Prospect Of A Settlement

Philadelphia, ra., Feb. 14, - A confernca in relation to the Raading miners' strike as held Monday between Master Workman á. T. Lewis, of the Minere' National Trade asaembly 135 on the one side, and Vice Presient McL9od, of the Raading Railroad com)any, and President Keira, of the Raading }oal and Iron company, on the other, lookng to an amicable arbitration and possible erminatkm of the great struggle. The conference was held in the morning at he Fourth street office of the Reading comany, and lasted about an hour. The illness [ President Corbin in New York prevented lis attendance, but his lieutenant of the raiload company aad his colleagues of the coal ompany were vested with ampie authority to act for him in the cousideration of the xisting troubles between the corporaou and its employés. Master Vorkman Lewis, it is intimated, did not ap)ear strictly in the capacity of a representaive Knight of Labor or representativo miner, buc as an individual interested in the oncerns of the miuers. Neither of the repesentatives of the company, Messrs. Keim nd McLeod, could be seen in regard to the conference, although attempts were made ■o gain access to thein, and the representative f the mlners, Mr. Lewis,declined absolutely, wben seen, to speak on the subject. These facts were learned from a good auaonty in railroad circles: The meeting was riendly and agreeable on both sidss 80 far as it extended. A preliminary understandng was arrived at which, it is hoped, will orín the basis of future negotiations and ead to a speedy settlement of the strike. 'he causes leading to the cessation of work y the minera were freely eiplained by Mr. jewis, and certain facls were brought to lie notice of Messrs. McLeod and Keim which had not been fully realizad.