Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-10-11
MITCHELL 0FFERs gro ABIDE By
ARBITRATION HOARD
Refuse TO treat with Union President
Made strong Appeal 10 the Repre-
sent~tives lin the Name OF Hamani-
~ bat Hts Pleading Was of

NhANN = N4hs-tS
III wish TO call your attention TO the
fact that there are three parties affect
ed by the situation III the anthracite
trade the operators, the mipers and
the general public. speak for neith7
er the operators, nor the miners, but
for the general public. The questions
mt issue which led to the situation af
feet Immediately the parties concerned
the operators and the miners; but
the situation itself vitality affects the
public. As long as there seemed TO be
| a reasonable heue that these matters
could be adjusted between the parties
it did not seem proper TO me TO inter
Exene in any way. | disclalm any right
or duty TO intervene in this way upon
legal grounds or upon any official re-
lation that / beay to the situation; but
the urgency and the terrible nature OF
the catastrophe impending over q
large portion of our people in the
shape of winter fuel famine impel
me after much anxious thought to be-
lieve that my duty requires me to use
whatever influence / personally can TO
bring TO an end a situation which has
become literally intolerable. | wish
to emphasize the character of the sit
uation, and to.say that its gravity is
such that | am constrained urgently TO
insist that each one of you realize the
heavy burden of responsibility uDon
him. We are upon the threshold of
winter with an already existing coal
famine the future terrors Of which we
can hardly yet appreciate. The evil
possibilities are SO far-reacning. so
appalling. that it seems to me that You
are not only justified in sinking, but
! required to sink for the time being
any tenacity as to your respective
claims in the matter at issue between
YOU. In my Judgment the situation
imperatively requires that you meet
upon the common plane of the necessi-
ties of the public. With all the ear
nestness there is in me ! ask that there
| Dt III lilliltQltttC 1RSNAipNAbAA VI VECto7
lions in the coal mines in some such
way as will without DAYS unneces-
sarv delay meet the crying needs Of
the people
Il donot invite a discussion of your
respective claims and positions. ap-
peal to your patriotism. to the spirit
that sinks personal considerations and
makes individual sacrifices for the gen.
eral good =
So far as the DEVELOPMENTS Of yester-
day are concerned settlement of the
great miners ssrike is as far away as
ever. The conference ended at lis.
John Mitchell proposed that the mat
ter be referred to a committee of three
to be appointed by President Roose-
velt but this offer WAS vehemently
disapproved by the operators, they re-
fusirg to listen to any proposition EN-
anating from Mitchell
They made the proposition that any
miner in any mining camp who has a
grievance against that operator submit
it to e.judge of the district court,
promising to bide by the decision of
the court. They refused however, to
recognize Mitchell or the miners union.
During the conference a number of
the'operators criticised the administra-
ton in not sending sufficient troops to
protect ntn-union men who desired
to work. The operators had no other
D. opposition to submit.
The operators take the position that
the United Mine Workers organization
is an illegal body. anarchistic IN nature
and that therefore, they cannot treat
with it.
They also expressed their willing
ness to mine coal provided their min
ers are protected. making the asser-
ton that the Federal government
should afford them protection even if
it be necessary to call out the Federal
troops.
1t was said that the President has
more drastic measures 10 apply toward
ending the coal Strlbe. out the Hatuie
of them was not made public. 1t is,fur-
ther given out that he will not rest
until the mi: es are again in operation.
President Roosevelt made strong
plea for the ending Of the anthracite
coal strike. Speaking for the public
he urged the warning elements TO come
to an agreement that would avert the
threatened calamity of great coal
famine.
The conference between President
Roosevelt the presidents of the rail-
road companies President Mitchell and
the district presidents Of the United
Mine Workers in relation to the strike
situation began about II O'Clock in
the temporary White House.