The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-04-12
BOTH SIDES TAKE
OPTIMISTIC VIEW
Believed There Will be Com
promise Reached in An
thracite Trouble.

Philadelphia, April 12.-The SUBJ
! committee of miners and operators
| appointed at the conference yesterday
an agreement on new working ar
rangement for the anthracite mine
workers. held a three hours session
here today and at its conclusion gave
out a brief statement that progress
had been made. No statement as to
the result of the committees labor will
I be made until a report is ready to pre-
sent to the full committee of operators
and miners.
Both operators and miners express
ed themselves as satisfied with the
progress made. One of the members
OF the committee said:
There was u general discussion Of
the differences between us. 1t took a
wide range. We touched on almos,
every point of difference and We can.
not tell when we will ge through. We
have hardly begun"
1t was learned that the three main
points touched upon were wages, rec
ognition of the union and the board of
cancellation. SO far as it could he
learned there were no definite propo-
sitions offered, but 1t is fully believed
that concessions by both sides will be
for by the men. The general impress
sion still prevails that a ten per cent
advance will be finally offered if the
miners recede from all, or most Of
their other demands.
The committee is said to be willing
to wave the check-off demand provid-
ed the operators will permit u closed
shop or be willing to sign an agree
ment as between the operators and the
United Mine Workers of America.
This sort of a contract would not bind
the coal companies to grant the same
wages and conditions of work to the
non-union men and would have the
result of forcing unorganized men into
the miners union. The operators
still stand on their statement. how
ever. that they will not grant any
more recognition to the union than 1t
has at present.
The miners are contending for the
abolition of the board of conciliation
or a more conveniet system of dealing
with local grievances within a reason
able time. 1t was said at the head
quarters of the miners that if the op-
orators agree to change in the meth
DDS of the board in handling grievan-
ces and decide complaints within a
reaSOna ME tlIlc llIllI lne mine WoTk-
crS might accept such a modification
of their demand on this question.
None of the big coal operators was
here today with the exception of
President Bacr of the Reading COM
pany, near whose private office the
committee held its session. Mr. Baer
did not go near the committee room
and left his offices an hour before the
committee adjourned for the day. In
leaving he said to the newspaper men
that there would be nothing to say un-
til the committee had made its report
and that he was not prophet.
There was little stir about the ho-
tel where the miners are making their
headquarters when John Mitchell. for
mer president of the miners union.
made his appearance. Mr.. Mitchell
came here to make an address to the
local Garments union. and said he had
no other business in this city. Il am
hopeful that the miners and operators
will sign up satisfactory contract"
was all that he would say.
The situation in the coal fields re-
mains unchanged. The suspension
continues complete and the miners are
patiently waiting for news from this
city. They fully expect an early re-
sumption and the same expectation
obtains among the members of the
miners union now in this city.