Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-07

in motion another effort to settle the
strike.
The new plan in substance is:
Instead of a general arbitration COW
ering the entire anthracite region, as
'Has proposed by President Mitchell on
behalf of the miners instead of hav--
ing individual miners take. their dis
Dutes with the coal companies to the
Judges of the common pleas courts, as
WAS proposed by President Baer and
other railway presidents, both sides
Ire to meet upon the following middle
ground, namely:
An arbitration tribunal to be ap-
pointed to settle the questions at issue
between each of the great mining
corporations and it's employees. That
Is to say, one board of arbitrators be-
tween the Reading company and its
employees, another between the Lacka-
wanna and its employees, a third be-
tween the Ontario and Western and
its employees, and so on throughout the
region, including the Coxes the Mar
llles and other prominent independent
operators employing a large number of
men. So
Before each of these boards of arbi--
tration the miners are to appear and
present their claims by such official
representatives as they choose, the
officials of the local unions of the
United Mine Workers being accepta--
BILE in this role.
Both sides are to agree in advance
to abide by the decisions of these
boards of arbitration when rendered,
the men meanwhile returning to work.
And when the decisions are render
led they are to be incorporated in
agreements for one year or a period of
ears, the agreements to be signed by
th e representatives of the coal COM
n anies and the presidents of the local
unions.
Will Urge Settlement.
1-his method of settlement President
Ro osevelt will Immediately urge upon
the managers of the coal companies
and President Mitchell and his asso--
ciat as of the Miners Union. Such was
the decision reached yesterday at an
lmpo rtant conference held at the
White House and participated in by
Presf, lent Roosevelt, Secretary Root
Attorney General Knox, Secretary
Moody Postmaster General Payne and
Labor Commissioner Wright These
gentlen zen were together for three
hours, .,nd they discussed the entire
Iituations
The conclusion which they reached
is regard, I'd as one of the utmost i'm
portance. 1t actually promises t.
bring prat tical results, and among the
Presidents, advisors hope of settle
ment stron ger than it has been at any
time since President Roosevelt took
hold of the problem.
There is a strong reason for the
hope that botll sides will accept the
foregoing plan of arbitration or some
thing framed upon the lines indicated
therein. Since, the adjournment Of
The Joint conference in the White
House on Friday no communications
have been rec eived from either side
of the dispute, no modified proposals
or suggestions. AT the same time it is
true that before the parties to the
great industrial battle at Washington
members of the administration learned
enough of the attitude of the contes-
tants to lead them to believe that there
g ground for reas enable expectation
hat peace may yet be obtained upor
lhe lines of modified arbitration.
Powers of President Defined.
At Sundays conference there was
! long and earnest discussion Of the
lowers of the President. 1t was agreed
hat for the present at least Presiden
Roosevelt should attempt no of1icia
action. He will not now undertake tt
call congress together or send troops
to Pennsylvania. or to bring any Off.
cial influence to bear upon Governo
Stone, though membars of the admin
istration have privately urged the gov
ernor of Pennsylvania to call the leg.
islature in special session Sunday
conference agreed that the relations o
President Roosevelt to iene coal strik
should, for the present at least, b
similar to those which he bears towar
The disaster in Martinique or any sim
ilar public misfortune. He does no
act as President of the United State
in his constitutional or legal function
but as the highest official of the repuh
lie, whose duty 1t often is TO speak O
act for the people by virtue of his of
sica and his moral influence,