The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-05


we cannot satisfactorily adjust any grew
ances with cur own employees IL shall be re-
ferred to the judges OF the Court OF Com
mon Pleas of the district in which the col
liery is situated for final determination
This certainly provides a tribunal which
affords the miners every possible protec-
ton. but we cannot be expected to turn
interests OF such large number or people
over to the control of an irresponsible and
Illegal association, and place the lives ana
property of our loyal employees at their
mercy. Our offer affords every opportuni-
ty for fair and liberal treatment, and pro-
vides appeal to an, impartial tribunal free
from the influences of the bltumlnous coal
combination Our forces of men are in
creasing, and We produced yesterday over
four thousand tons of COAL.
President Truesdale, of the Lackawanna
road, had nothing to add to the statement
submitted by him to the President at Wash
ington yesterday He believed. he said,
that ii was not the intention OF the authori-
ties TO call out the federal troops.
President Fowler, of the New York, On
tario & Western road, said:
lit is not unlikely that the public may
jump to the conclusion that Mr.. Mitchell
offered to resume operations Immediately
in order that the suffering public might be
relieved at once. think ii worth while to
call attention to the fact that Mitchell Of
fered at yesterdays conference TO make an
agreement for not less than year, or
more than five years, as may be mutually
determined
here is this: Mitchell cannot order an imme-
date resumption of work because the by
laws of the United Mine Workers declare
that such proposition must first be sub
mitted to a convention of its delegates.
That cannot be done in less than two
weeks time That much notice, / am told,
is called for in the bylaws.
1.-The public will observe that there Is
great difference between resuming work inn
mediately and resuming work at the end or
two weeks. In word. Mitchelfs propo-
- Il 4N hNxrr 60
the operators know that Mitchell can con-
troll his men? Didn't they go back on him
at Hazieton two years ago. when he ordered
them not to strike? The trouble is that
there are two sides to this fight-the re-
sponsible side and the irresponsible one.
The operators stand for something; the
miners are in a position to draw out OF
any agreement their leaders may make. 1t
is practically impossible to make a bind
ing agreement with Mitchell.
David Wilcox, vice president of the Della
ware & Hudson Railroad, emphatically de-
MED that the operators ever had said there
was nothing to arbitrate, and he explained
what he meant by citing the Debs case
at the conference with the President In
Washington yesterday.
The coal operators" said Mr.. Wilcox,
made II entirely plain that they were
using every effort to produce coal; that II
full authorities the production would in
crease very rapidly, and that the Obstruc-
ton Of such production was due to the
Workers, whose representatives were pres
ent.
''Still further. 1t is constantly asserted
that the operators have said that there
was nothing to arbitrate. This statement
is absolutely without foundation. as the
operators have never said anything of the
SORT On the contrary, in the conference
yesterday the operators made a suggestion
looking to arbitration of future difficulties
which would be entirely just and prac-
ticable. This was that IL the men would
return to work in case there should be any
grievances at any colliery and the en-
ployer and employees should be unable to
agree in reference to them, the difference
should be settled by the judges of the
which the colliery is located. This would
place the ultimate decision Of any such
differences in the hands Of lawfully con-
stituted officials elected by the people and
knowledge of the facts The operators
offered to embody this provision in con-
tract form if desired. 1t was, in fact, an
offer by the operators to submit to compul-
sory arbitration.
Mr.. Mitchell has repeatedly said that
he did not insist on recognition Of the
Mine Workers Association. Notwithstand-
Ing this offer OF compulsory arbitration
was Immediately and fatty declined by him
on behalf or the mine workers. although
this would secure everything asked except
recognition of the union.
THE attention Of the President and at
torney general was directed to the fact that
body which seeks to control the supply and
production of all the coal Of the country,
both anthracite and bituminous, and of the
labor employed therein; that this is COM
bination and monopoly of interstate COM
merce under the meaning of the federal
antitrust act. as has been held in numer-
Gus cases; that the precedent of the Debs
case covers this association exactly, and
that the Circuit Court of the United States
has held that this identical mine workers
association exists for Illegal purposes and
naLs rsel1
1t was suggested that If the course were
adopted that was pursued in the Debs case,
and was so effective In quelling the Chicago
riots, the present strike could be ended
next week. That course would be for the
United States to file a bill in equity against
this illegal combination and obtain a pre-
liminary injunction, which would be grant
ed at once, because the Circuit Court has
already passed on the question OF Legality.
In case that Injunction should be disre-
garded and the process OF the court dehed
the federal troops could be use, If neces-
sary, to enforce obedience thereto. 1t Is
expected, however, most unlikely that any
thing or the sort would be necessary, for,
no doubt, such an injunction would be
obeyed. The President and attorney gen.
eral were strongly urged to follow the
precedent in this case which was set by
their predecessors, President Cleveland
and Attorney General Olney. The lawful
ness of their action was fully sustained by
all the courts
Mr.. Fowler was asked about the report
vania provided that directors of coal-car-
rying roads and of coal-mining companies
should not be the same persons. He said
that that law did not affect the situation
as far as his companies Were concerned, as
the road simply carried the coal after it
was mined, and that the companies that
mined 1t turned the coal mined over to
them to carry for them, and because, fur
Their, the operators in the mining companies
were not directors in the road
At the offices of j. Pierpont Morgan & Co.
SfatamQnf tO-daV
Steele, of the firm:
1T was learned that the international
Mercantile Marine Company has arranged
to purchase in England SO. 600 tons of the
best domestic fuel coal for immediate trans
portation TO this country. Shipments OF the
coal Will begin at once and be hurried for
ward as rapidly as possible, even at the sac
rifice OF the companys ordinary business,
Il that should be found necessary. This
coal, we'll more If required, will be
used to relieve any suffering or scarcity
that may exist among the poor or in the
public institutions"
John Markle, the Independent operator
who was present at yesterdays conference
with President Roosevelt, spent some time
in conference with j. p. Morgan to-day.
Mr. Markle said:
did not know the situation of affairs in
the anthracite coal field when he invited
us to the conference that took place yes
terday. L believe that he will take
the necessary steps TO fully acquaint him.
self with the situation.
Il absolutely convinced, from opir-
ions of eminent lawyers. that the state
ment made by Mr.. Wilcox OF the right OF
the President to act in the matter is sound.
i have no heSitancy in saying that when
the President realizes that he has power
TO act he will take such measures as are
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