New-York tribune., 1902-10-15
PRESIDENT HAS FREE HAND
OPERATORS WONT DICTATE PERSON
NEL OF ARBITRATION BOARD
MD nAEG DENIES THAT HE USED RE
PORTED LANGUAGE TO GOVERNOR
oDELI.-A GIRLS TOUCHING OFFER


The coal operators held their usual weekly
meeting as directors of the Temple coal and
lion Company yesterday in the Office ~ Fresi-
dent Bser OF the Reading I'm The Nev-J J-rsey
Central Building. They said that the propo-
siilon n end the strike which they hao pre-
sented "a President Roosevelt through T. +.
Morgan expressed their views fully and aecn-
rateiy. and they did not expect 10 W'a't> ii
IN the slightest degree. Ia was made plain 'Aal
they had not intended 20 impose any restIi'-
uons upon the President as 20 the personnel
OF the commission of arbitration suggested bF
them. Before The meeting President Truesdale
of the Delaware Lsckawanna and Western was
asked II there WAS any recommendation hy me
operators as 70 the personnel Of the commits
sion, and he replied
There is not. The whole matter rests with me
President. Ne reserved no right 10 question
the appointment Of any indiy dual on the conn
mission whom the President may see N 10 "i-
point on the terms az our offer. don't kn'"
whether The President intends 20 consult Mf-
Mitchell before deciding 20 appoint the coIn'nis-
sion, and have no idea Of its possible makeup'
II the President sees M 10 appoint an arol-
tratiou commission and take up our proposal
viii not question the appointment or any
individuals he may select"
'Will the mines be worked FUN time Y the
Il can speak only for my own company
he replied. 81 say that an our colierles
have been worked every day except on holidays
John Mitchell days and when it was necessary
10 stop for repairs"
~wiH the companies have sufficient cars for
the transportation OF all the coal mined
I think 50, I know tcat the IackaVanna
road has plenty 81 cars"
Mr.. Truesdale said that the proposal 20 the
HrF
fairly he considered an extension of the oner
made at the meeting in Washington when Mr.,
Mitchell was present. That ofer. he said. was
10 permit the judges Of the Court 81 Common
Pleas i'm the mining district 20 arhtrate any
dispute between the collisries and the miners
on which they could not agree among them
selves.
President Fowler. of the Ontario and West
ern. said the operators would not object Il
the President appointed a labor man on the ar
bitration commission. There is provision
he said, for the appointment OF "A man Of
prominence. eminent as a socioogist,' and per
haps this man may be a labor man"
President Olyphant OF the Delaware and Hud-
son was asked il the public would not look
upon the proposition Of the operators as con-
cession 10 the miners.
My dear sir" he replied. IL is not a conces-
sion 10 the miners; n is a concession 20 human
ity. II is a move taken 20 relieve the distress
prevalent throughout the country. The need
OF coal was a serious matter 20 contemplate.
and the presidents OF the coal roads felt II most
OF all strange that may seem We have
been trying 20 do our best for New-YorlS, but
New-York is only a point in the country. We
have now tried 10 do our best for the whole
country II the season had been summer. In
stead of winter. such a statement might not
! have been called for
/ President Baer of the Reading was asked;
| DO YOU consider Ihe proposition submitted
( to the President in the nature Of recession
from the stand taken by the operators
That's funny one" he replied. Il happen 10
have drawn the proposition myself. or. at
/ least. had considerable part in preparing u,
and I may state that Il embodies my opinions
! ana views. Further than that 1 cannot say
/ anything"
Asked what ne thought would be the result
Of the offer made TO the President, Mr. Baer
replied:
I am not a prophet. ] cannot prophesy-
Mr. Baer was asked whether the proposition
looked TO immediate resumption on fun time
Il do not care 10 discuss that. he answered.
A representative Of the operators said IN the
afternoon that John Mitchell could not refuse 10
accept the offer 20 have commission appointed
bv the President 10 arbitrate the questions IN
volvod such a refusal he said. would be
direct Reputation OF MitchelTs own offer made
10 the President al the meeting in Washington
on October 3. in these words, We are willing
that you shall name tribunal who shall de
termine the issues that have resulted IN the
strike and IL the gentlemen representing the
operators viii accept the award or decision OF
such a tribunal the miners Will accept II. even
II il is against their claims
L see by reports from wilkesbarre." said the
~ afnw fff-f all
now saws ne viii have 20 have a convention be
fore there can he a decision 20 accept commits
sion Of arbitration named by the President.
That looks as n the offer made by Mitchell 10
the President on October 3 was entirely ire
sponsihie offer. That has been the trouble all
along There has been no responsibility the
side OF the strikers. Their organization could
not be held 20 a contract. That has been a sufi-
Gent reason for refusal Of the operators 70 enter
into negotiations with them directly"
The fact that John MaTlSle's name was not ap-
pended 40 the proposition which Mr. Morgan
presented 70 President Roosevelt Ted yesterday
20 a report that the independent coal operator
did not approve the proposition Mr. Markle
would not talk about u yesterday. He was
with the other operators when they met the
President on October ?. and he has been talking
freely with Mr.. Morgan since then.
Senator Platt declined 10 talk on the situation
yesterday but ne sent an answer when he
asked in n note II ne thought the recent con-
ference in MS Office had contributed 10 the pro
position OF the operators, and il the action of
the operators could he attributed 10 the efforts
of Republican leaders. His reply was. The
views Of a majority ~ the people viii show
that
J. Pierpont Morgan and his business partner
Mr. Bacon. arrived in Jersey City on their re-
turn from Washington shortly before ) p. m
sba frir. arross The North E2f,sr