The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-22
Presidents Appointe.s VIII Act as
Conciliators While the Negotia-
tions Are in Progress.
10 PER CENT. WAGE INCREASE
NINE HOURS As A WORK DAY AND
TRADE AGREEMENTS,
Are the Main Points OF the Compro-
mise Proposition That VIII Be
Considered I'm Conference.

SCRANTON. Pa, Nov. H.-The mine
workers. through their representatives
have agreed with the mine owners to at
tempt to adjust the differences existing be-
strike commission. The proposition was
made on a compromise basis, and negotia-
tions, 1T Is expected, viii be at once entered
upon, with reasonable hope Of settlement
with the aid of the arbitrators. The
rough proposition. which is to form the
basis of negotiations, Is a 10 per cent. in
crease In wages, a nine-hour day and trade
agreements between the miners and the
company by which they are employed. The
only one of the four demands not touched
upon Is that Of the weighing Of coal by
the legal ton-
While both sides have expressed a willing
ness to settle their differences among them
with 1t the acceptance OF the terms pro-
posed. They are mentioned only as a basis,
1t is understood. from which a settlement
Is to be effected. 1t is possible the founda-
fion already laid can be wrecked by either
party holding out too strongly against some
question and thus leave the whole matter
In the hands Of the commissioners, who. in
the meantime. win act sort of board
OF conciliation, rather than as a board of
arbitration.
CAUSED MUCH SURPRISE.
Few persons were aware that an attempt
would be made at an outside settlement
until 1t was practically so intimated by
Judge Gray, the chairman OF the commits
sion, who read a carefully-prepared an
nouncement from the bench" The move,
one OF the most important in the whole his
tory of the coal strike. created mild SEN
sation when 1t became known. The sur
prise was all the greater when 1t was re-
membered that numerous persons. from the
President OF the United States down, and
many organizations, from the National
Civic Federation to the small boards of
trade of the mining towns, failed to bring
the two parties together. 1t is said it was
all brought about by both sides seeing
that the proceedings before the commits
> sicn would be interminable and that in
the intermingling of the lawyers for both
sides the outside agreement proposition
was reached and taken up.
1t cannot be officially stated which party
made the proposition first The attorneys
for both sides are averse to talking, but
those who are inclined to say something
differ In their statements. An attorney
for one OF the railroads said 1t came from
the miners side. while one lawyer for the
miners said 1t came from the operators
Another representative of the miners said
It was Spontaneous" proposition. It is
generally believed, however, that the op-
orators were the first to make the prop
osition- Wayne Macveagh, who carried
on such a brilliant cross-examinaticn of
President Mitchell. is given credit for
bringing about the present situation. He
went to New York after he finished with
Mr.. Mitchell. and had a conference with
certain persons connected with the coal
industry. among them. 1t Is reported, J..
p. Morgan He was In New York to-day
In connection with the matter.
COMMISSIONERS SATISFIED
The commissioners were informed of the
new turn OF affairs last night and acoui
esced In the proposed Arrangement The
} subject did not directly come up In the
public hearing to-day, and the adjourn
nent proposition was made ostensiblv IN
permit both sides tc complete their work
in preparing documentary evidence. Clar-
ence s. Darrow. OF Chicago, one of Mr..
Mitchelfs attorneys. brought the matter
out when, near the close of to-day's ses-
sion. he suggested that the miners hs
given little more time to prepare their
. evidence. The miners wanted to present
the due bills or wage statements of
thousands of miners running back for sew
eral years, and they found that the task
of presenting them in a proper manner
was a stupendous one. They also wanted
to carefully examine the company books
and this, too, would take considerab bls
time.
While Mr.. Darrow was saying this the
commissioners were all attention, and nc
one outside Of them and a few representa-.
tives on each side of the case knew wha,
was going on. Judge Gray. in reply to Mr.
Darrow, said the commission would be yer,
glad to cooperate in bringing about the ac
complishment of the end by which the
miners miners could ,n have time to .eu,e examine III,
aware for some time, he said, that while
the testimony that has been adduced ha.
been very interesting. and l will not sa,
, that IL has not been of value. still IL has
not yet borne directly upon the points a.
issue between the parties TO this contro
versy." After delivering this the chairman
read the announcement which had beer
prepared by the commission In advance. Il
was as follows:
"Acceding to the suggestion just made b,
counsel that an interval OF time be taker
for the proposition OF the documentary evi
dence and for possible agreement as e
certain facts and figures which would for
ward the work OF the commission. the com
mission desires 10 express the hope that al
effort will be made by the parties TO com.
- an agreement upon nearly all. IL not all