New-York tribune., 1902-10-09
THE PRESIDENT WAITING.
NuTCHELL's REPLY NOT YET RECEIVED
VIEWS OF GOVERNOR
STONES ACTION.
fnY TrrrGRAPH 10 THE rRIBUNE.I

fBY TELEGRAPH TIE TRIBUSE.l
Washington oct. S-President Roosevelt is
waiting for the reply Of Mr. Mitchell. president
Of TIE United Mine Workers OF America. TO his
proposition that the strikers in the anthracite
region should return TO work and trust TO the
settlement Of their differences with the opera
tors as the result Of an investigation by a COM
mission Mr. MitchelTs letter had not been
ceived al a late hour tonight. and Secretary
Cortelyou expects that IL will be in the morning
mail
Nothing is known al the White House as 10
the contents Of Mr. Mitchers letter OF reply be-
yond the statements in press dispatches from
Wukesbarre. which indicate that il IS unfa-
vo-able The President has given less attention
TO the strike situation to-day than on any other
day since he took up the task Of trying to settle
IT, He has not decided on plan of further
ton in the event of an unfavorable reply from
Mr. Mitchell II has been suggested. however
by officials OF the administration that he might
appoint a commission to investigate the strike
independent Of any agreement in advance by
either the strikers the operators to abide by
its conclusions He would doubtless name a COM
mission which would command the confidence
Of tb. country and II either side TO the contro-
yersv should refuse to accept its conclusions 1t
would be condemned by public opinion
Since Governor Stone followed the Presidents
the entire National Guard Of Pennsylvania there
has been little hope of a favorable reply from
Mr. Mitchell. II is felt by some officials Of the
administration that Governor Stone chose an in
orportune time for calling out the guard and
while they do not say that the Governor took the
action ne did Just al that time with view TO
increasing the difficulties with which the Presl-
dent was cOntending in his efforts to settle the
strike. they have little doubt that II has had
thar effect. Had the Governor abstained from
calling out additional soldiers until after Mr
Mitchell had replied 10 the Presidents PROPOSE
tiou. they argue that the situation might have
been somewhat different. The strikers contend
that if they should go back 10 work they would
have the appearance Of yielding 10 a show OF
force by the Governor Of Pennsylvania and not
Of yielding 10 the appeal from the President OF
the United states that they return TO work, re-
Heve the coal famine and trust 10 having their
differences with the operators settled later. But
for Governor stones action Mr. Mitchell and his
followers would have had 70 decide the simple
question Of whether they would show them
selves worthy Of the good opinion which the
President and many Of the people Of the United
States formed Of them as a result Of their dig
ni6Ad and conservative action in the White
House conference n they had refused to ao-
cept the Presidents proposition they would
have lost most 81 the sympathy which they now
have and IL they had accepted II they would
have been universally applauded. II they refuse
now they can hase their refusal on the ground
that they cannot afford 20 bs put in the atu-
tude ~ yielding 10 force. and IN this position
they may be supported by many who would
have condemned them for rejecting the Presi-
dents offer 10y itself
Information received IN Washington M n TO
night is not believed 10 indicate that large mum
bers Of the miners are taking advantage % the
protection Of the troops 10 return to work. II
is prohabIe that not sufficient time has YET [
Ella nse5 70 make the fun effect OF Governor /
Stones action apparent, hut L. AZ aays 20 %,
few ef the men return 20 Inc mines. u VIII De |
taken as indicating the trIltN Of Mr- Mtchells : |
contention that the men are not restrained from /
going 10 work by fear ~ violence The power |
which Mr. Mitchell exerts over the strikers IS /
now being put % an extreme test II Is he /
lieved that n he can. the one hand. prevent /
weak -krfed strikers from returning 10 work j
under the protection ~ the militia. ana. on tnr |
other hand can prevent his more extreme FOL /
lowers from committing unlawful acts and pro /
voking conflicts with the soldiers, the chances I
for his winning the strike VIII be much IN /
creased H. however. many ~ the men go back. I
or II q conflict between the strikers and the /
soldiers should occur Il is believed that II would /
mean speedy defeat fer him and his followers.
Secretary Root was IN conference with the /
President more than two hours tonight, and /
amount Of attention. President Butler of /
Columbia University, New-Nork. also called. but /
declined 10 state the object of his visit Early I'm
the evening Attorney General Knox was at the /
White House half an hour.