The Grit-advocate., 1902-10-17
MAY NOW ARBITRATE
COAL OPERATORS PROPOSITION.
Ready to Refer All Questions to a
Committee Of Five to Be Appoint
ed by President Roosevelt.

commission, to be appointed by the
President Of the United States, to
whom shall be referred all questions
at issue between the companies and
their own employees, whether they be-
long to union or not, and the deci-
sion of the commission shall be ac-
cepted by the operators.
The commission Is to consist Of
An army or navy engineer officer,
An expert mining engineer not con-
nected with the coal mining proper
ties,
One of the judges OF the United
States courts of the eastern districts
of Pennsylvania.
A man of prominence, eminent as a
sociologist, and
A man who. by active participation In
mining and selling coal. is familiar with
the physical and commercial features of
the business.
The operators also make part of the
proposition that the miners shall return
to work as soon as the commission is
constituted and cease all interference
with nOn-union men.
The commission is to name date
when its findings shall be effective and
to govern conditions of employment be-
tween the companies and their own en-
ployes for at least three years.
The statement was read to the Presi-
dent as an act of courtesy before being
given to the press.
Washington, Oct. 13-By authority
of J. p. Morgan, who, with his partner,
Robert Bacon, and Secretary Root,
were in conference with President
of hn fnn q
House tonight for an hour and a half,
statement was given out by Secretary
COrtelyOu, in which the presidents Of
the coal-carrying railroads and mine
operators propose a commission Of five
persons to adjust the differences and
settle the coal strike in the anthracite
coal fields of Pennsylvania. The propo-
sition is believed by the administration
to be satisfactory to the miners. as 1t
covers the proposition made by Presi-
dent Mitchell of the United Mine Work.
ers' Union, with additional conditions
which it is believed the miners will ac-
cept. The statement follows:
u. p. Morgan came to Washington
with his partner. MIR. Bacon. at the re-
quest of the coal companies, who de-
sired that as matter of courtesy their
ident before it was made public. Hav-
ing been laid before the President by
MIR. Morgan, 1t is now given to the
press
The statement of the coal operators
Is, in part, as fallOws:
ITO the Public-The managers OF
the different coal properties compris-
ing the anthracite coal fields wish their
position in the the present strike to be
understood. and therefore make the
following statement of facts:
There are in the anthracite region
about seventy-five operating companies
and firms and $4,000 miners and
workmen (of which 10000 are under
age) comprising some twenty nation1
alities and dialects.
of these workmen possibly one
half belong to the United Mine Work.
ers' Union, of which Mr.. John Mitchell
is president. That organization was
originally formed in the bituminous
coal region, and bituminous coal is
sold in active competition with anthra.
cite coal. The remaining workmen in
the anthracite fields either belong to
no union whatever, or do not belong
to the Mine Workers Union.
"The present strike was declared by
the Mine Workers Union on the 10Th
day of May. 1902. Since that time
many workmen not belonging to or
not willing to follow that organization
were working about the mines. From
1000 to 10000 are now at work. Many
more have wished to work, but have
been prevented by course of violence
and intimidation. by the destruction OF
properties and the fear Of death or