Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-10-17
MAY NOW ARBITRATE
COAL OPERATORS PROPOSITION.
Ready to Refer All Questions to a
Committee CT Five to Be Appoint
ed BY President Roosevelt.

Ready to Refer All Questions to a
Committee CT Five to Be Appoint
cd by President Roosevelt.
Washington. Oct. 1.-THE operators
have agreed to the appointment 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 deci.
sion Of the commission shall be ac-
cepted by the operators.
The commission is to consist Of
An army or navy engineer officer.
An expert mining engineer not con
nected with the coal mining proper
ties,
One OF the judges of the United
States courts OF the eastern districts
OF Pennsylvania.
A man of prominence. eminent as
sOciOlogist. and
A 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 part OF the
proposition that the miners shall return
TO work as soon as the commission Ii
constituted and cease all Interference
with non-union men.
The commission is to name q date
when It's findings shall be effective aud
TO govern conditions OF employment be-
tween the companies and their own em-
ployes for at least three years.
The statement was read to the Presi-
dent as an act OF courtesy before being
given to the press.
Washington. Oct. l3,-By authority
Of J. T.. Morgan. who. with his partner.
Robert Bacon. and Secretary Root.
were in conference with President
Roosevelt at the temporary White
House tonight for an hour and half.
u statement was given out by Secretary
cortclyou. In which the presidents Of
the coai-carryins railroads and mine
operators propose n commission OF I'VE
persons to adjust the differences and
settle the coal strike In the anthracite
coal fields of Pennsylvania. The propo-
kition is believed by the administration
To be satisfactory TO the miners. na II
covers the proposition made by Prcai-
dent Mitchell OF the United Mine Work.
crs' Union. with additional conditions
which Il Is believed the miners Will uc-
ccpt. The statement follows:
with his partner. Mr. Bacon. ut the rc-
quest OF the coal companies. who de-
sired that M matter OF courtesy their
statement should be shown To the Pres
idcnt before II was made public. Hnv-
ing been laid before III. President by
Mr.. Morgan. II ID now given TO the
press"
The stntcmcn, OF the coal operators
is. In part, Us fallows:
''To the Pubiic-Thc managers OF
the different coal properties compris-
ing ih. anthracite coal fields wish their
position In the the present strike to DO
understood. and therefore make tho
following statement Of facts:
There are In the anthracite region
about scvcnty-iivc opcra,in. companies
and firms and $4,000 miners and
workmcn Iof which 10000 are under
nsc) comprising some twenty nation
alitics and dialects.
''Of these workmcn possibly one
half belong to the United Mine Work.
crs' Union. OF which Mr.. John Mitchell
is president. That organization was
originally formed In the bituminous
coal region. and bituminous coal Is
sold In active competition with anthra-
cite coal. The remaining workmcn In
the anthracite fields either belong to
no union Whatever. OF uo HUI ociohh
to the Mine Workers Union.
THE present strike was declared by
the Mine Workers Union on the 10th
day of May. 1902. Since that time
many workmcn not belonging to or
not willing to follow that organization
were working about the mines. From
1000 to 10000 are now Mt work. Many
more have wished to work. but have
been prevented by course OF violence
and intimidation. by the destruction OF
properties and the fear OF death or
bodily harm to every man who wishes
to exercise his right to work.
"Thc coal companies reniize that
the urgent public need OF coal and
me apprehension OF an Inadequate
supply for the approaching winter
calls for m earnest effort to reach q
practical conclusion which will result
in an increased supply. and the pres
idcnts OF the companies desire to make
every effort to that end which does
not involve the abandonment of the
interests committed to their care and
OF the men we are working and seek
ing to work In their mines. This re-
sponsibility they must bear and meet
as best they can.
"They therefore rcstate their posi-.
ton: That they are rot discriminat.
ing against the United Ni,.e Workers.
but they insist that the Miners' Union
shall not discriminate against or re-
fuse to work with non-unicn men: that
there shall be no restriction or deter
ioration in quantity or quality of work.
and that owing to the varying physical
conditions of the anthracite mines.
each colliery is problem by itself
1--WE suggest commission to be
appointed by the President OF the
United States if he is willing to per.
form that public service) to whom
shall be referred all questions at issue
between the respective companies and
their own employees. whether they be-
long to a union or not. but the deci-
sion of this commission shall be ac-