The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-04-02
RECOGNITION DASHES
HOPE FOR MINE PEACE
Leaders Decide TO Make the
Union the Chief Issue at
Conference.
WAGES TAKE MINOR PLACE
Operators Are Not Expected to Will.
ingly Grant Any Demand Except
for a Higher Scale.


settlement with the anthracite operators
impossible.
At union headquarters here to-day the
LEADERS wero busy passing the word
around that recognition would be in
eistcd upon. and tonight the men are
thoroughly imbued with the idea that
recognitionsis an Indispensable conces-
aion.
Yesterday the prospects for an early
and easy settlement gave confidence
10 the public. The one demand that
stood out was an increase in wages. and
It was generally thought that the oper-
ators were willing to grant it.
Over night the word came from Indian
Rpolis that recognition would he made
the chief item in the conference which
begins in Philadelphia on April 10.
There is strong feeling here that
the operators will not be disposed u
grant this concession readily. aud that
means a strike.
-While we are out " said a miner here
tonight. "we may as we'll get everything"
This miner said that by everything"
he meant union recognition.
The local leaders We're industriouslv
circulating the new tip to-day. which
vas a holiday. marking the anniversary
of the granting of the eight hour day.
At the five mass meetings held in the
district the recognition prop ganda was
pr cached.
.rhings were going altogether too
smoothly" said a business man tonight
sThe leaders had to go aftermore. That's
ALL
Another local difficulty arose to-day.
Committees from&various collieries called
at headquarters to learn just what charac-
ter Of repair work union members will be
permitted to do at the collieries. Al.
some breakers. these committees reported
the foreman had started the workmen on
permanent construction work. such as
new barns. new tTcstles. &c. The miners
want to know il the union officials will
permit them to do this class of work
Such uncertainty prevails on this point
that. the executive committee of this dis
trict has been called to meet tomorrow
morning to take up the question and
formally to define just what union
workman may and may not do during
the suspension.
Following Gust ON the union to-day Of
fered the companies the services of their
men to do guard duty at the mines. One
rolliery operated by the Kingston conf
pany at Kingston accepted the services
Of ten men. The company is small one.
All OF the men are out and local head
quarters reports that more than ons-half
of the miners have already joined the
union.
The washeries are in operation to supply
full fuel for power at the plants and the
miners leaders have thus far made no
remonstrance.
There has been no disorder at the col
heries. Two men were killed in melee
in Dunmore last night and tonight an
other man, a miner, was received at the
State Hospital with broken skull. the
result of a saloon row.
1t is announced authoritatively that
Theodore Roosevelt who played part
IN the 1902 strike settlement, will be here
on April II 10 speak in the interest Of his
candidacy.
Distric. President John r. Dempsey
reached home at 10 o clock tonight. Mr.
Dempsey would not discuss the situation
WILkEsBARRF. Pa. April Mime
workers leaders reported to-day tha,
the suspension order has been generally
obeyed and that none of the coilierie-
had made any effort to mine coal
OfficiSls of the big coal companies con
6rmed this report and said they were
not making any attempt to induce men to
work.
Whether this condition will continue
until the conference on April 10 is not
known. but il is expected that the larger
Al.
meeting
These companies have sold all THEN
coal and report that their customers have
stocks for several weeks in their bins
' There is still steady demand. however
, and it is expected that some of the indie
! pendents and smaller companies may
try to get out some coal and take advan.
tase of high prices.
To-day patrols of the State constabu
larry were on the move through the min
ing towns. but there was no call for theil
services. A number of imported mer
were taken to some of the collieries to-day
: to act as guards, but they were not mo
lested.
i, John NJ. Mack, secretary treasurer oi
: the Wilkesbarre- Scranton district min'
workers, returned to-day from Cleve
land TO look after the interests OF tn,
miners in the absence Of President Demp
sey. He thinks the operators will offer {
nat increase of 10 per cent. when tn,
Philadelphia conference is held "Thi
offer" he said, may not be the first t.
be made. but it will eventually come anc
will no douot ne the limit Of the conces
sions offered by the operators
From the viewpoint Of the union leader
wage increase will not he sufficient Il
restore peace. Officials Of the union be
lieve tina; the struggle will settle down t.
) a question of recognition.
" the representatives OF the miner
CT an Offer from the operators on April Il
the proposition will be submitted to tn,
men. Until to-day it was supposed tina
such an offer would go to a referendum
vote. but this plan has been dropped ant
instead the local unions will elect dele
gates to convention to be held either
in this city or Scranton.
Secretary Treasurer Mack said to-day
~We have admonishcd the miners to kee
away from company property. We wan
no trouble. Whenever the coal companie
are unable to cope with any situatio
which may arise We will be glad to b
called upon to restore order All III
local unions Of any trouble. threatene
rAal Il