Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-18
MITCHELL RESPONDS
THANKS THE PRESIDENT FOR I'M
rrFoRTs TO BRING ABOUT
SETTLEMENT.
CONFIDENT MEN WILL AGREE.
The Coal aIaEnate Taught Lesson
In Social Duty.
ronervns THEIR ARnoeAsoH
they Were Forced to Recognize ths,
Mine worker. and He Now oners
Them the Right Hand of Fellow
.hIp-willins to Cooperate win
Them for the Mutual Benent OF
the Employers and Employees.
The Coal Masnate Taught Lesson
in Social Duty.
FoRG1vEs THEIR ARROGANCE
they Were Forced to Recognise thu.
the Employers and Employees.

WASHINGTON. D. c.. October T.->
The response of John Mitchell. the prest-
dent of the United Mine Workers OF
America. to President Roosevelt's notifi-
cation that he had appointed commits
sion was made public to-day. 1t Informs
him of the action of the Executive Boards
of districts No. 1. and Q. in calling
convention and agreeing to recommend
unanimously the resumption Of work and
the submission of the differences between
the operators and tho mine workers OF
the anthracite coal fields to the com-
mission.
Confident Miners viii Agree.
The reply expresses confidence that the
Of the eminent and impartial men'
chosen by the President. and expresses
gratitude to the President for his patri-
otic efforts to bring about an honorable
settlement of the strike. The reply goes
at length into the grievances OF the min
ers. and concludes with the expression OF
the hope and belief that from this aroi-
tration will come "a complete. satisfac-
tory. and permanent solution Of the
troubles which have vexed the anthra-
The President in his telegram to Mr.:
Mitchell announced the appointment OF
the commission and said: 1T is mat
ter of vital concern to all our people,
and especially to those in our great
cities who are least well off. that tina
mining of coal should be resumed with
out a days unnecessary delay.
Defend. the Union.
Mr. AIitchell's reply recounts the efforts
of the miners organization to secure ar
bitration, and goes into a defense of tho
union and its demands. saying:
.If our proffer of arbitration or impar-
tial investigation had been accepted six
months ago instead of now. there need
have been no strike. We have been SO
eager. Mr.. President. to respond to the
pople's demand for coal that during the
progress OF the strike we have more than
once offered arbitration. but we have In
variably been met with the reply: We
will not permit outsiders to dictate to
US in the management of our offairs, we
have nothing to arbitrate.
Now thatlthe managers OF the companies
have been compelled by you and q thor
oughly aroused public conscience to re-
cede from this position. we are proud that
the firmness and the heroic endurance OF
our men and women in support Of their
rights and of vital American prlnciples
have won the victory.
Taught the Corporations n Lesson.
The poor. underpaid mine workers OF
these coal regions, who toll hard from
early morning until late at night for q
livelihood nobly supported by organized
labor in this and other lands. have taught
these corporation managers useful les-
son in civic and social duty. We exult
over this tribute to the dignity of labor
because it is the triumph OF right and OF
good public policy.
I'VE do not, however. exult over our
opponents; we appeal to them now as ws
have from the first to turn their eyes td
the future and to cooperate with us In
an effort to establish better relations be<
tween employer and employee for the ads
vantage of both.
Forsives Their Arrogance.
we forgive them their arrogant refusal
to do deal with us, and In this hour when
they are forced to acknowledge their in
ability to operate their mines without our
consent and cooperation, we hold out the
right hand of fellowship and ask them
to join with us In securing anlicable re-
lations and wholesome conditions in this
region. We forgive them even the FALSE
accusations which they have made against
US.
1.-THE pretence of the operators that they
were unable to produce coal because In
kept from work men who were
willing to work, has been proven false
by the fact that the protection which they
demanded has decreased rather than in.
creased the number of men mining coal
Forced to Recognize Miners.
''The operators declared that they would
have nothing to do with the United Mine
Workers, but they have found it neces-
sary to recognize the power OF the United
Mine Workers of America. through you,
Mr.. President. and to seek terms of peace
which will enable them to resume their
business of mining and selling coal. The
of our strength. thus forced
upon the operators by stern necessity. We
eXult over, not in any narrow spirit. but
because we believe 1t marks a forward
step toward a new era. Upon the founda-
ton laid through war we are ready to
Join with them in building for better con-
ditions and a long and lasting peace. The
United Mine Workers of America since it's
organization in the anthracite coal field
has constantly sought to establish:
Fair Wages and just Conditions.
First, fair wages and just conditions
Of labor-conditions just 10 both oper-
ators and miners. We have never made
demands beyond the ability Of the indus
try to pay on a basis OF equitable divi-
sion of profits between labor and capital
Second. amicable relations between em-
CONTINUED ON THIRD PAGE.)
HORSE SHOW TONIGHT.