The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-14
TEXT OF THE STATEMENT
PRESIDENT MITCHELL UNWILLING
TO DISCUSS The MATTER.
Secretary Wilson Also Reticent-
Proposition Believed to be
Acceptable to Miners.

WASHINGTON, Oct BY authority of
Dir. ]. Pierpont Morgan, who with his part
ner. Robert Bacon. and Secretary Root
were in conference with President Roose-
welt at the temporary White House to-
night for an hour and half, a statement
was given out by Secretary Cortelyou in
which the presidents of the coal-carrying
railroads and rhine operators propose a
commission OF five persons to adjust the
differences and settle the coal strike in the
anthracite coal fields OF Pennsylvania. The
proposition is believed by the adr1inistra-
tion to be satisfactory to the miners. as 1t
covers the proposition made by President
Mitchell. of the United Mine Workers
Union. with additional conditions which
1t is believed the miners will accept. The
statement follows:
pointment OF commission to be appointed
by the President of the United States. to
wnom shall be referred all questions at
Issue between the companies and their own
employees, whether they belong to union
or not, and the decision of the commission
shall be accepted by the operators. The
commission is TO consist of an army or
navy engineer officer. an expert mining
engineer not connected with the coal min
ing properties. one of the judges Of the
United States court of the Eastern district
of Pennsylvania. a man of prominence. emil
nent as a sociologist, and a man who by
active participation in mining and selling
coal is familiar with the physical and COM
mercial features of the business. The
operators also make a part of their propo-
sition that the miners shall return to work
as soon as the commission is constituted
and cease all interference with nonunion
men, The commission is to name a date
when its findings shall be effective and to
govern conditions Of employment between
the companies and their own employees for
at least three years"
While no official statement was made at
the White House after the operators ad-
dress was made public by Secretary Cor
telyou, the opinion was expressed that the
way is now open for a complete settlement
of the strike and that the mines would
soon be in operation once more. The Is
Suance of the statement followed confer
ence at the White House which assembled
very quickly after Mr. Morgan and his
partner, Robert Bacon, had reached Wash
ington on a flying trip from New York.
Mr. Morgan and Mr.. Bacon arrived In
Washington about 10 o'clock tonight In
special car over the Baltimore Ohio Rail-
road and drove at once to the Arlington
Hotel. They met Secretary Root and the
three gentlemen walked over to the White
House and were shown at once to the Presi-
dents room They remained with the
and then came down stairs. Secretary
Roots face was beaming. and although he
would say nothing as to the conference
except that Mr.. Cortelyou would give the
press statement later, he seemed so salts
fed that those who saw him believed that
good progress had been made toward set
;iement of the great question which has
been giving the administration so much
concern. The three gentlemen on leaving
the White House went to the Metropolitan
Club. where they remained in conversation
until late hour, while the President re-
tired Immediately to secure some needed
rest
The proposition of the coal operators was
aresult of visit OF Secretary Root to Ne"
aork and his conference with Mr.. Morsan