Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-10-16
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TO SETTLE LIKE.
COAL OPERATORS AGREE TO Ac
cEPT ARBITRATION.

Men to Resume Work Pending Final
Decision, but Nothing in the Agree
ment in Any Way Recognizes the
Miners Union-BeIieved End Near
Washington, Oct. 14.-By authority
of j. p. Morgan, who, with his part
ner, Robert Bacon, and Secretary
Root, were in conference with Presi
dent Roosevelt at the temporary white
house last night for an hour and 3
half, a statement was given out by
Secretary Cortelyou, in which the
presidents of the coal carrying rail
roads and mine operators propose q
commission of five persons to adjust
the differences and settle the coal
strike in the anthracite coal fields OF
Pennsylvania. The proposition is be
lieved by the administration to be sat
isfactory to the miners, as it covers
the proposition made by President
Mitchell of the United Mine Workers
union, with additional conditions
which, it is believed, the miners will
accept. The statement is as follows:
"Mr. j. P. Morgan came to Washing
ton with his partner, Mr.. Bacon, at
the request Of the coal companies
who desired that as matter of court
esy their statement should be shown
to the president before it was made
public. Having been laid before the
president by Mr.. Morgan, it is now
given to the press:
To the Public: The managers OF
the different coal properties compris
ing the anthracite coal fields wish
their position in the present strike to
be understood, and therefore make
the following statement of facts:
There are in the anthracite re-
gions about seventy-fve operating
companies and firms, and $4,000 min.
ers and workmen, Of which 10000 are
under age, comprising some twenty
nationalities and dialects. OF these
workmen, possibly one-half belong to
the United Mine Workers union, OF
which Mr.. John Mitchell is president.
That organization was originally
formed in the bituminous coal region
and three-fourths of its members are
miners of bituminous coal, and bitumi
nous coal is sold in active competition
with anthracite coal. The remaining
workmen In the anthracite fields eth.
er belong to no union whatever, or
do not belong to the mine workers
union.
"'The present strike was declared
by the mine workers union on the 10th
day Of May, 1902. Since that time
many workmen not belonging TO that
organization were working about the
mines. From seven to ten thousand
are now at work. Many more have
wished to work, but have been pre-.
vented by a course of violence and in.
timtdation towards those working and
towards their families, accompanied
by the destruction Of properties and
the fear Of death or bodily harm to
every man who wishes to exercise his
right to work. This violence has con.
tinued and steadily increased, not
withstanding repeated disavowals by
Mr.. Mitchell, and it is clear that he
either can not or will not prevent it,
and that the rights of the other work.
men cannot be protected under the su.
premacy of the mine workers union.
Believe Wages Are Fair.
The coal companies believe that
the wages paid in the coal regions are
fair and full, and all that the business
in it's normal condition has been able
to stand, If the capital invested is to
have any reasonable return. The
profits have been small and several of
the companies have become bankrupt
and been reorganized several times.
1.-The undersigned are not and
never have been unwilling to submit
all questions between them and their
workmen to any fair tribunal for de.
cision. They are not willing to enter
into arbitration with the mine work.
ers' union, an organization chiefly
composed of men in a rival and com.
petitive interest and they are not will.
ing to make any arrangement which
will not secure to the men now work.
Ing, and all now or hereafter wishing
to work, whether they belong to the
mine workers union or not, the right
and opportunity to work in safety and
without personal insult or bodily
harm to themselves or their families.
For these reasons the arbitrations
heretofore proposed have been de.
clined.
1.-The coal companies realize that
the urgent public need of coal and the
apprehension of an inadequate supply
for the approaching winter calls for
an earnest effort to reach a practical
conclusion which will result in an in.
creased supply, and the presidents of
the companies desire to make every
effort to that end which does not in
volve the abandonment of the inter
ests which are committed to their care
and of the men who are working and
seeking to work in their mines. This
responsibility they must bear and meet
as best they can.
"They, therefore. restate their
position: That they are not discrim.
mating against United Mine Workers,
but they insist that the miners union
shall not discriminate against or re-