The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-15

is Near an End.
 Wilkesbarre, Pa.. Oct. 14.-From a thorough canvass of the situation as it exists tonight, there is every indica- tion that the new arbitration plan pro- posed by the presidents of the coal com- panies for ending the miners strike will not be accepted in the present form. There is division of opinion among the strikers, but there is no doubt majority of them think that the offer to have the president of the United States select an arbitration commission is not fair, that it undulY limits the president in making up the board. The miners, it is safe to say, however, will abide by the advice of their national president, in whose judgment they have the utmost confidence. President Mitch ell declines to say how he personally looks upon the proposition, but tonight he gave to the press the following state ment:
 1T fully appreciate with what anxiety the people of our country. are awaiting the end of the coal strike. The coal operators have not addressed the Min CTS union or it's officers in making their public statement. It is, therefore, inl- possible for me to state the attitude or the miners at this time. I am now, as l have always been, deeply solicitous of the interests of the public and the well fare of the mine workers who have been on strike for the past five months A formal statement defining our position and intentions will he issued just as < soon as we are in possesson of the full meaning of the proposition of the oper- ators."
 This statement was made by him at o'clock after a silence lasting all day. He had no intention of making it until the correspondents representing the newspapers all over the country called on him in a body and informed him that the general public desired to have an answer to the proposition of the opera tors. After giving it he was asked many questions regarding the attitude of the men and the probability of the acceptance or rejection of the new Of fer, but he had no reply to make. He denied that he had any knowledge the new offer of the operators was until i became public property, and also denied that he was in telephone communication with President Roosevelt. His atten ion was called to the fact that most O the information from Washington indi cated that the proposition would be ac cepted and that the strike was near al end, but he maintained that neither hi officers nor the rank and file of the mel had done anything to cause such al impression to go out.
 The district presidents also maintain reticence as to the personal opinion o1 the proposition excepting Presiden Fahy, who after he arrived, from Bos ton, to-day gave an inkling as to how he viewed the new turn of affairs. II reply to a question he said: Int strike cannot be settled without thu consent of the men. We are not deal ing in gold bricks of any kind and vol can make any deduction from that yo1 want"
 There will be a conference tomorrow between MT. Mitchell, the three distric presidents and Secretary Treasure wilson, who will arrive here tomorrow It is fully expected that the ysentimen of all the strikers will be known to morrow and that action will be take accordingly. There is talk of cor vention being called but there is noth ing definite on which to base this. Whe MT. Mitchell was asked if he and tn district officers had power to end tn strike he said that it is rule of tn organization that no settlement can b made by the officers of the union with out the consent of a delegate conven tion. It is practically certain that M Mitchell's advice will be followed in tn conference. While he has not said
 word as to what he will do, it is freel predicted by those who understand tf situation that he will advise a retusf of the proposition.