The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-10-22
WHAT WILL MINERS DO /?

NIItCAGit NUsI-OUillIiIlLldi anu HC
ceptance Of Operators Plan
Doubtless.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 14.-From a
thorough canvass Of the situation as it
exists tonight there is every indication
for believing that the new arbitration
plan proposed by the presidents Of
| the coal companies for ending the
miners strike will not be accepted in
It's present form. There is a division
of opinion among the strikers. but
there is no doubt that a majority feel
that the offer tp have the president of
the United States select an arbitration
commission along the lines suggested
By the operators is not fair and that
it nnouly limits the president in
making up the board. The miners,
it is safe to say, will abide the advice
of their national president, in whose
Judgment they have the utmost con-
hdence. President Mitchell declines
to say how he personally looks upon
the proposition, but tonight he gave
to the press the following statement:
ST fully appreciate with what ankle
ty the people of our country are await
ing the end of the coal strike. The
coal operators have not addressed, the
miners union or its officers in making
their public statement. It is there
fore impossible for me to state the
attitude of the miners at this time.
am now, as I have always been,
deeply solicitous of the interests Of
the public and the welfare of the mine
workers who have been on strike for
the past I've months. A formal state
ment defining our position and inten-
tions will be issued inst as soon as We
are in possession of the full meaning
of the proposition of the operators.
OPERATORS MAKE A STATE
MENT.
New York, Oct. 14.-President
George F. Baer of the Philadelphia
and Reading railroad arrived here
from Philadelphia today. He said he
had come, to attend the regular weekly
meeting Of the Temple Iron company.
"Do you consider that the PROPOSE
ytion submitted to the president in the
nature of a recession from the stand
taken by the operators?" he was ask
ed.
aI happen to have drawn the pro-
position myself" Mr.. Baer said, "or
at least I had considerable part in
preparing il, and I may state that it
embodies my opinions and views.
Further than that I cannot say any
thing
President Oliphant of the Delaware
and Hudson was asked if the public
would not look upon the proposition
OF the operators as a concession to
the miners.
cit is not concession to the min
ers, ;, he replied. It is concession
to humanity. It is move taken to
relSve the country"
E fEesident Fowler, on being asked
what influences if any induced the
| operators to submit the differences
with their men to arbitration, re-
Piled:
eIt was chiefly due to the pressure
of public opinion, or, rather, you
might say, public necessity. We re-
cognized that the public would suffer
from scarcity of coal if something was
not done soon, and we concluded that
| it would be honorable to overlook in a
measure the rights of the interests
that were present in order that way
| out of serious predictment might be
found. Many of the schools were get.
ting ready to shut down, and still
greater hardships might be suffered. y
One of the men prominent IN coal
circles said today:
"The arbitration proposition now
before President Roosevelt was form
ulated by the men whose names and
interests are appended thereto. It is
| only fair to say that Mr.. Morgan took
an active part in the proceedings and
his suggestions were most valuable.
"The operators realized that matters
had reached the stage where somebody
had to give way. AS men of common
sense they knew that they could not
freeze the American public. Mr.. Nor
gan was frank to say that something
had to be done at once or the hard coal
interests would suffer serious harm.
The force of his argument was gener-
ally recognized.
"We believe we have been more than
fair in our position. Until we know
how it has been received we can say
nothing more. y