The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-07

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 Wilkesbarre, Pa, october 6.-Presiden John Mitchell of the United Mine Work CTS of America slipped out of town before dawn this morning for Philadelphia where he meet Carroll D. Wright United States commmisisoner of labor who is President Roosevelts personal represen tative on matters pertaining to the an thracite coal strike. MT Mitchell return ed here tonight unaccompanied and un announced and made the simple state ment that he had met the labor commis- sioner He refused absolutely to discuss his visit to Philadelphia declining tC say where in Philadelphia he met MT Wright or what passed between them Subsequently, he informed a representa- tive of the Associated Press that he sav other gentlemen while there but declined to disclose their identity.
 On the strength that MT. Wright | close to President Roosevelt there is general impression here that the com missioner carried a message from tn chief executive to MT. Mitchell A rumo which cannot be verified is in circulation there tonight that President Roosevel has appealed to MT Mitchell to end tn strike in the cause of humanity. Ther' is no one here in Mir Mitchells confidence except his three district presidents an' it Is doubtful if they knew that he was il Philadelphia until they arrived here dur ing the day and found him absent.
 Interest Is Intense.
 Interest in MT Mitchells mysterious trip was intense all day and evening about headouarters. All the local dis trict leaders called and scores of mine workers were in evidence. All were oi the belief that some sort of move Is contemplated Immediately on the return of the strike leader tonight he was pe- sieged but he refused to see any one un' til after he had his supper. He granted the newspaper correspondents brief in- terview, simply telling them he met MT Wright and then he and the district pres idents went into conference
 The conference between MT. Mitchell and his district presidents continued un- til 11:15 D. m., and at 1:9O o'clock hve minutes before the national president le1' for Buffalo, he gave to the press the fol lowing statement, which was hurriedly prepared after he returned from Phila- delphia tonight
 Mtchell's Statement.
 ''Wilkesbarre, Pa, October G. ''To District Secretaries and All Mine
 Workers in the Anthracite Field:
 You have, no doubt, read in the daily papers the proceedings of the conference at the White House last Friday. in which your officers proposed an immediate re- sumption of work If the operators would agree with us to refer the duestions at issue in the strike to the decision of the President of the United States and a tribunal named by him. You have noted the reply of the presidents of the coal carrying roads, in which they responded to our overtures by dnouncing your lnion, its members ond officers in the most ve-
  They also declared that large majority of the strikers would return to work If given military protection, and they de- manded that the President send United States troops to the coal fields.
 .'In order to demonstrate to the people of our country that the statements of the operators are unfounded and that the mine workers are law abiding citizens, the officers of all local unions should call mass meetings of all men on strike, union and non-unione. such meetings to be held in each mining town at ? o'clock Wednes day afternoon, October 8. We know that the mine workers are not restrained from going to work by fear of bodily harm {; and If this Is the sentiment prevailing at the meetings, resolutions should be adopted emphatically declaring tthe state ments of the operators to be untrue.
 Denounces LaWfessness.
 I've also advise that acts of lawless- ness by the coal and iron police and by strikers be denounced and the services of members of the union rendered the local authorities to preserve law and order.
 Great care should be exercised that those on strike do not permit themselves to be provoked by the coal and iron police into the commission of overt acts. The operators, failing to break the strike and deprive you of your well earned victory, are now attempting to array public senti- ment against you by making false claims that a reign of terror exists in the coal fields. Be steadfast and true while this struggle for living wages and American conditions of employment is going on and we have no hesitancy in saying that vic- tory will be achieved in the not distant