The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-16
CONFERENCES YESTERDAY
With the president During the
Da, and Q hers Last Night.
(By Associated Press)
(By Associated Pr

WASHINGTON. D. c., October b.
The prolonged anthracite coal strike Is
not yet practically settled. but some pro-.
gress was made to-day, and while there
remain certain obstacles to be removed,
these. in the language Of Secretary Root.
II IS believed. can be resolved ana ter
miration of the strike finally secured. The
principal of these obstacles is The COM
position OF the proposed commission or
board to abritrate the d fferences be-
tween the miners and operators. Mr..
Mitchell ind Gated formally to-day to
President Roosevelt that the mine work
erst union dissents from the restrictions
p aced by the operators on the choice
of the proposed arbitration tribunal. and
desires the President to have an abso-
luteW free hand in the selection OF the
members of the commission to be charged
with the adjustment Of future relations
between the employers and employed. He
laid special stress in sta ting his objec-
tons on the proposition. that one Of the
commission shousl be judge from the
Eastern District Of Pennsylvania. He
was very insistent in some of his OBJ
iections in which he voiced what might
be termed a counter-proposition to that
of the operators.
After the matter was gone over freely
with the President. Mr.. Mitchell: sent out
call for a meeting of tho Executive
Committees OF the three anthracite dis
trcts of Pennsylvania. At this meeting,
1t is believed that an agreement will be
reached on the statement to be pronul-
gated by the mine-s n response to the
proposition from the operators.
President Roosevelt having a.certalned
the views OF Mr.. Mitchell. at once COM
munlcated with the operators. and ini-
t:ated efforts to reconcile the differences.
and to have the onerators make soma
further concessions. his aim being BY nnu-
tual concessions to reach common ac-
cord between miners and ore-ators
whereby the s,bor DISPUTE may be finally
composed and mining Of coal resumed.
TWO CONFERENCES.
The progress made to-day was accom-.
plished by means chiefly Of two extended
and John NJ tchell. the president Of the
United Mine Workers OF America At
the conclusion OF the conferences. Mr..
Mitchell sa;d he had no NORMA ton which
he could give to the public It was an
nounced likewise at the White House
that no official statement * the confer
ences wous1 be made at this time. Wien
the last conference had been concluded.
Mr. Mitchell left the White House, and
after a briess conference with President
Samuel Gompers, departed for Wilkes
hare. Pa
Mr.. Mtcnelrs vf<it to wa shin ston was
nv invitation Of President Roosevelt. who
asked him to come to Washington IN or
der that they might discuss the terms OF
the proposition submitted to the Prssi.
dent last Monday night by the anthracite
coal railway presidents. While all per-
sons having knowledge Of the details Of
thu conference are extremely reticent,
enough is known to justify the statement
Element Of the strike. they at the same
time were not barren OF tangible results
A, the first conference which lasted
from II 80 A. NJ. until 13:55 2. NJ. the
President and Mr.. Mitchell discussed
fully the .prorostion made nv the opera-
tors for an arbitration commission. In a
general way the miners president fndt-
Gated certain objections which he had to
the proposition OF the operators. but. it
is understood. did not at that time pre-
sent his objections In a formal state
r!ent. q
MITcHELLs ANSWER.
At the conclusion OF the first confer.
ence Mr.. Mitchell walked over 70 the
Treasury DEPARTMENT where for two
hours ne remained clio eted W tn F ank p.
Sargent commissioner OF Immigration. In
the latter's ONCE It is believed that a,
the conclusion Of the conference Mr..
Mitchell had formulated stat1n,ent
akin to counter-propositson to that
made by the operators. This he later
prs sented to the President. going directly
from Mr.. sars.nt's once 70 the White
ltorsa 4 Q clock Tor that purpose.
While no authorized statament OF the
counter proposition could IS obtained, II
can be stated On excellent authority that
Mr.. Mitchell, IN criticism Of the PROPOSE.
ton Of the operators. took exception 70
the sdtsDaraEsmsntssofst the miners unisn