Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-21
Formation Of Coal q Commission De-
pended on Clark's Selection.
WAS NOT POSSIBLE OTHERWISE
Some Inside History on the Incidents
Leading Up to the Personnel of the
Arbitration Board Which is to Ad-
just Labor Difficulty.
(BY HAROLD ]. MAHIN.l


of the commission appointed by Presi-
den Roosevelt, to arbitrate the coal
strike. Had it not been for Mr.llarks
appointment on the commission John
Mitchell would have refused to agree
to this plan of settlement. and the
coal strike would have been in as
hopeless state today as it ever
was. When Mr.. Mitchell came to
Washington to see the President after
the operators had made their PROPOSE
ton for commission, he was deter.
mined to insist on the oper-
ators withdrawing any restric.
lions That would stand in
Tie way of the president selecting
a commission with free hand. When
Mr.. Mitchell found that the operators
would not rigidly insist on this point
he simply laid before the President
the one special thing, he did want-a
labor representative.
Mitchell Wanted Clark.
Mr. Clark's appointment was sug-
gested and asked by Mr.. Mitchell, or
rather the strike leader insisted on
organized labor having a representa-
tive on the commission and MIR. Clark
was satisfactory to him. Mr.. Mitchell
first desired Frank P. Sargent, former
chief of the brotherhood of locomo-
tive firemen, but Mr.. Sargent's official
position with the government as com
missioner of immigration, caused MIR.
Mitchell to give up that idea. The
President thought of Mr.. Clark, who
he met in Chattanooga, early in Sep
TENDER and was prompt in choosing
4 Al nt,t ,,,1
early In last September for the pur-
pose of attending the annual conven-
ton of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen. Mr.. Clark, who is grand
chief of the order of Railway Con.
ductors, was present and made a
speech which the President listened
to and pronounced one of the best he
had ever heard. He appeared to be
impressed with Mr.. Clarks manifest
ability. Mr. Clark has been Grand
Chief of his order for ten years and
has acted as representative of labor
in the arbitration of several big
strikes.
Is Known in Washington.
Mr., Clark, whose home is in Cedar
Rapids, is well known in Washington,
|
! terstate commerce commission and in
congressional circles Secretary
Moseley, of the interstate commerce
| commission, who has been intimately
acquainted with Mr.. Clark for many
years, regards him as eminently At
| ted in every way to act as one of the
Presidents commissioners in the coal
strike arbitration. Mr.. Clark is said
n ro We
about 40 years old. He has been the
head of the railway conductors organ
ization since 1890 and it is declared
to be largely due to his splendid exec
utive ably, conservatism and en-
thusiastic administration of the af-
| fairs OF the oraer mat it has made
such rapid progress during the last
| decaae. The membership of the or
der has reached over 10000. It's fund
| from annual assessments amounts to
over half a million dollars, and its de-
clared policy of dealing with all dis
putes or grievances is one Of concilia-
ton and arbitration, the law providing
largely through the efforts of Mr..
Clark.
Should Be Senator.
Secretary Moseley admires Mr..
Clark so much that he declares he
should be In the United States sem
ate. Mr.. Moseley says: 81 have re-
peatedly remarked that Mr.. Clark's
capabilities eminently fitted him for
seat in the United States senate He
is certainly the right man in the right
place in this coal strike arbitration.
He will bring into the commission
not only long experience in the direct
line needed, but natural capabilities
and a broad grasp of the situation
| He is man with whom the miners
can feel absolutely safe, and he is al
SO a man who will dc exact justice to
| the operators"
Serve Without Pay.
Mr. Clark is very busy man, and it
will probably not be easy for him to
give the time to the commission that
will be necessary. 1t is not generally
known that every person on the strike
arbitration commission from the com.
! missioners themselves down te
the reporters, stenographers
ETC., will have to pay their
own expenses and serve without COM,
pensation. OF course it is very likely
that after the work is done congress
will pass bill appropriating an
amount sufficient to cover the entire
expense of the commission. 1t is OPP.
tional with congress whether or moi
it will include in that appropriation
enough to allow any compensation to
the members of the commission for
their time and services
The final report of thu
commission will be made to The
President and communicated by him to
the parties to the controversy and to
the general public.
Dolliver Tells Iowa's Ideas.
/ When Senator Dolliver was here the
ether day. he said that Iowa was I'M
equivocably in sympathy with The
strikers. The anthracite strike has
had very little effect i. Iowa" he said
1--we burn some anthra tie. but The
4 absence OF fuel has caus no nfeYt
Suffering. We ave plem. Of c
local fad love- IS well wooded Th-
syn paihics CT the Towns hive al
through been strcnoly With Ina min
ers One hess few favorable ey.
nressiGns for 10 eaHrato~r in Iowa
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