Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-18
ABOUT NEXT THURSDAY
The Men Will Resume the Work of
Mining Coal.


Wilkesbarre Pa, Oct. 1.-THE exc
cutive board OF three anthracite dis
tricts of the United Mine Workers OF
America in joint session unanimously
decided to recommend to delegate con-
vention of striking miners the accept
ance of the arbitration proposition
submitted by the President of the
United States and ii is reasonably
seen that the advice will be followed
and the great struggle brought to "A
close. The convention will be con-
vened in this city. Monday morning.
and it is the hope and the belief of the
officers of the Union that the mining
of coal will be resumed before the
close of next week after suspension
of more than five months. The clti-
zens of the entire region are much
elated that the strike is almost over
because business in the coal fields has
been practically paralyzed since the
strike began.
From the time the news was re-
ceived. late Wednesday night. until
about 10 o'clock. Thursday morn
mig, there was some doubt as to how
the miners would receive the modi-
fed plan. President Mitchell was
asked to make some expression
on the proposition but he stead
tasty refused He was pressed by
the correspondents for statement
and finally at 10 o'clock he cleared up
the situation by issuing the following
bulletin:
"Appreciating the anxiety and i'm
patience of the public and the mine
workers for some authoritative state
ment from this office l issue this bu.-
letin to say that | was unalterabiy
opposed to The acceptance or acqules-
cence in the form of settlement pro-
posed by the coal operators. because
il restricted the President of the
United States in making selection of
the men who We're to determine the
questions involved in the coal strike
The restrictions having been removed
and representation having been gwen
to organized labor as we'll as to Or
ganized capital, | am now prepared
to give my personal approval to
settlement of the issues involved III
this strike by the commission selected
nv the President and shall recommend
TO the executive officers of Districts
l. Z and 9 in their meeting. today
that an immediate call be issued for
a convention whose authorization is
necessary to declare the strike at an
end.
In the meantime I trust that the
neople of our country will be as pa
.ient as possible. as we are moving
as rapidly as the interests or our
people will permit.
(Signed)
JOHN MITCHELL. President United
Mine Workers of America.
When this was read to the arriving
district leaders and groups. of miners
who came to headquarters to learn the
news general satisfaction was eN-
pressed that Mr.. Mitchell was willing
to accept the modified plan and from
that time on there was no doubt that
the strike would be brought to
speedy close. 1t was not until after
o'clock that the 81 members of the
three district boards We're called into
session. which lasted 2 hours ana 10
minutes. There was some opposition
manifested in the meeting against GER
tain features of the plan. but after
full discussion of the objectional parts
a unanimous vote was taken to recon-
mend to the convention the acceptance
of the proposition. AS the conference
was held behind closed doors and n
bond of secrecy was placed on every
man present the specific objections
were not officially announced.
These are the same executive boards
which on May s last. ordered the
strike to begin, which action was APP
proved, in the face of Mr.. Mitchells
opposition by the Hazelton convention
few days later. 1t is expected that
some objections will be raised on the
floor of the convention. but the officers
are confident that the opposition will
disappear when Mr.. Mitchell explains
, all the features of the modified propo-
| sition to the delegates.
A question was raised, Thursday. as
to whether Commissioner Wright. who
will be the recorder Of the commission
| shall have the right to vote in case the
six other members Of the board are
equally divided on any question in
nection with settlement. MI
Mitchell, when asked, did not appear
to be sure that he had not, and other
officials of the union were also uncer-
tain of Mr.. Wright's status.
| The matter of the term Of years that
the agreement shall be in force was
also a source of much inquiry. The
union was strongly opposed to the OPP
orators fixing the term of years. One
district president said this feature had
been left to the discretion Of the COM
mission as suggested in Mr.. Mitchelrs
proposition. while other officials said
they knew nothing about it. President