The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-09
WILLING TO ARBITRATE
ANTHRACITE MINERS MAKE PROP
TO OPERATORS.
VIII Permit Senator Hanna's Commit
tee to Decide Their Case-Mr.
MitcheII's Statement.

SCRANTON. Pa. May s.-To-night the
situation in the threatened miners strike
hangs on answers that are expected TO
come to a proposal of arbitration emanat-
ing from this mornings session of the
miners committee. This proposal was ev-
identity agreed on informally during the
night for it was only forty minutes from
the time the meeting convened until ad-
journment was had.
President Mitchell, at the close of the
session. gave out the following statement:
The executive committees of the anthra-
cite mine workers organization have pro-
posed that all questions at issue between
themselves and the Anthracite mine opera
tors be submitted to an impartial board
of arbitration, such board TO be selected
by the industrial branch of the National
Civic Federation. This proposition has
been sent 10 the operators by wire. The
committees are how awaiting replies
kilograms announcing this action were
sent to the presidents of the nine big coal
carriers and several officers of the Civic
Federation. President Mitchell declined to
make public the full text OF the kilograms.
This afternoon at 1:30 o'clock the commit
tee met again p%ersuant 10 adjournment,
but adjourned inside of half an hour with
out doing anything. The committee will
meet again tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock,
when it is expected President Mitchell will
have received some answer TO the proposal
of arbitration. III the operators have taken
any action on the miners proposition. it
has not been disclosed here. President Nit
chell stated at 9 o'clock tonight that no
answer had been received and that if any
should be received 1t was proposed by him
to say nothing of it until after to-morrow's
committee meeting.
When shown a telegram from New York
TO the effect that the operators had had a
meeting to discuss the arbitration propo-
sltion and that they gave out word ii would
not be agreed TO Mr.. Mitchell said he had
heard nothing of such a meeting and that
he doubted the accuracy of the informa-
ton.
Tonight a telegram was received
through a private source stating that Sena-
tor Hanna had declared unequivocally that
the report that arbitration had been re-
fused by the operators was not true. one
of the kilograms from the miners proposing
arbitration was received by Senator Hanna.
He communicated by wire with the opera
tors as to what they proposed TO do about
the matter and had not received a reply
up to a late hour.
1t is the prevailing opinion here that I'M
less the operators agree to arbitration or
make some counter proposition which will
contain a substantial concession the COM
mittee of miners will declare a strike.
President Nicolls, of the First district, with
a majority of the committee, are in favor
OF striking. National President Mitchell
and District Presidents Duffy and Fahey
are disposed to exhaust every possible pre-
ventive before considering an extreme
step. The offer of arbitration is taken 10
be the final concession of the pro-strike
men to the ants, and IL is believed that
unless the operators come TO the assistance
OF the Mitchell supporters tomorrow a
strike will be declared before nightfall.