Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-10-18

pubic at the White House today:
WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON Oct.
H. Is II, ls12 MI, Mr. John Mitchell President ,I5
barre, Pa. have appointed as commits
sloners Brigadier General John NJ. Wilson,
Mr.. e. w. Parker. Judge George Gray, Mr.
E. E. Clark, Mr. Thomas II Watkins and
Bishop John l. Spalding, with Hon. Carroll
d Wright as recorder
These names are accepted by the opera
tors and / now most earnestly ask and
urge that the miners likewise accept the
commission.
1t is a matter of vital concern to all our
people, and especially to those in our great
cities who are least well on, that the
(slgned.l THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Reply of MIR. Mitchell.
wIBKESBARRE. Pa, Oct. IS. 1sO2.--Hon.
Theodore Roosevelt, President OF the
United States, Washington, d. c.: Dear Sir
i am in receipt of your telegram OF Octo-
Der l6. which reads as follows:
II have appointed as commissioners Brig
adler General John NJ. Wilson Mr.. r. w.
Clark, Mr.. Thomas II. Watkins and Bishop
John l. Spalding, with Hon. Carroll D.
Wright as recorder"
These names are accepted by the oper-
ators and now most earnestly ask and
urge that the miners likewise accept this
''It is a matter of vital concern to all our
people end especially to those in our great
cities. who are least well OF, that the min
dpy's unnecessary delay"
Replying thereto, beg to inform you that
your YOU were suotni.rSa i. ~
districts /, and 8, United Mine Workers
OF America, and they have unanimously
agreed to call delegate convention to be
held next Monday and will recommend to
the convention that all men now on strike
return to the positions and working places
formerly occupied by them and submit to
the commission appointed by you all ques-
ticns at issue between the operators and
mine workers 90 the anthracite coal fields.
In connection with this subject we are
glad to know that the managers OF the coal
companies have decided to recede from the
untenable position which they so long occu-
pied and to accept a modified proposition
for the arbitration of the coal strike and to
give you full latitude In the selection OF a
commission.
Speaks of Former Proposition.
1t will be remembered that we proposed.
on October s. to place the whole matter In
your hands and to accept verdict of
tribunal of your own selection. 1t Will also
be remembered that the company mana
gers AT that time refused to accept the
arbitrament Of the president OF the United
States and preferred that of the local COM
everything to you without condition or
reservation. having the utmost faith In your
impartiality and good Judgment.
In their refusal 70 accept your arbitra-
ment the operators sought TO hold you in
part accountable for the very conditions
which you are tryingseo remedy. and to
instruct you as to your duties concerning
them. Eight days later they again ap-
peared before you, dropping the common
pleas judge and proposing 10 abide by the
verdict of a tribunal appointed by you,
but attempting to prescribe, within fixed
and narrow limits, the character and voca-
ton of the men you were to name.
To this proposition. as the operators made
il, we were unaltersbly opposed. First. be-
cause our respect for you as q man and our
your office, demanded that we should not
be a party to a request of you to accept
this great responsibility accompanied by
detailed and impertinent restrictions as TO
the manner in which you should meet II F:
second. because careful analysis of their
proposition disclosed to us, as it did to you
and the public, that the restrictions were
too narrow to enable you to secure under
them a well balanced and thoroughly i'm
partial tribunal.
Objections Are Removed.
But now that you have yourself removed
these objections by broadening and
strengthening the commission, we feel con-
fldent that our convention will declare It's
willingness TO have all questions between
the employing companies and the IS per
cent OF their employees, who are members
of our organization, determined by the
board of eminent and impartial men chosen
we feel grateful to you. Mr.. President.
made TO bring about an honorable settle
ment of the strike, efforts which you con-
tinued despite the remarkable spirit and
conduct which you at first found in the
company managers.
We are in a position TO sympathize with
you. inasmuch as we had long been forced
ness from the same source. Our gratitude
is due to you and TO the American people
US in the long struggle which we hope is
now about to close.
During all these long months, in which
our motives have been impugned and our
characters maliciously assailed, we have
refrained from saying any word or taking
any action which would tend to render
reconciliation more difficult but now it
becomes a duty to defend ourselves against
the ISLANDERS which have been heaped upon
us and TO proclaim that we have from the
first favored practically the method which
is now employed 20 break the deadlock.
II our prefer of arbitration or impartial
investigation had been accepted six months
ago, instead of now, there need have been
no strike. We have been SO eager. Mr..
mand for coal that during the progress
of the strike we have more than once
SssI mst Win he Tepiy We Wii not
permit outsiders TO dictate to us in the
management OF our AFFAIRS. We have moth
ing TO arbitrate
Eject of Public Sentiment.
Now that the managers Of the compa-
thoroughly aroused public conscience TO re-
cede from this position, We are proud that
hs sSa aR1 ee IN sSpeof o her
rights and OF a vital American principle
have won the victory.
these coal regions, who toll hard from early
morning until late at night for a livelihood,
nobly supported by organized labor in this
and other lands have taught these corpora
tion managers a useful lesson in civic and
social duty. We eXult over these tributes
TO the dignity OF labor, because II Is the
triumph of right and Of good public policy.
We do not however, eXult over our oppo-
nents; we appeal TO them now We have
from the first to turn their eyes TO the
future and to cooperate with us In an ef-
fort TO establish better relations between
employer and employe for the advantage
OF both.
Arrogance IL Forgiven.
We forgive them for their arrogant re-
/ when they are forced TO acknowledge their
/ Inability TO operate their mines without
! our consent and cooperation, we hold out
4 the right hand OF friendship and ask them
I 10 Join with us in securing amicabe rela.
tions and wholesome conditions In this
| region. We forgive them for even the FALSE
| accusations which they have made agains
us They charged as with being criminals
rioters and anarchists and our Organiza
| ton they denounced as "laWless and IRE,
| sponsble" They know and did know thai
| their charges were untrue and without
/ foundation in fact; they knew that ever,
! oficer OF the United Mine Workers o.
/ America from the president down has con
| stantly urged upon its membership the i'm
/ perative need OF respecting the law: tina
1 every man who commits a deed OF violenc,
| Is an enemy q our cause has been Ou
! Despite these aduionitions. supported will
Z III 80 FwHuanra there ha hen 90