The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15
MANUFACTURERS PLAN
TO BE OFFERED If BAER'S SCHEME
BE Rejected BY MINERS.
Interviews with Presidents Of Coal
Roads Who Held a Meeting in
New York Yesterday.

wILKESBARRE, Pa, Oct. 14.-From
thorough canvass of the situation as 1t
exists tonight there is every indication
for believing that the new arbitration plan
proposed by the presidents Of the coal COM
panies for ending the miners strike will
not be accepted IN its present form. There
Is division OF opinion among the strikers.
but there n no doubt that o majority feel
that the offer TO have the President Of the
United States select an arbitration commits
sion along the lines suggested by the
operators is not fair and that II unduly
limits the President in making up the
board. The miners. II is safe to say, will
abide by the advice OF their national presi-
dent, in whose judgment they have the ut
most confidence. President Mitchell declines
to say how he personally looks upon the
proposition. but tonight he gave to the
press the following statement:
'T fully appreciate with what anxiety the
people OF our country are awaiting the end
OF the coal strike. The coal operators have
not addressed the miners union or its Of
fcers in making their public statement. 1t
is, therefore. impossible for me to state
the attitude of the miners at this time. I
am now. as / have always been, deeply
solicitous of the interests Of the public and
the welfare OF the mine workers who have
been strike for the past hve months. A
formal statement defining our position and
intentions will be issued just as soon as we
are in possession OF the full meaning of
the proposition OF the operators
DECLINED TO TALK
This statement was made by him at
o'clock after a silence lasting all day and
after a conference with the district presi-
dents. Mr.. Mitchell had no intention of
senting. newspapers all over the country
called on him in body and informed him
that the general public desired to have an
answer to the proposition Of the operators.
After giving 1t he was asked many ques-
tions regarding the attitude of the men
and the probability OF the acceptance or
rejection of the new offer, but he had no
reply to make to any OF these questions.
He denied that he had any knowledge of
what the new offer of the operators was
until 1t became public property and also
denied that he was in telephone communi-
cation with President Roosevelt. His atten-
ton called to the fact that most of
the information from Washington indicated
that the proposition would be accepted and
that the strike was near an end. but he
stout.y maintained that neither his officers
nor the rank and file OF the men had done
anything to cause such an impression to
go out.
The district presidents also maintained
silence as to their personal opinion on the
proposition excepting President Fahey.
who. after he arrived from Boston to-day.
gave an inkling as to how he viewed the
new turn OF affairs. In reply to a query
he said: The strike cannot be settled
without the consent OF the men. We are
not dealing with gold bricks Of any kind.
and you can make any deduction from that
you want"
CONFERENCE TO-DAY.
There will be conference Tomorrow
between Mr. Mitchell. the three district
presidents and Secretary-treasurer Will
son. who will arrive here tomorrow II
is fully expected that the sentiment of all
the strikers will be known tomorrow and
that action will be taken accordingly.
There Is talk Of a convention being called.
but there is nothing definite on which to
base this talk When Mr.. Mitchell was
asked II he and the district officers had