Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-11-29
HAVE
FINISHED THEIR TASK
Operators and Miners Will Set
lie Differences Out Of
Court.
SAID TO BE COMPROMISE
Both Sides Saw the Present Method OF
investigation Was Likely to Prove
lnterminabIe - Commission
Will Act as Conciliators.

Scranton, Pa, Nov. 24.-The mine
workers, through their representatives.,
have agreed with the mine owners TO
attempt to adjust the differences exist
ing between them outside the anthracite
coal strike commission. The PROPOSE
ton was made on a compromise basis,
and negotiations, il is expected, Will be
at once entered upon, with a reasonable
hope of settlement, without the aid OF
the arbitrators. The rough proposition
which Is to form the basis of neSOtia-
ton is a 10 per cent increase in wages,
a nine-hour day and trade agreements
between the miners and the company
by whom they are employed. The only
n OF the demands not touched
upon Is that of the weighing of coal
| by the legal ton. While both sides have
expressed Willingness TO settle their diff
| ferences among themselves, it is not to
be construed that it carries with IL the
acceptance of the terms proposed. They
are mentioned only as a basis, 1T is UNI
derstood, from which n settlement is to
be effected. 1t Is possible that he
foundation laid can be wrecked by eth
er party holding out strongly against
some question, and thus leave the whole
matter in the hands of the commission
ers, who, in the meantime, will act as
a sort Of board of Cancellation, rather
than as a board of arbitration.
Created a Mild Sensation.
Few persons were aware that an at
tempt would be made at an outside set
Element until 1t was practically so in
timated by Judge Gray, the chairman
of the commission, who e a care
fully prepared announcement from the
bench. The move, one of the most i'm
portant in the whole history of the coal
strike, created a mild sensation when it
became known. The surprise was all
the greater, as it will be remembered
numerous persons, from the president
OF the United States down, and many
organizations, from the National Civic
federation to the mail boards of trade
in the mining towns, failed to bring
the two parties together. 1t is said il
was all brought about by both sides
seeing that the proceedings before the
commission would be interminable and
that in the intermIngling of the law
yers for both sides the outside agree
ment proposition was preached and
taken up.
1t cannot be officially stated which
party made the proposition first. The
attorneys for both sides are averse TO
talking, but those who are inclined to
say something differ in their state
ments. An attorney for one of the rail
roads said 1t came from the miners
side, while one lawyer for the miners
Sllu II CdIlle lIOIH tic OpCIdlcIS. AN
other representative of the miners said
il was a spontaneous" proposition. 1t
is generally believed, however, that the
operators were the first to make the
proposition.
Commission Glad to Cooperate.
Clarence S. barrow of Chicago, one
Of Mr.. Mitchelrs attorneys, brought
the matter out when, near the close
Of the days session, he suggested that
the miners be given a little moro time
% prepare their evidence. The miners
wanted 40 present the due bins or wage
statements of thousands of miners rum
ming back for several years, and they
the taSk Of presenting them in
proper manner a "stupendous one. They
wanted to carefully examine the
books, and this, too, would
AXE m
While Mr.. barrow was saying this
he commissioners were all attention,
no one outside of them and a few
representatives on each side Of the case
NEW what was coming. Judge Gray,
n reply to Mr.. Darrow, said that the
commission would be very glad to CO.
in bringing about the accom-
,lishment Of that end We have been
ware for some time" he said, that
while the testimony that has been ad-
Iuced has beer very interesting, and
will not say that it has not been Of
,alue, still it has not yet borne directly
pom the points at issue between n
,arties to his controversy
Announcement by Judge Gray.
After deliverying this, the chairman
cad the nuounCement which a been
repaired by the commission in adj
anCe. 1t was as follows:
Acceding to the suggestion just made by
ounSel that an interval of time H. taken
or the preparation of the documentary
violence and for a possible agreement as
0 certain facts and figures which would
Jrward the work of the commission, the
commission desires TO express the hope
hat an effort will be made by the parties
, come TO an agreement upon nearly all,
not all, matters now in controversy,
nd that they will adopt the suggestion
I such an effort by our Conciliatory Of
Ces. 1t seems to us hat many of the
Juditions complained of, and which have
the subject and study of our eXami-
alton, might be remedied by the parties
} the controversy approaching the sub a
,ct in a proper spirit and with a purpose 7
T fairly adjusting them. We hope, gen -.
emen, that the interval of time to be l
may be availed of, with this end {
view. OF course, in the meantime we g
lall proceed with the work before us, as :
a Ia " hpp1n II |