The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-15
Operators Have Virtually
Named Commission.
MITCHELL AS THE SPHINX
When we are in full Possession of the Meaning
of the Operators We Will Define
our Posii,r, he Tells
the Public.
(By Associated Press.)


Wilkesbarre. Pa. Oct 14.-From a
thorough canvass of the situation as it
exists tonight, sthere is every indica-
tion for believing that the new arbitra-
the coal companies for ending the miners
strike will not be accepted in its pres
eut form. There is division of opinion
among the strikers. butt there is no
doubt that a majority feel that the offer
to have the President of the United
States select an arbitration commission
along the lines suggested by the opera
tors is not fair and that it unduly limits
the President in making no the board.
The miners. it is safe to say, will abide
by the advice of their national president
in whose judgment they have the Utmost
confidence. President Mitchell declines
TO say how he. personally, looks upon
the proposition. but tonighth ne gave to
the press the following statement:
81 fully appreciate with what anxiety
the people of our country are awaiting
the end of the coal strike. The coal op-
orators have not addressed the miners
union or it's officers in making their
public statement. It is therefore impos-
sible for me TO state the attitude OF the
miners at this time. ! am now. as | al
ways have been, deeply solicious OF thc
interests of the public and the welfare
of the mine workers who have been on
strike for the past five months. A formal
statement defining our position and in
tentions will be issued just as soon as
we are in possession of the full meaning
OF the proposition of the operators
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 neWspa-
pers all over the country called on him
in q body and informed him that the
general public desired to have an answer
to the proposition of the operators.
After giving it, he was asked many ques-
tiops regarding the attitude of the men
and the probability of the acceptance or
rejection of the new offer. but he had
no reply to make to any of these ques-
.tious He denied that he had any knowl-
edge of what the new offer of the op-
orators was until it became public prop
erty. and also denied that he was in
telephone communication with President
Roosevelt. His attention was called to
the fact that most of the Information
from Washington indicated that the prop
osition would be accepted, and that the
strike was near an end, but he stoutly
maintained that neither his officers nor
the rank and file of the men had done
anything to cause such an impression
to go out.
The district presidents also maintain
silence as to their personal opinion on
the proposition excepting President Fahy,
who. after he arrived from Boston today,
gave an inkling as to how he viewed the
new turn to affairs. In reply to a query,
he said:
THE strike cannot be settled without
the consent of the men. We are nor
dealing in gold bricks of any kind, and
you can make any deduction from that
you want"
There will be a conference tomorrow
between Mr.. Mitchell, the three district
presidents, and Secretary Treasurer Will
son, who will arrive here tomorrow It
is fully expected that the sentiment of
all the stikers will be known and that
action will be taken accordingly. There
is talk of a convention being called but
there is nothing definite on which to
base this talk. When Mr. Mitchell was
asked if he and the district officers had
power to end the strike he said that it
is rule of the organization that no set
element can be made by the officers of
the union without the consent of n dole
safe convention. 1t is practically Ger
tain that Mr.. Mitchelrs advice will be
followed in the conference. While he has
not said word as to what he will do
il is freely predicted by those who under
staBd the situation that he will advise
Il refusal of the proposition