Evening journal., 1902-10-04
MITCHELL SAYS
MINERS WILL WIN
Strike Leader Gives His
Opinion of Conference
and Its Result
OPERATORS ARE DETERMINED

They Declare Presidents Interference
Will Retard Settlement, and That
Strike viii continu. Until Miners
succumb.
Washington, Oct. 4.-Last evening
President Mitchell, of the Mine Work
ers' Union, dictated a formal state
ment concerning the proceedings of
yesterdays conference and its results,
in which he announced that the strike
would continue as a result of the fail
ure of the conference. Following is
the text of Mr.. Mitchell's statement;
"At the morning conference between
the mine operators and the committee
representing the miners, President
Roosevelt outlined the purpose for
which he had called the operators and
the miners together. After the presi-
dent concluded his statement, the min
ers at once proposed to refer the ques-
tions and issues of the coal strike to
the president for adjustment, but this
proposition was afterwards rejected
by the operators. To this proposition
each of the operators read a reply, in
which they refused to accept the ser
vices of the president or Of a tribunal
to be appointed by him TO determine
the issues of the strike, and in each Of
their statements they INDUCED in a
perfect TRADE of abuse of the miners
organization and its officials. It was
evident to the miners representatives
that the coal operators were without
regard for their former employees and
for the public, which is suffering so
much for the lack of fuel
"As a consequence of this refusal
of the operators either to grant con-
cessions or to defer to individual ar
bitration, the coal strike will go on.
am firmly convinced that the miners
will win. though we deeply regret
the refusal of the railway presidents
to defer to the wishes of the chief
executive of the United States.
"The president expressed the hope
that there would be no lawlessness in
the coal fields, and the representatives
of the miners assured him that there
every effort would be exerted TO main
tain peace"
In reply to questions, Mr.. Mitchell
said that the president had said moth
ing in reply to the proposition of the
miners to submit to arbitration, but
he added that their offer was in the
line Of the presidents suggestion for
an immediate settlement of the dis
pute. He also said that the merits OF
the strike had not been entered upon
at any length, as all we're familiar
with the questions at issue.
Referring to the manner OF conduct
ing the strike in the future, he said he
thought It would proceed hereafter
about as it had proceeded in the
past.
Stipulating that they should not be
quoted, the coal presidents talked
quite freely OF the conference last
evening. Several OF them declared
that the interference Of the president
had resulted in retarding rather thar
forwarding the settlement. They as
serted that no progress had beer
made. and said they would return t
continue the contest. They declared
that the situation was most serious a!
to coal supply, but said that Goa
would be furnished to the public, ant
that II given protection they could ge
men to mine coal to at least 20 pei
cent of their capacity. They declared
that there would be no compromise
and that the strike would continu,
until the miners succumb. They as
serted their determination to max,
no concessions further than the Offers
already made.
The operators train left early thi
morning for New York