The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-10-17
BIG STRIKES End
Mitchell Satisfied With Plan
Of Arbitration.
RESUMPTION OF WORK
Expected Mining Will Begin
Again Very Soon.

Anthracite Struggle Makes Clear
Why He at First Opposed the Oper-
atOrs' Proposal - Economists Lay
Great Stress on the Fact That the
Greatest Industrial Battle In the
History of the World Is to BE Set
faction Throughout the COa1fields.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 16.-The an
nouncement that President Roosevelt
had appointed a coal strike arbitration
commission, consisting of General John
nj. Wilson, e. w. Parker, Judge
George Gray, E. e. Clark, T. H. Wat
kins and Bishop John l.. Spalding, to
pass on the merits of the dispute be-
tween miners and operators was re-
ceived with satisfaction throughout
the anthracite region as indicative of
a speedy resumption of work.
Early in the day President Mitchell
of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea issued the following statement:
Approaching the anxiety and impa-
thence of the public and the mine work
ers for some authoritative statement
from this office, | issue this bulletin to
say that l was unalterably opposed to
the acceptance of or acquiescence in
the form of settlement proposed by the
coal operators because it restricted the
president of the United States in MAX
ing selection of the men who were to
determine the questions involved in
the coal strike These restrictions hav-
ing been removed and representation
been given to organized labor as well
pared to give my personal approval to
a settlement of the issues involved in
this strike by the commission selected
by the president and shall recommend
to the executive officers of districts 1,
I and in their meeting that an i'm
mediate call be issued for convention,
whose authorization is necessary to de-
clare the strike at an end.
SIN the meantime l trust that the
people of our country will be as pa
tient as possible, as we are moving as
rapidly as the interests of our people
will permit"
When the News Arrived.
When the information was received
from the national capital about 1
o'clock in the morning that an agree
ment had been reached by the repre-
sentatives of both parties to the strug-
gle, there were only score of newspa-
per correspondents and few stray
glers at strike headquarters. District
Presidents Duffy and Fahy We're in the
hotel, but they could not be seen.
President Mitchell arrived from Wash
ington nearly Il half hour after the in
formation was received and he had lit
tie to say on the outcome. He pre-
ferred those who were disposed to con-
graduate him to wait until the per-
sonnet of the commission was known,
that information not having arrived at
that time. When Mr. Mitchell did hear
who the six men We're, he declined to
say anything.
After short conference with Secre-
tary-Treasurer Wilson, who met him
at the railroad station, Mr. Mitchell re-
tired. ana was in his office again by
$50 A. NJ. His public statement cleared
the situa ion considerably
The fact that the greatest conflict be-
tween capital and labor in the history
of the world has resulted in arbitra-
tion is looked upon by students of eco
nomics who are in this region studying
conditions as tremendous step for
ward in the economical progress of the
country The miners feel they have
won a victory and say that even if the
award of the commission does not give
them all they have asked for, it is a
good thing for the future of the work
ing man of the world.
Outlook For Cheaper Coal.
The superintendent of one of the
largest coal companies in the region
was asked during the day how long it
would take after the miners returned
to work to bring about normal coal
prices, and in reply he said:
at is the general understanding
among the companies that only normal
prices shall prevail after there is a gen
eral resumption of mining. All
through the strike the companies, with
the exception of few individual OPP
orators have not charged abnormal
prices. The middlemen or retail deal
ers nave taken advantage OF the situa-
ton and put up the price. 1t is pos
sible they will keep them up until the
public is fully supplied and the de-
mand is not greater than the produc-
ton"
1t is not definitely known here how
long it will take the companies to
make the supply equal to the demand.
The condition of the various collieries
of the companies are so different that
no close estimate can be made. There
are collieries, principally in the lower
territory, that cannot be worked at
this time owing to their being partly
Hooded. Other mines need repairing,
such as timbering up the roofs, and
Others cannot be worked until they
have been made safe for miners to en-
ter.
WILLING TO SERVE.