New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-10
PRESIDENT AND STRIKE.
MITCHELL'S REFUSAL MADE PUBLIC
COMMISSION MAY BE APPOINTED.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rmBuSE.I

lBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington, Oct 9-President Roosevelt this
morning made public Mr.. Mitchelrs reply 10 his
letter requesting the anthracite coal miners 10
return to work ca his assurance that he would
appoint a commission to investigate the differ
ences between the mine operators and the
strikers. As had been expected Mr.. Mitchell
declined the proposition. His letter is as fol-
lows
non. Theodore Roosevelt President u me
United States. Washington, ID. &.
Dear Sir Hon. Carroll D. Wright has no
message 10 me last NnndaY and nv statement
TO him that should take your suggestion under
adEisement, although ] did not look upon y
win favor Since that time I have consulted
win our district presidents. who concur iul'S
in my views.
We desire to assure you again that We feel
keenly the responsibility Of our position ana me
gravity of the situation. and il would give Us
great pleasure TO take any action which would
bring this coal strike 70 end in a manner
that would safeguard the interests Of our con-
stituents.
In proposing that there be an immediate re-
sumption Of coal mining upon the conditions
we suggested in the conference AT the " hlte
House We believed that we had gone more than
half way and had met your wishes II is un-
necessary in this letter TO refer TO the malicious
assault made upon as in the response OF -,
coal operators We feel confident that you must
have been impressed with the fairness o. our
proposition and the insincerity Of those VINO
maligned us
Having in mind our experience with the coal
operators in the past we have no reason u
feel any degree Of confidence in their Wlllin6-
ness 10 do us justice i'm the future, ana. mas
much as they have refused 10 accept the ue-
ctsion Of tribunal selected by YOU ana mas
much as there Is no law through MAlCh 80
could enforce the findings II the commission YOU
suggest, We respectfully decline TO advise "uI
people 10 return 10 work simply upon thr ..'l.
that the coal operators might be induced or
forced 10 comply with the recommendation 81
your commission
A. FaFa nh I.Hfo
more than half way in our proposal Al WASH
ington. and We do not feel that We should ne
asked 10 make further sacrifice.
We appreciate your solicitude for The Peol.e
of our country, who are now and viii he SUI
jected TO great suffering and Inconvenience ny
prolongation Of the coal strike, and We feel lhat
the ouus Of this terrible state 81 affairs Shouid
he placed upon the side which has refused 70
defer TO fair and impartial Investigation, ! am
respectfully JOHN MlIthELl.
President L. n. W Of \
No statement has been made AT the White
House to-day ss 20 the Presidents plans for
further action In regard - the coal strike II
is believed that ne will await developments Tor
a day or two. II the strike can he settled as
result Of the conferences in which Mr.. Mitchell
took part in NeW-York last night and to-day
there viii be no reason for further action 10y
President Roosevelt II nothing should come or
these conferences the President will take further
action. There does not seem 20 be much that he
can 90 ny QedllnE WIN elihti INV hliiit
or the strikers. but " the strike is not settled
soon he viii proba blv appoint the commission
which he contemplated when he sent his propo-
sition 20 Mr. Mitchell. The personnel OF the
commission viii command respect and make It's
report exert a moral influence which may serve
as a basis for a permanent settlement II Is be-
iieved that Carroll II. Wright, the Commissioner
az Labor. viii he one OF the members MI
Wright has been in Worcester. Mass, for some
DAYS, having gone there 10 be installed as presl-
dent OF Clark University. The President has
asked him 10 return To Washington, ana ne -
expected here tomorrow
Secretary Root and Attorney General Knox
were IN conference with President Roosevelt this
afternoon. when they left the White House
they had nothing 10 say that would throw iiEht
ON the coal strike situation.
President GOmpers Of the American Federation
Of la Dor was in communication with Mr.. Mitch
eli to-day by long distance telephone, hut would
say nothing about the subject or their c0n-
Nersation. The executive committee OF the Fed
Grafton Of Labor. which is n session here, viii
proba bly, issue an appeal to the public to-nor-
asking for financial assistance Tor the
sir