Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-16
Made Proposition Monday Even
ing.
VICTORY FOR PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
.. Pierpont Morgan Brings His Influ-
ence to Bear Upon the Stubborn
Coal Barons and They See a New
Light-End Near.

Washington, Oct 14.-As a result
of President Roosevelt's efforts the
coal mine owners have proposed what
thew all along refused to submit to-
arbitration.
]. Pierpont Morgan, assisted by MI.
Cassatt, president of the pennsylvania
railway, has forced the presidents OF
the corporations engaged in the min
ing of coal to come down from their
lofty and arrogant position and con-
sent to an arbitration of the dispute.
incidentally President Roosevelt has
won a great personal triumph IN nus
efforts to accomplish something for the
public good.
An offer to arbitrate the coal strike
was submitted to President Roosevelt
last night by J. Pierpont Morgan on
behalf of the coal presidents.
The mine operators propose the ap--
pointment of commission of six mem
bers, to whom the entire question Will
be submitted but the right of the min
,ers who do not belong to the United
Mine Workers association must be
Nprotected.
Proposit:.o Made at White House.
The proposition was made at a con-
ference at the temporary White House
last night.
Those present were J. Pierpont
Morgan, his partner, Robert R. Bacon,
Secretary of War Root, and the Presi-
dent. John Mitchell did not reach the
conference room until after the session
adjourned. The conference was in
session until midnight, and after it adj
iourned Secretary Cortelyou gave out
q. statement, which Mr.. Morgan pre-
scented on behalf of the coal presi--
dents.
Personnel of the Commission.
The commission. as proposed, will
consist Of:
1. An officer in the engineer corps
of either the military or naval service
of the United States.
2. An expert mining engineer, eX-
perienced in the mining of coal and
nther minerals, and not in any way
connected with coal mining proper
ties. either anthracite or bitumlnous
8. One of the judges of the United
States courts of the eastern district OF
Pennsylvania.
a. A man of prominence, eminent as
a sociologist.
5. A man who by active participa-
ton in mining and selling coal is IA
miliar with the physical and CONNER
cial features of the business.
Statement by Secretary corteyou.
AT. 1:15 o'clock this morning Secre-
tary Cortelyou made public the follow
Ing statement, which had been APPROX
ed by President Roosevelt:
81. P. Morgan came to Washington
with his partner, Mr.. Bacon, at the re-
quest of the coal companies, who de-
sired that as a matter of courtesy their
statement should be shown to the
President before it was made public.
Having been laid before the President
by Mr.. Morgan, it is now given to the
press:
".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
understood, and therefore make the
following statement Of facts:
"'There areSin the anthracite regions
about seventy-fve operating compa-
MES and firms and LAT 900 miners and
workmen (of which 10000 are under
age), comprising some twenty nation
alities and dialects.
One-Half Belong to Union
"tOf these workmen possibly one
half belong to the United Mine Work
ers' union, of which John Mitchell is
president. That organization was or
iginally formed in the bituminous coal
region, and three-fourths of it's mem
bers are miners of bitumionus coal,
and bituminous coal is sold in active
competition with anthracite coal. The
remaining worlSmen in the anthracite
fields either belong to no union what.
ever, or do not belong to the mine
workers union.
"'The present strike was declared
by the mine workers union on May 10,
1902. Since that time many workmen
not belonging to or not willing to fol.
low that organization have been work,
ing about the mines From 1000 60
10000 are NOW at work.
Many Prevented From Working.
"rMany more have wished to work,