Milford chronicle., 1902-10-10
FAILED TO
END STRIKE
Coal Conference With President
Unsuccessful.
STRUGGLE WILL CONTINUE
Recognition Of Union Proved the
Stumbling Block.
FEDERAL TROOPS DEMANDED
STRUGGLE WILL CONTINUE
FEDERAL TROOPS DEMANDED

Stumbling Block.
TROOPS DEMANDED
The President Urged the contending
Parties to End the Conflict and the
Labor Leaders Suggested Arbitra-
ton, But the Mine Owners Refused !
to Accept, Saying That if tine Men !
Returned to Work Grievances Would |
Be Submitted to Judges of Penn
sylVania Courts.
Washington, Oct. 4.-The great coal
between the president and
of the operators and
the miners came to an end at the tenn
porary White House, facing Lafayette
Square, at 4.55 o'clock yesterday after
noon, with a failure to reach an agree
ment. Apparently the rock upon which
the conference split was recognition OF
the Miners Union. The president had
urged the cOntending party to end the
strife in the interests of the public
welfare; the miners through the presi-
dent of their union had expressed a
Willingness to submit differences to ar
bitration for a period of from one to
five years, and the employers through
the presidents of the railway and coal
companies and a leading independent
mine operator had sQuarely refused ar
bitration, had denounced the miners
labor organization as a Iawless and
anarchistic body with which they could
and would have no dealings, had de-
manded federal troops to ensure COM
plete protection to workers and their
families in the mining region and court
proceedings against the miners union,
and had offered if the men returned to
work to submit grievances at individ-
ual collieries to the decision of Che
judges of the court of common pleas
for the district of Pennsylvania in
which the colliery was located. There
1 the matter closed.
The Presidents Appeal.
At the morning session President
Roosevelt addressing the conference
said:
! II wish to call your attention to the
fact that there are three parties affect
cd by the situation in the anthracite
trade: The operators, the miners, and
the general public. l speak for neither
the operators nor the miners, but fol
the general public. The questions al
issue which led to the situation affect
Immediately the parties concerned
the operators and the miners; but the
situation itself vitality affects the pub
lie. l disclaim any right or duty tt
Interfere in this way upon legal GROUND
or upon any official relation that beal
Ia the situation; but the urgency anC
the terrible nature of the catastrophe
impending over a large portion of ou
people in the shape of a winter fue
famine impel me, after much anxious
thought, to believe that my duty re
quiFes me to use whatever infiuenc
! personally can to bring to an end
situation which has become LITERAL,
iltolerahle
"In my judgment the situation i'm
peratively requires that you meet upol
the common plane of the necessitie
Of the public. With all the earnestnes
there Is in me, ask that there be a
immediate resumption of operations /
/, the coal mines in some such way a
win without days unnecessary della
meet the crying needs of the people.
II do not invite a discussion of you
respective claims and positions. l al
! peal to your patriotism, to the spir
: that sinks personal considerations an
makes individual sacrifices for the ger
) eraI good"
Mitchell Suggests Arbitration.
Upon the completion of the pres
dents remarks Mr.. Mitchell made
statement, as follows:
'Mr. President, | am much impress
ed with what you say. l am muc
> impressed with the gravity of the 81
uation. We feel that we are not r
r sponsible for this terrible state of q
fairs, We are willing to meet Il
gentlemen representing the coal O
= orators to try to adjust our diffe
ences among ourselves. II we ca
not adjust them that way. Mr.. Prel
dent. we are willing that you shs
name a tribunal who shall determil
the issues that have resulted in Il
strike, and if the gentlemen repI
senting the operators will accept Il
. award or decision of such a tribun
the miners will willingly accept
b even if it is against their claims"
4 President Roosevelt then asked t
- operators to consider the propositi
and meet again at o'clock in the
r ternoOn. Upon reassembling. n
10 Baer spoke as follows:
"Mr. President, do we understa
you correctly that we will be expect
to answer the proposition submit
by Mr.. Mitchen?"
The President: ct will be a pie
ure to me to hear any answer that y
are willing to make"
Mr.. Baer: 81 have prepared an
- Ewer."
Mr.. 5aer's Statement.
!, The following is the text Of
- Baer's statement:
= ITO the President of the Uni
States:
1--WE understand your anxiety is
I'D chilly expressed in the statement !
read to us this morning to bring alb
. an immediate resumption of Ope
lions in the coal mines in some 81
H.. way as will without a days unnec
Bary delay meet the crying needs
the people, We infer that you
sired us to consider the offer of
'el Mitchell, expressing and speaking
I'll the United Mine Workers, to go bi
vas to work, If you would appoint a CT
be mission to determine the questions
issue.
put 1--WE represent the owners Of {
so Zines in Pennsylvania. There
from $4,000 to 10000 men at work 4
ing and preparing coal They