Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-16

Washington. oct 13.-Thc operators have
agreed to the appoint mrut of a commission
by the President of the United States to
whom shall be ro ferrcd all questions at
issue between the companies and their own
employees whether they belong to a 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, an expert mining engineer
not connected with the coal mining prop
critics, one of the judges of the United
States court of the eastern district OF
Pennsylvania, man prominent as So
biologist and a man who by active par
tcpaton in mining and in selling coal is
familiar with the scale and commercial
features Of the business.
The operators also mako a part of their
proposition that the miners shall return to
work as soon as the commission is Consti-
tuted and cease all Interference with non
union men, the commission to name date
when its findings shall be effective and tc
govern conditions of employment between
the companies and their own employees fol
a least three years,
The statement was read to the President
es an act of courtesy before being giVer
to the press.
THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Secretary Cortelyou, by authority OF
those present at the White House. made
public the following authorized statement
concerning the conference:
Mr.. J. p. Morgan came to Washington
with his partner. Mr. Bacon, at the re
quest of the coal companies, who desired
that as a matter of courtesy their state
nent should be shown to the President be-
fore 1t was made public Having beer
laid before the President by Mr.. Morgan
it Is now given to the press.
To the public
y.,1, -,
critics comprising the anthracite coal hel Is
wish their position in the present STRIKE
TO be understood and therefore, make the
following statement Of facts;
There are in the anthracite regions abou
q operating companies and INNS, an'
l47,0sa miners and workmen (of which 3h0S
are under age comprising some ~ nation
tlitios ard dialects.
Of th@Ae workmen possibly ono-half be
long to the United Mine Workers IniOI
bl which Mr.. John Mitchell is president
MAT organization was originally formed
d. the bituminous coal region, and three
sourths of its members are miners of btu
ninous coal. and bituminous coal is SOLE
j. active competition with anthracite coal
ohe remaining wOrkmer III the anthracite
holds either belong to no union whatcYe
or do not belong to the Mine Workers
Snion.
The present strike was declared by III
May, 1902 Since that time many work
men not belonging to or not willing L
follow that organization were working il
and about the mines. l7rorH seventeen L
twenty thousand are now at work, Man
more have wished 70 work but have bee
prevented by a course of violence and in
Animation towards those working, ard to
wards their families, accompanied by tn
destruction of property and the fear O
death or bodily harm to every man VIII
wished TO exercise his right to work,
schedule is annexed hereto shown
some of the things done to create thi
reign of terror, and every instance state
can he verified by reference to the officer
Df the law-ciVil and militarY--in the an
thracite region, This violence has con
t'nued and steadily increased, notW 18th
standing repeated disaVOwals by Nj
Mitchell and it Is clear that he citho
cannot or win not prevent it. and that tn
rights of the other workmeu cannot
protected under the supremacy of IN
Mine Workers Union.
Tho coal companies believe that II
wages paid in the coal regions are fair an
fun and all that the business in its no
nal condition has been able to stand
the capital invested is to have any reason
able return The profits have been sma
several Of The companies have becon
bankrupt and been reorganized sever
times. Several have never paid dividend
and the dividends OF the others have bee
It small return for the capital invested.
is not however, the purpose of this stat
mant to discuss this question, The unde
signed are not, and never have been u
willing 10 submit all questions bctweC
them and their workmen to any fair II
lanai for decision, They are not wiliI
10 enter into arbitration with the Mil
Workers Union, an organization chief
composed OF men in rival and compel
tive interest. and they are not willing
make any arrangement which will not S
Curc to the men now working, and
now or hereafter wishing 10 work. whet
er they belong to the Mine Workers Unit
or not, the right and opportunity to wo
In safety and without personal insult
bodily harm to themselves or their fam
les, for these reasons the arbitrations her
Iofore proposed have been declined
1t will be remembered that at the col
ference IN Washington oct, 3D. we mac
The following offer:
That we would take up at each collier
any alleged grievance and in the event
II failure 10 make satisfactory adjustmel
the questions at Issue TO lie submitted
the final decision of The judges of Il
court Of common pleas Of the district
which the collicry is located, This Oft,