Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1902-10-18
MINERS MIGHT REJECT II
PRESENT FORM OF ARBITRA-
TON PLAN OBJECTIONABLE.
1t Is Expected that President Nit
chell Will File an Objection His
Views Are to be Observation-Disclosures
Men:Get a.Short MISUNDERSTANDING
Defnite-Many Rumors Denied.

Definite-Many Rumors Denied.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 15.-From a
thorough canvas of the situation as it
now exists, there is every indication
that the new arbitration plan proposed
by the presidents of the coal companies
for ending the miners strike will not
be accepted in its present form.
There is a division of opinion among
the strikers, but there is no doubt that
a majority feel that the offer to have
the president of the United States Sc
lect an arbitration committee along the
lines suggested by the operators is not
fair, and that it unduly limits the board.
The miners, it is safe TO say, will
abide by the advice of the national
president, in whose judgement they
have the utmost confidence.
President Mitchell declines to say
how he personally looks upon the prop
osition, but he has given the press the
following statement:
Il fully appreciate with what an
xiety the people of our country are a.
waiting the end of the coal strike.
The coal operators have not addressed
the miners union or its officers in max
ing their public statement. 1t is there
fore impossible for me to make a state
ment as to the attitude of the miners
at this time. | am now, as l have al
ways been, deeply solictous of the in
terests of the public, and the welfare
of the mine workers who have been on
strike for the past five months.
A formal statement defining our posi-
ton and intentions will be issued just
as soon as we are in possession of the
full meaning of the proposition of the
operators "
This statement was made by him at
O o'clock after a silence lasting all day
He had no intention of making it
until the correspondents representing
newspapers all over the country called
ON him in body and informed him
that the general public desired to have
an answer to the proposition of the
operators. After giving it he was
asked many questions regarding the
attitude of the men and the probability
of the acceptance or the 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 denied that he was in Geographic
communication with President Roose-
welt. His attention was called to the
fact that most of the information from
Washington indicated that the pro-
position would be accepted and that
| the strike was near an end, but he
stoutly maintained that neither his
officers nor the rank and file of the
men had done anything to cause such
an impression to go out.
The district presidents also main
tanned silence as to their personal
opinion of the proposition, excepting
President Fahefy, who, after arriving
from Boston to day, gave an inkling of
how he viewed the new turn of affairs.
In reply TO a question he said:
1.-The strike cannot be settled with
out the concent of the men. We are
not dealing in gold bricks of any kind |;
and you can make any deduction from
this that you want. "
1t is fully expected that the senti-
ment of all the striking miners will be
known by Thursday and that action
will be taken accordingly. There is
talk of a convention being called, but
there is nothing definite on which to
base this kind of talk. When Mr..
Mitchell was asked if he and the dis
trict officers had power to end the
strike, he said it is a rule of the or
ganization that no settlement can be
made by the officers of the union with
out the consent of delegate conven-
ton. 1t is practically admitted that
Mr.. Mitchell's advice will be followed
While he has not said a word as to
what he will do it is freely predicted
by those who understand the situation
that he will advise a refusal of the pro-
position.
The rank and file of the miners view
the new proposition in different lights.
Those who are opposed to accepting the
new offer look upon the operators
latest move as counter proposition to
Mr.. Mitchell's offer to arbitrate made
in the temporary White House at
| Washington.
Alarm That Worked.
lrst Office Boy--What's Johnny
/