New-York tribune., 1902-10-14
MITCHELL CAN END 1T.
BELIEF THAT HE WILL ACCEPT THE
COAL OPERATORS OFFER.
IBY TgLEGRAFF To THE TRIBUNE. J

tOAL OPERATORS OFFER.
IBY TgLEGRAPH THE TRIBuxEI
Washington. Oct 13-John Mitchell presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers of America
can settle the strike Of the miners in the an
thracite region by word. All that is neces-
sary is for him to agree to the proposition sub
mitted to President Roosevelt tonight by j. P
Morgan.
That Mr.. Mitchell viii accept. is confidently
expected by the President Mr.. Morgan's prop
ostion is that commission, 10 be appointed by
the President Of the United States shall con-
slider all questions at issue between the re-
spective companies and their employees.
whether they belong TO the union or not, and
that the decision Of the commission shall be
accepted as final He further proposes that as
soon as this commission shall have been ap-
pointed the miners shall return to work in the
mines and that the commission shall fix the
date when its findings shall become effective.
Tais proposition IL somewhat different from
the plan Of arbitration submitted by Mr.. Mitchell
az the first White House conference. in that II
does not provide for the recognition OF the
union It carefully avoids this by providing
that the questions at issue between the respec-
tive companies and their own employees shall
be the subjects of arbitration. The strike lead
ers have up to this time. insisted upon the
recognition OF the union as a necessary pre-
liminary TO any settlement. by arbitration or
otherwise. The President believes, however. in
asmuch as the operators have yielded
far as to offer 10 submit the questions at issue
to a board of arbitration. to be selected by him.
that Mr. Mitchell will doubtless waive the dis
tinct recognition OF the union preliminary
to the agreement TO arbitration, especially as
the question OF the recognition of the union is
one Of the questions at issue and under the
terms of Mr. Morgan's proposition this question
is not excluded from consideration by the ar
bitrators. If Mr. Mitchell and the other strike
leaders will agree to this the mines can start
at once ard there is an end of the coal famine
The action of Mr. Morgan is a direct outcome
Of the conference which Secretary Of War Root
had with him on board his yacht IN the North
River last Saturday. and Of the conferences
which he has since had with the coal operators.
The terms Of the statement were finally agreed
upon and 1t was accepted by the presidents Of
the operating companies in New-York to-day.
AS soon as possible after it had been signed Mr..
Morgan. accompanied by his partner, Mr.. Bacon,
boarded a special train over the Baltimore and
Ohio Railway for Washington. They arrived in
Washington al $50 to-right. and were driven to
the Arlington Hotel Fifteen minutes later, ac-
companied by Secretary Root. they walked 20
the Presidents temporary residence. In Lafay-
cite Square They were Immediately shown up
stairs into the Cabinet room. where the Presi-
dent was waiting for them. The conference
lasted until f1:5O. when MIR. Morgan. Mr.. Bacon
and Secretary Root returned TO the Arlington
Hotel They would say nothing except that an
official statement would be issued by Secretary
CorteIyou. The statement was issued an hour
later
Though the consent Of the miners is still lack
ing to make the proposition of the operators
effective this is so confidently expected that the
strike is regarded as settled
The time spent by Mr.. Morgan and Mr.. Bacon
with the President and Secretary Root was
much more than necessary for the reading of
Mr.. Morgan's proposal. and it was devoted to
discussion of the situation in all its bearings.
II was made clear 10 the President that the
operators only yielded because TO hold out
longer would netail great hardship and suffer-
ing on many people. He assured that If
the miners would accept the proposed plan of
arbitration the mining of coal would be begun
without any delay and the IA nine would
be speedily relieved
II the miners consent TO the proposal of Mr.
Morgan the President will lose no time in nam
ing the commission. He has already had the
personneI OF such a commission under considera-
ton and it's membership will be such as to
command the respect OF the public
$50 MILES IN 20 HOURS