The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-18
Says the Miners Glory in the Victory They Have
 Gained
FORGED FROM. HIGH PERCH
 BY THE MINERS POSITION
Operators Sought to Hold President Accountable for Condition He
 Was Trying to
 Remedy. sillzi

Washington, October 17.--The following telegraphic corresponence consisting of the letter of President Roosevelt to John Mitchell, president of the United Mine Workers of America, and the latter's house today:
 White House.
 Washington, October Is, 1902. MT. John Mitchell, President United Mine Workers of America, wilkesbarre, Pa:
 ''I have appointed as commissioners: Brig. Gen. John M. Wilson, E. W. Par ker, Judge George Gray, E. E. Clark Thomas H. Watkins and Bishop John L. spalding, with Hon. Carroll D. Wright as recorder. These names are accepted by the operators, and I now most earnestly ask and urge that the miners likewise ac- cept this commission. It is a matter of vital concern to all our people, and es- pecially to those in our great cities, who are least well off that the mining of coal should be resumed without a days un- necessary delay.
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
 MtcheIl's Reply.
 ''Wilkesbarre, Pa, October 16 1902. "Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, Washington, D. C.:l
 Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your tele- gram of October 16 Replying thereto l beg to inform you that your recommen- dations were submitted to the members of the executive boards of Districts 1, and 9, United Mine Workers of Am erica, and they have unanimously agreed to call delegate convention to be held next Monday, and will recommend to the convention that all men now on strike re- turn to the positions and working places formerly occupied by them, and submit to the commission appointed by you all questions at issue between the operators and mine workers of the anthracite coal fields. In connection with this subject we are glad to know that the managers of the coal companies have decided to recede from the untenable position which they so long occupied and to accept a modified proposition for the arbitration of the coal strike and to give you full lati- tude to the selection of a commission. It will be remembered that we proposed on October 3 to place the whole matter in your hands and to accept verdict of a tribunal of your own selection. It also will be remembered that the company managers at that time refuseud to ac- eept the arbitration of the President of l.e United States and preferred that of the local common pleas judges. We pro- posed to leave everything to you without condition or reservation, having the ut most faith in your impartiality and good judgment.
 Hold Roosevelt Accountable.
 "In their refusal to accept your arr bitrament the operators sought to hold you in part accountable for the very condition which you were trying to rem edy and to instruct you as 10 your duties concerning them. Eight days later they again appeared before you, dropping the common pleas judge and proposing to abide by the verdict of a tribunal ap- pointed by you, but attempting to pre- scribe within fixed and narrow limits the character and vocation of the men you were to name. To this proposition, as the operators made 1t, we were unalterabiy opposed.
 States Reasons.
 First, because our respect for you as man and our ideas as to what is due to the dignity of your office demanded that we should not be party to a re-
 
 bility accompanied by detailed and im- pertinent restrictions as to the manner in which you should meet it.
 ''Second, because careful analysis Of their proposition disclosed to us as 1t did to you and the public that the restric- tions were too narrow to enable you to secure under them a wtll-balanced and thoroughly impartial tribunal
 But now that you have yourself re- moved those objections by broadening and strengthening the commission, we feel confident that our convention will declare it's willingness to have all ques- tions between the employing companies and the 95 per cent of their employees, l,who are members of our organization, %determined by the board of eminent and impartial men chosen by you. We feel grateful to you, MT. President, for the patriotic efforts which you nave made to bring about an honorable settlement of the strike; efforts which you continued despite the remarkable spirit and con Y duct which you at first found in the com l.pany managers.
 Sympathy for President.
 'sWe were in a position to sympathize z with you, inasmuch as we had long been if forced to endure arrogant insults ana false witness from the same source Our gratitude is due to you and to the Ameri- can people and the press who have sub- ported you and us in the long struggle which we hope is now about to close. During all these long months in which our motives have been impugned and our characters maliciously assailed we have refrained from saying any word or tak- inc any action which would tend to rem der reconciliation more difficult; but now if becomes a duty to defend ourselves against the islanders which have been heaped upon us and to proclaim that we have from the first favored practically the method which is now employed to break the deadlock.
 If our proffer of arbitration or impar- fiaI investigation had been accepted six months ago instead of now there need have been no strike. We have been so eager ndr. President, to respond to the people, s< demand for coal that during the progress of the strike we have more than ' once offered arbitration, but we have