Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-10-17
UP TO THE MINERS
OPERATORS AGREE TO ARBITRATION
OF THE LABOR TROUBLE.

Consent of Strikers Means Work at Once
Five Men are to Inquire Into All the
Conditions in the Mining District and
Their Decision is to be Final - Great
Victory for Roosevelt.
Washington. Oct. 15.-The coal mine
operators have agreed to the appoint
ment of a commission, to be appointed
by the president of the United States,
to whom shall be referred all questions
at issue between the companies and
| their own employees, whether they be-
long to union or not, and the decision
of the commission shall be accepted by
the operators. The commission is to
consist of an army or navy engineer
officer, an expert mining engineer not
| connected with the coal mining prop
critics, one of the judges of the United
States courts of the eastern district of
Pennsylvania, man of prominence as
a soeiologist, and man who, by active
participation in mining and selling
coal, is familiar with the physical and
commercial features of the business.
| The operators also make it part of the
proposition that the miners shall re-
turn to work as soon as the commission
is constituted, and cease all interfer-
ence with nonunion men. The COM
mission is to name date when its find
ings shall be effective, and to govern
conditions of employment between the
companies and their own employees for
at least three years. The statement
was read to the president as an act of
courtesy before being given to the
press.
The conditions which the operators
attach to the proposition for arbitration
are not such as can be refused, although
| they couch their statement in language
which has characterized all their state
ments. In spite of the insolent man.
ner in which they received the first
overtures of the president they have
been compelled to allow him to name
commission of arbitration. Even in
suggesting the character of the men
who will compose the commission, they
are following suggestions coming from
the president, as the character of the
men described are the kind he would
| CuOOS0ss az dICG UCl1OsCO buo pTO6l.
dent when he took the initiative, the
men refusing overtures of peace have
been compelled by an overwhelming
public sentiment to reconsider. His
Judgment has been justified land the
4 result will cause great rejoicing among
THOSE threatened by coal famine.
The following is, in part, the state
ment of the operators:
"To the public: The managers of
the different coal properties compris-
ing the anthracite coal fields wish their
position in the present strike to be un-
derstood, and therefore make the fol-
lowing statement of facts:
"There are in the anthracite regions
about 75 operating companies and firms
and 147 ZOO miners and workmen, of
which 10000 are under age, compris-
ing some 20 nationalities and dialects.
| OF these workmen, possibly one-half
belong to the United Mineworkers'
union, of which John Mitchell is presi-
dent. That organization was origin
ally formed in the bituminous coal re-
gion, and three-fourths of it's members
are miners of bituminous coal, and
bituminous coal is sold in active COM
petition with anthracite coal. The re-
naming workmen in the anthracite
field either belong to no union what
ever or do not belong to the Minework-
ers' union.
s'The coal companies believe that the
wages paid in the coal regions are fair
and full, and all that the business in
its normal condition has been able to
stand if the capital invested is to have
any reasonable return. The profits
have been small, several of the COM
panies have become bankrupt and have
been reorganized several times. Seve-
l raj have never paid dividends, and the
dividends Of the others have been a
small return for the capital invested.
1t is not, however, the purpose of
this statement to discuss this question.
r "We are not nor never have been I'M
| willing to submit all questions between
! them and their workmen to any fair
, tribunal for decision. We are not will
ing to enter into arbitration with the
+ union of miners, union composed OF
g men in a rival and competitive interest,
e and they are not willing to make any
b arrangements which will not secure to
n the men now working, and all now OF
# hereafter wishing to work, whether
o they belong to the Mineworkers' union
or not, the right and opportunity to
g work in safety and without personal
y insult or bodily harm to themselves OF
9 to theil families"
g The proposition of the coal operators
:. was result of visit of Secretary Root
g to New York, and his conference with
l. Mr.. Morgan. Mr.. Morgan at that
g time expressed keen interest in the
}. situation and desire to bring about
q an adjustment, if possible. Following
J. this talk with Secretary Root, there
a was a conference in New York, al
:. which the proposition of the coal oper
i ators was agreed to, and Mr.. Morgan
If was delegated to bring it to the presi
10 dent, in the belief that such would bt
,s the courteous course, and the best way
OF promulgating the offer of settlement
Hot Battle in Venezuela.
1T Willemstad, Oct. Is. - An import
l. ant engagement began this mornin,