The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-18
A RINGING DEFENSE
,urcBELL's BOLD WORDS IN BE-
HALF OF HIS MEN:
PEOPLES VOICE PREVAILED.
OPERATORS COMPELLED TO LISTEN
TO PUBLIC DEMAND.


cessions Extorted From Operators
. victory for American Principles.
operators Arrogant PretensiOns
Rebuked and Forgiven in Same
1reath-AppeaI for Mutual Good
Will in Operation of Mines-COnfi-
deuce in Tribunal Expressed.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-THE response
nf John Mitchell, president of the
United Mine Workers, to President
Roosevelt's notification that he had ap-
pointed commission, was made public
to-day. 1t informs him of the action
of the executive board of districts 1,
and in calling a convention and
agreeing to recommend unanimously
the resumption of work and the sub
mission of the differences between the
operators and the mine workers of the
anthracite coal fields to the commits
sion.
The reply expresses confidence that
the convention will agree to the arbi-
tration of the eminent and impartial
men" chosen by the President and ex-
presses gratitude to the President for
his patriotic efforts to bring about an
honora BILE settlement of the strike. The
reply goes at length into the griev
ances of the miners and concludes with
tie expression of the hope and belief
that from this arbitration will come a
complete, satisfactory and permanent
solution of the troubles which have
vexed the anthracite field for time i'm
memorial
Concern to All the People.
The President in his telegram to Mr..
Mitchell announced the appointment of
tie commission and said:
1T is q matter of vital concern to all
our people. and especially TO those in
our great cities who are least we'll off
that the mining of coal should be re-
sumed without a days unnecessary de-
lay"
Mr.. Mitchell's reply recounts the eff
forts of the miners organization to Sc
cure arbitration and goes into a de-
Tense of the union and it's demands,
saying:
IF our proffer of arbitration or inn
partial Investigation had been accepted
six ruOrti5s Eyo instead of now there
need have been no strike. We have
been so eager. Mr.. President, to re-
spond to the peoples demand for coal
that during the progress of the strike
we have more than once offered arbi-
tration, but we have invariably been
met with the reply We will not per-
nit outsiders TO dictate to US in the
arrangement of our affairs. We have
nothing to arbitrate.'
Victory Tor American PRINCIPLES
Now that the managers of the COM
panies have been compelled by you and
a thoroughly aroused public conscience
TO recede from this position, we are
proud that the firmness and the he
roic endurance of our men and women
in support of their rights and of vital
American principle have won the vic
tory.
The poor, underpaid mine workers
OF these coal regions, who toll hard
from early morning until late at night
1or a livelihood, nobly supported by
organized labor in this and other lands
nave taught these corporation mana
gers useful lesson in civic and So
clal duty. We exult over this tribute
10 the dignity of labor because it is
the triumph of right and of good public
policy.
We do not. however, exult over our
compromise; we appeal to them now,
as We have from the first, to turn
thelr eyes to the future and to CO.
operate with us in an effort to estab-
Hsh better relations between employer
ana employe for the advantage of both
Forgive Operators Arrogance.
We forgive them their arrogant re-
lusal to deal with us, and in this hour
When they are forced to acknowledge
tneir inability to operate their mines
"ltnout our consent and co-opera ton,
INA ,,s<~
snip and ask them to joint with us in
securing amicable relations and whole
SoIhe conditions in this region. We for
6lve tnem even the false accusations
winch men they have made against us.
4. Inc pretense of the operators that
tney were unable to produce coal be-.
Uause intimidation kept from work
men who were willing to work, has
peen proven false by the fact that the
protection which they demanded has
decreased rather than increased the
number of men mining coal
me operators declared that they
fToulu nave nothing to do with the
.ILnlteo Mine Workers of America, but
ehey nave found it necessary to rec
TVSHlZe the power of the United Mine
norkers of America, through you, Mr.
-iesloent, and seek terms of peace
S%nlch Will enable them to resume their
BUSINESS BUSINESS of mining and selling coal
me me recognition of our strength thus
.oIced upon the operators by stern ne
Sesslty we exult over, not in any mar
low spirit, but because we believe it
marks a forward step toward new
"a d' Upon the foundations laid
through war we are ready to join with
uem In building for better conditions
Tn1 a long and lasting peace. The
Stnlted Mine Workers of America,
since its organization in the anthra-
ie neld, has constantly sought to es-
tablsh:
The Demands of the Miners.
First. Fair wages and just condi-
ms MS OF labor. conditions just both to
Operators and miners. We have never
h.e demands beyond the ability of
sT. industry to pay on a basis of equit-
ana division of profits between labor
second. Amicable relations between
tnnpioyers and employees, the latter
snG Ding through their organization
nsu, their organization aiding the COM
ines IN maintaining discipline, adj
me- all difficulties by cenciliatory
hctnlous' averting local strikes and
factuIs and securing stable and salts
Org conditions to the industry. Our
WITT ton by the same methods
cure5 we have proposed here has Sc
|. resnIts Just such relations and just such
the ~. IN the bituminous coal fields of
divid,,uuin ny. Organization, like an in
dons must stand upon what it has
vte alu the life 1t has lived. We in
10 ecTuUny and ipveatfo a ffor1 0f orr