Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-15
Every Indication That They
Will Nor Accept the
New Arbitration.
MITCHELL is RETIcENT.
District President Tahy Told Repor-.
ters That HI. Men Are Not Deal
Ing In aGola Brick. g
Any Kind

W1LKESBARRE, PA, October f.
From thorough canvas of the situa-
ton as it exists tonight, there is every
indication for believing that the new arbi-
tration proposed by the presidents of the
coal companies for ending the miners.
strike will not be accepted in it's present
FORM There is a division of opinion
among the strikers. but there is no doubt
that majority feel that the otter to have
the President of the United States select
an arbitration commission along the lines
suggested by the operators is not fair and
1t unduly limits the President in making
up the board. The miners, it IS safe to
say. will abide the advice of their ma
tional president. in whose Judgment they
have the utmost confidence. President
Mitchell declines to say how he person.
ally looks upon the proposition. but to-
night he gave to the press the following
statement:
President Mitchel,s Statement.
II fully appreciate with what anxiety,
the people of our country are awaiting
the end of the coal strike The coal oper-
ators have not addressed the miners
union. or it's officers. in making their pub
lie sta tement. 1t is therefore impossible
for me to state the attitude OF the miners
at this time. 1 am now, as have alwayS
been. deeply solctous of the interests OF
the public, and the welfare of the mine
workers who have been or strike for tho
past five months. A formal statement de-
fninS our position and intentions will ba
issued just as soon as we are in possess.
sion of the full meaning of the proposi-
ton Of the operators
His Significant Silence.
rl
o'clock. after silence lasting all day. Ha
mad no intention of making it until the
correspondents representing newspapers
all over the country called on him In q
boGy and informed him that the general
public desired to have an answer to the
proposition Of the operators. After Civ
ing it he was asked many questions re-
garding 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 de-
MED that he had any knowledge of what
the new offer of the operators was until
it became public property. and also de-
MED that he was n telephonic communi-
cation with President Roosevelt. His at
tention was called to the fact that most
Of the information from Washington indi-
Gated that the proposition would be ac-
cepted, and that the strike was near an
end, but he stoutly maintained that neith-
er his officers nor the rank and file of the
men had done anything to cause such an
impression tc so ort.
Not Dealing in Gold Bricks.
The district presidents also maintain
silence as to their personal opinion on the
excepting President Fahy,
Who after he arrived from Boston today.
gave an inklinG as to how he viewed the
new turn of affairs. In reply to a query,
ne said:
THE strike cannot be settled without
the consent of the men. We are not deal
ing IN gold bricks of any kind; and you
can make any deduction from that you
want"
a Conference To-Day.
There will be a conference between Mr..
the three district presidents
and Secretary-Treasurer Wilson. who
will arrive there tomorrow. 1t is fully
expected that the sentiment OF all thf
strikers win be known tomorrow and that
action will be taken accordingly. There
is talk of 4 convention being called.
but there is nothing definite which to
base this talk.
When Mr.. Mitchell was asked IL he
and the district officers had power to end
the strike he said that 1t is rule Of
the organization that no settlement can
De made by the officers of the union
without the consent Of delegate con-
vention 1t is practically certain that
Mr.. Mitchell's advice will be followed in
he conference. While he has not said
word as to what he will do, it is freely
predicted by those who understand tha
situation that he will advise refusal
If the proposition.
Dissatisfaction of Rank and File.
The rank and file of the miners view the
lew proposal iii different lights, and make
strong argument as to their views. Those
Who are opposed to accepting the new
,fer look upon the operators latest moy<
CONTINUED ON SIXTH PAGE.)