase as q bonus during the time OF the
suspension Of other miners.
This is the first open break In the ranks
of the operators and may also result III
the first break In the organization oi
mine workers meeting OF the miners
Will be held to discuss the proposition ol
the company.
Sbamokin. Penn. March l9.gA strike
Of 900 workmen III the Shamoklh IIe!u
has been averted by the Mineral Rallfodu
and Mining Company consentng TO sell
all sizes OF coal TO the mine workers TOT
uss in their homes Yesterday 500 work
men at the Scott coliery Of the company
were rendered idle By coo mine workers
sell them the pea size of coal. To-day
the company agreed to sell the men inc
fuel they wanted. but the workers did not
return 20 the mines because they have
another grievance. They now want dis
charged a foreman whom they dlsliKe' ana
say they will not return TO work until TINS
demand Is granted. The company has re-
fused to discharge the man.
Scranton, Penn, March John G.
uaddock, a prominent independent oper-
ator to-day announced that the independ-
emf anthracite operators association Is
formulating a statement setting forth its
nosition on the demands of the mine work
ers. This statement will be ready before
The end of the week, and II VIII set forth'
Mr.. Haddock says, how the coal carrying
roads are alleged to have held up the IN
diyidual operators In the matter or frelght
charges and otherwise made IT Impossible
for them 10 pay higher wages
According TO Mr.. Haddock, the miners
can be given an increase In wages. and ne
speaks Of abnormal profits by big com
panies.
Cleveland. March 19.-Operators OF btu
mInous coal mines OF Pennsylvania, Ohio.
| Indiana and Illinois will adhere to their
demand for a reduction in the wages paid
their mine workers. Formal announcement
OF their attitude was made late to-day.
after a conference of thirty-two operators,
| eight from each of the states named.
I'VE will stand by the proposal We made
at indianapolis some time ago." said j. {.
| Kolson, of Terre Haute Ind, spokesman
| for the conference. I'VE can see no rea-