The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-11-27
A NEW PEACE MOVE
Proposition for Operators and
Strikers to Get Together.
WILL KNOCK OUT ARBlTRATORS
Announcement Causes Genuine Sen
sation-Strike Commissioners
Offer no Objection-Move is
Made to Save Time.

A special from Scranton, Pa, says:
The mine workers, through their rep
resentatives, have agreed with the
mine owners to attempt to adjust the
differences existing between them out
side the anthracite coal strike COM
mission. The proposition was made
on a compromise basis and negotia-
tions, it is expected, will be at once
entered upon, with a reasonable hope
Of settlement with the aid of the ar.
bitrators. The rough proposition.
which is to form the basis of negotia-
.tions, is 10 per cent. increase in
wages, nine.hour day, and trade
agreements between the miners and
the company by whom they are en-
ployed.
The only one Of the four demands
not touched upon is that of the weigh
ing Of the coal by the legal ton. While
both sides have expressed the will
I ingness to settle their differences
among themselves, it is not to be con-
strued that it carries with it the &C.
ceptance Of the terms proposed. They
are mentioned only as basis, it is
understood, from which a settlement
is to be effected. It is possible that
the foundation 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, will act as a sort Of
a board of concilistion rather than as
a board of arbitration.
Came as Surprise.
Few persons were aware that an at
tempt would be made at an outside
settlement until it was practically so
intimated by Judge Gray, the chair
man of the commission, who read a
carefully prepared announcement
from the bench" The move, one Of
the most important in the whole his
tory Of the coal strike, created mild
sensation when it became known. The
surprise was all the greater when it
will be remembered that numerous
persons from the president of the Uni
ted States down, and that many organ
izations from the National Civic Fed
erration 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 proceed
ings before the commission would be
interminable, and that, in the inter
mingling of the lawyers for both sides,
the outside agreement proposition
was broached 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 were inclined
to say something differ in their state
ments. An attorney for one of the
railroads sad it came from the miners
aide while one lawyer for the miners
said it came from the operators. An
other representative of the miners
said ut was a spontaneous PROPOSE
tion."
1t is generally believed, however,
that the operators were the first to
make the proposition. Wayne Mac
Veagh, who carried on such bril-
liant cross-examination 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, it Is
reported, J. Pierpont Morgan. He
was in New York Friday in connection
with the matter.
Arbitrators Are Willing.
The commissioners were informed
Of the new turn of affairs, and ac-
quiesced in the proposed arrange
ment. The subject did not directly
come up in the hearing Friday,
and the adjournment proposition was
made ostensibly to permit both sides
to complete their work of preparing
documentary evidence.