The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-24
IN CONFERENCE.
Members of Strike Arbitration
Commission Meet.
Assemble at the White House
With the President.
THEYWERE STRANGERS
IntrOductions Performed by
Secretary COrtelyOu.
Mr.. Roosevelt Formally Issues
His Instructions.
Impress Upon the Members the
Importance Of Haste.
THEYWERE STRANGERS

Washington, Oct 24-The members
of the strike arbitration commission
appointed by President Roosevelt met
at the White House shortly after 10
O'Clock this morning and went into con-
ference with the president. E E. Clark,
president of the Order of Railway Con-
ductors, was the first member OF the
commission to arrive. He reached the
White House exactly at 10 o'clock
Bishop Spalding, accompanied by Dr.
d. ]. Stafford of this city, was the next
TO put in an appearance. General VIII
son, who arrived a moment later, was
followed by Thomas H. Watkins and
Colonel Wright the recorder of the
the mining expert. Judge Gray of the
United States district court was the
last member to reach the White House.
With his arrival, the commission was
complete. Several of the members had
never before met. The introductions
were made in Secretary Cortelyou's Of
fee and Immediately thereafter the
commission ascended the stairs to the
presidents reception room.
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN.
The president greeted the members
of the commission cordially. The inter-
view was brief lasting scarcely 20 min
utes. The work to be done by the COM
mission was informally discussed. The
president impressed upon the commits
sion the Importance Of expedition and
informed them that he had decided to
appoint two assistants to the recorder
to facilitate the work. He then express
ed to them their instructions as fol-
lows:
white House, Oct. "a, 1902.
ITO the Anthracite Coal Strike Com
mission:
"Gentlemen:-At the request both of
the operators and miners. I have ap
pointed you a commission to inquire
into, consider and pass upon the Ques~
tiOns in controversy in connection with
the strike in the anthracite region and
the causes out of which the controversy
arose.
BY the action you recommend which
the parties in interest have in advance
consented to abide by you will endeavor
to establish the relations between the
employers and the wage workers in the
anthracite fields on a Just and perma-
nent basis and as far as possible to do
away with any causes for the recurr-
renee of such difficulties as those which
you have been called on to settle L
submit to you herewith the published
statement of the operators following
which l named you as the members OF
the commission, Mr. Wright being nam
ed as recorder; also the letter from Mr..
Mitchell.
Il appoint Mr.. Moseley and Mr. Neil as
assistants to the recorder.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT'
With the instructions were the state
ments of the operators. The members OF
the commission withdrew in a body Wher
they left the White House they declined tc
comment upon their interview They went
direct to the office of Commissioner OF
Labor Wright to organize and prepare fO1
their work.
The commission went into executive ses-
sion at Col Wright's office at Il o'clock
Judge Gray was chosen chairman.
The commission adjourned at 12:47
o'clock to meet again next Monday al
hd oil IL
announC Cement was made that only two
conclusions had been reached. The first
of these was to admit the public to al
formal meetings Of the commission. and
the second to notify the parties to tbs
controversy to be present at the meet
ing on Monday for the purpose of ar.
ranging time for hearing which will bt
convenient for all concerned. Notice:
were accordingly sent to the mine on
orators and to Mr.. Mitchell, president O
the United Mine Workers. asking then
to be in attendance Monday It wa:
stated that most of the time of todav
meeting was taken up with a discussion
of the questions as to the time who,
hearings shall be held the result o
which was the conclusion to call in tn
people interested before reaching a de
cisiOn
The presiding officer is to be offcialI,
called the president of the commission
The commission then went into execu
tive session for the purpose of consider
ing the minor details which confron
them at the beginning of their duties
Among the questions under considera
tion were those pertaining to the plac
of meeting, the order in which witnesse
shall be called, whether the session
shall be open to the press, whethe
counsel for the parties at interest shal
be permitted to be present, etc At moo
the announcement was made that no de
termination had been reached on an
of these subjects. but Recorder Wright
by whom the announcement was made
said that as soon as a conclusion ha
been reached it would be given to tn
public.
The commission was invited to lunc
with the president at 1:SO.
The commission has already adopte
an official name and has had its print
ing prepared, designating it as the An
thracite Coal Strike commission.
TWO VEARO EOR CONp.D