The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-11-27
FOR A COMPROMISE
A Surprising Move Before the Strike
Commission.
PROPOSITION FOR A SETTLEMENT.
Now Believed That Satisfactory Ar
rangements Can Be Made Between
the Parties.

Scranton, Pa, Specialize mine
workers, through their representa-
tives, have agreed with the mine own
ers to attempt to adjust the differ
ences existing between them outside
the Coal Strike Commission. The pro-
position was made on a compromise
basis, and negotiations, 1t is expected,
will be at once entered upon, with a
reasonable hope Of settlement without
the aid Of the arbitrators. The rough
proposition. which Is to form the basis
Of negotiations, is a 10 per cent. In
rease in wages, q nine-hour day, and
trade agreements between the miners
and the company by whom they are
employed. The only one Of the four
demands not touched upon is that Of
the weighing of coal by the legal ton.
While both sides haXe expressed their
Willingness to settle their differences
among themselves, it is not to be con-
strued that it carries with 1t the &C
ceptance Of the terms proposed. They
are mentioned only as a basis. it Is
understood, from which a settlement
Is to be effected. 1t is possible that the
proposition can be wrecked by either
party holding out too strongly against
some questions, and thus leave the
whole matter in the hands Of the com
mission. who in the meantime will act
as a sort of a board of Cancellation,
rather than as a board of arbitration.
Few persons were aware that an at
tempt would be made at an outside
settlement until it was practically in
timated by Judge Gray, the chairman
of the commission, who read a care
fully prepared announcement from the
bench. The move, n of the most i'm
portant in the whole history Of the
coal strike, created a mild sensation
when it became known. The surprise
was all the greater when it will be re-
membered that numerous propositions
from the United States down and that
many organizations, from the National
Civic Federation to the small boards
Of trade of the mining towns, failed
to bring the two parties together. 1t
Is said it was all brought about by
both sides seeing that the proceedings
before the committee would be inter-
minable, and in the intermingling Of
the lawyers for both sides the outside
agreement proposition was preached
and taken up
1t cannot be stated which party
made the proposition first. The at
torneys for both sides are adverse to
talking. An attorney for one OF the
railroads said 1t came from the miners
side, while one lawyer for the miners
said it came from the operators. An
other report Of the miners said it was
a Spontaneous" proposition. 1t Is gen.
orally believed, however, that the OPP
orators were the first to make the
proposition. Wayne MacVeagh, who
carried on such a brilliant cross-eX.
animation Of President Mitchell, Is
given credit for bringing abo tuthe
present situation. He went to New
York after he finished with Mr.. Mitch.
ell and had a conference with certain
persons connected with the coal IN.
dustries. among them. it is reported,
]. P%ierpont Morgan. He was in New
York in connection with the matter.
The commissioners were Informed or
the turn of affairs last night. and &C
quiesced in the proposed arrangement.
The situation did not directly come
up in the public hearing today and the
adjournment proposition was made
ostensibly to permit both sides to com.
plete their work Of preparing docu.
mentary evidence.
Clarence S. Darrow. of Chicago, one
Of Mr.. MitchelIs attorneys, brought
the matter out when. near the close
of the days session. he suggested that
the miners be given a little more time
to prepare their evidence. The min
ers wanted to present the due bills or
wage statements of thousands Of
miners running back for several
years, and they found that the task Of
presenting them in a proper manner
was as stupendous n They also
wanted to carefully examine the COM
pany books and this, too, would take
considerable time.