Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-16
AGREE TO ARB|TRATE
Representatives Of Miners
and Operators.
A COMMISSION CHOSEN
MEN SELECTED TO SETTLE MAT
TIERS AT ISSUE.
Result Of Conferences at the White
House Yesterday Afternoon
and Last Night.

| House:
! After a conference with Mr.. Mitchell,
| and some further conference with repre-
| sentatives of the coal operators, the Presi-
| dent has appointed the members of the COM
mission to inquire into. consider and pass
| upon all questions at issue between the
| operators and miners in the anthracite coal
| fields:
Brig. Gen. John NJ Wilson, United States
army, retired date chief of engineers,
! United States army, Washington, D. c.,
officer of the engineer corps of either
the military or naval service of the United
States.
Mr.. E. w. Parker, Washington, D. c.,
as an expert mining engineer. Mr.. Parker
is chief statistician of the coal division of
the United State geological survey, and
the editor of the Engineering and Mining
Journal of New York.
Judge George Gray, Wilmington Del, as
judge of a United States court
Mr.. E. E. Clark, Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
grand chief of the Order of Railway Con-
ductors, a sociologist the President as
Stunning that for the purposes OF SUCH
commission the term sociologist means
man who has thought and studied deeply
on social questions and has practically ap-
piled his knowledge.
Mr.. Thomas H. Watkins, Scranton, Pa,
man practically acquainted with the min
ing and selling of coal
'Bishop John l.. Spalding of Peoria. Ill.
The President has added Bishop Spaldings
name to the commission.
Carroll D. Wright has been appointed re-
corder of the commission"
Agreed to by Both Sides.
It was stated that the names of the COM
mission were submitted to both sides and
approved by each. Assent of the miners
was given through President Mitchell and
Mr.. Sargent, commissioner of immigration,
and of the operators through Messrs. Rob
ert Bacon and George w. Perkins of the
banking firm of ]. Perpont Morgan & Co.
The final outcome followed a series of con-
ferences, beginning with two during the
day with Mr. Mitchell, and two during the
night with Messrs. Bacon and Perkins.
Conferences With Mitchell.
After the President and the head of the
miners union had exchanged views freely
and gone over the counter proposition of
Mr. Mitchells announced in The Star yes
terday afternoon a call was sent out by
President Mitchell for a joint meeting today
of the executive boards of the Mine Work
ers' Union for the three anthracite districts
OF Pennsylvania. President Roosevelt .hav-
ing ascertained the views of Mr.. Mitchell a
once communicated with the operators and
initiated efforts to reconcile the differences
developed and to have the operators make
some further concession. his aim being by
cord between miners and operators whereby
the labor dispute may be finally composed
and mining of coal resumed.
At the conclusion of the conferences Mr..
Mitchell said that he had no information
which he could give to the public.
When the last conference had been con-
cluded. Mr.. Mitchall left the White House,
and after brief conference with President
Samuel Gompers, departed for Wilkesbarre.
Pa. Mr.. Mitchell's visit to Washington was
by invitation of President Roosevelt, who
asked the president to come to Washing
ton in order that they might discuss the
terms of the proposition submitted to the
President Monday night by the anthracite
coal railroad presidents in the hope that
the miners and the operators as a result of
the conference might be brought into agree
menu as to the appointment by President
Roosevelt Of a commission to arbtrate
listing differences between them. The dis
cussion of the situation was entirely ami
cable. Mr.. Mitchell was in concliatory
mood and the President was very Jealous in
his efforts to promote settlement of the
prolonged strike.
At the conclusion Of the first conference
Mr.. Mitchell walked over to the Treasury
Department. where for two hours he re-
NAMED closeted with Mr.. Frank P. Sar-
gent, commissioner of immigration, in the
latters office. During that time Mr.. Mitch
ell communicated by long distance tele-
phone with persons in New York and
Wilkesbarre. 1t is understood that at that
time he called a meeting of the district
mine presidents to be held in Wilkesbarre
today. He discussed fully the strike situa-
ton with Mr. Sargent, with whom he has
had a longtime friendship Mr.. Sargent I'M
til recently having been president of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. Com
missioner Sargent has been an important
factor in the efforts made by President
Roosevelt to effect a settlement of the con-
troversy between the miners and the opera
tors and, therefore, was In position to talk
frankly with Mr.. Mitchell. Their conference
" act
yesterdays Star at it's conclusion Mr.
Mitchell had formulated a statement akin
| to counter proposition to that made by
the operators. This he later presented to
| the President. going directly from Mr. Sar-
| gents office to the White House at O. clock
| for that purpose.
| His particular objection was to the in
| sfstence of the mine owners that they
should be permitted to designate the classes
| from which the arbitrator should be drawn
| by the President
1t is stated upon excellent authority that
| President Roosevelt agreed to present Mr.
| MitchelIs contention to the operators
Mr. Mitchell assured the President of his
anxiety to end the strike but said that the
miners were firm in their position and that
| he could not afford to sanction any propo-
| sition that would sacrifice their interests at
| this time.
Departure for Wilkesbarre.
| Mr. Mitchelrs second conference with
| President Roosevelt lasted just thirty-five
| minutes. He left the White House at As
| He boarded Pennsylvania avenue car and
went directly to the Office of President Com
pers of the Federation Of Labor. There he
met Mr. Gompers and Mr. James Duncan,
vice president of the Federation of Labor,
and several other labor leaders. Their con-
sultation necessarily was brief. as Mr. Nit
| chell desired to leave on the first train for
| Wilkesbarre. Mr.. Gompers and Mr. Dun
can accompanied Mr.. Mitchell to his train,
the three walking close together and chat
| ting earnestly.
Mr.. Mitchell left the city at 4:50 for
| Wilkesbarre, going as he had come on the
| Pennsylvania road. Just before his de-
parture he declined absolutely to make any
| statement whatever of the results of his
| conferences Mtth-the President He also