The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-17

Mine Workers of America. Wilkes
barre, Pa:
Grigadier General John NJ. Wilson, Mr.
E. w. Parker. Judge George Gray, Mr.
E. E. Clark, Mr.. Thomas Watkins ana
Bishop John Spalding- With Carroll D.
accepted by the operators and [ nov
most earnestly ask and urge that the
miners likewise accept the commission.
1t is a matter of vital concern to all OUR
people and especially to those in oEr
great cities who are least we'll off that
the mining of coal should be resumed
without a days unnecessary delay.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Wilkesbarre Pa, October 16, 1902.
Theodore Roosevelt. President of the
United States, Washington.
Dear Slr:-I am in receipt of your
telegram of October 16, which reads as
follows: Il have appointed as commits
sionerS, Brigadier General John NJ. VIII
son, Mr.. E. W. Parker. Judge George
Gray, Mr.. E. E. Clark. Mr.. Thomas Il
Watkins and Bishop John L. Spalding
with Carroll D. Wright as recorder
These names are. accepted by the opera
tors, and l now naost earnestly ask and
urge that the miners likewise accept
this commission. 1t is a matter of vital
concern to all our people and especially
to those in our great cities who are
least well off that the mining Of coal
should be resumed without a days I'M
necessary delay"
Replying thereto beg to inform you
that your recommendations were sub
mitted to the members OF the executive
boards of districts l. and g. United
Mine Workers of America and they have
unanimously agreed to call delegate
convention to be held next Monday and
will recommend to the convention that
all men now on strike return to the no.
sitions and working places formerly oc-
cupied by them and submit to the com
mission appointed by you all questions
at issue between the operators and
mine workers of the anthracite coal
fields In connection with this subject
we are glad to know that the managers
of the coal companies have decided to
recede from the untenable position
which they so long occupied and accept
a modified proposition for the arbitra-
full latitude in the selection of a COM
mission.
It will be remembered that we pro-
posed on October 3 to place the whole
matter in your hands and to accept a
verdict of a tribunal of your own Selec-
ton. It viii also be remembered that
the company managers at that time
refused to accept the arbitrament of the
president of the United States and pre-
ferred that of the local common pleas
/ judges. We proposed TO leave everything
to you without condition or reservation,
having the utmost faith in your impair
tiality and good judgment.
| In their refusal to accept your arbi-
trament the operators sought to hold
you in part accountable for the very
| conditions which you were irving to
duties concerning them. Eight days
1 later they again appeared before you,
dropping the common pleas judges and
proposing to abide by the verdict of
tribunal appointed by you, but attempt
/ ing to prescribe within fixed and narrow
limits the character and vocation of the
men you were to name. To this DroDo-
sition as the operators made it we are
unalterably opposed: First, because Our
respect for you as a man and our ideas
as to what is due to the dignity of your
office demanded that we should not be
party to a request to you to accept
detailed and impertinent restrictions as
to the manner in which you should
meet it; second, because careful analysis
Of their proposition -discloses to u.s. as
it did to you and the public, that the re-
strictiOns were too narrow to enable you
to secure under them a well balanced
and thoroughly impartial tribunal
But now that you have yourself re-
moved these objections by broadening
and strengthening the commission, we
feel confident that our convention viii
declare it's willingness to have all ques-
1 tiOnS between the employing companies
who are members of our organization
determined by the board of eminent and
| impartial men CHOSEN by you. We feel
grateful to you, Mr.. President for the
patriotic efforts which you have made
to bring about an honOra BILE settlement
of the strike; efforts which you contin-
ued despite the remarkable spirit and
conduct which you at first found in the
company managers.
We were in a position to sympathize
with you, inasmuch as We had long
been forced TO endure arrogance, insult
and false witness from the same source.
Our gratitude is due to you and to the
American people and the press. who
have supported you and US in the long
struggle which we hope is now about TO
clcse. During all these long months
in which our motives have been irl-
pugned and our characters maliciOusiy
assailed, we have refrained from saying
any word or taking any action which
would tend to render reconciliation
duty to defend ourselves against the
ISLANDERS which have been heaoed upon
US and to proclaim that we have from
the first favored practically the method
! which is now employed to break the
deadlock
IF our proffer of arbitration orimpar-
tial invest stigation had been accepted six
months ago instead of now there need
have been no strike. We have been as
eager, Mr.. President, to respond to the
! peoples demand Cor coal that during
the progress of the strike we have more
than once offered arbitration. but we
have invariably met with the reply, I'VE
will not permit outsiders to dictate to
US IN the mana cement OF our own affairs
We have nothing to arbitrate.''
| Now that the managers of the com
panies have been compelled by you and