The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-04
Presidents Conference Proves Failure and Meet ing AdjOurnS With End of Strike No Nearer Than When the Struggle Was Begun.
MITCHELL OFFERS TO LEAVE IT
 TO AN APPOINTED COMMITTEE
Operators Promptly Refuse Mtcheps 0er But Say Thew Will Agree tor Any Individual Miner or Camp to Submit
 Grievance to U. s. Judge and Abide by Result

vice president of the Delaware and Hud- son railroad, representing President Oliphant; John Markle, representing the independent coal operators, and Presi- dent Mitchell of the mine workers union with Thomas Duffy, T. D. Nichols, John Fahey, presidents of districts numbers ', 1 and g of the miners union, being the districts where anthracite coal Is mined. Later Assistant Secretaries Loeb and Barnes, who are stenographers, came into the conference room. The President entered at once on the business in hand by reading a statement which he had carefully prepared, urging a settlement of the strike in the interests of the pulp lie. His manner was exceedingly serious and his voice showed his deep feeling. His statement was as follows:
 Presidents Statement.
 'T wish to call your attention to the fact that there are three parties af- fected by the situation in the anthra- cite trade: the operators, the miners and general public. I speak for neither the operators nor the miners, but for the general public The questions at issue which led to the situation affect imme- diately the parties concerned-the opera tors and the miners; but the situation it. self vitally affects the public. As long as there seemed to be a reasonable hope that these matters could be adjusted be- tween the parties, 1t did not seem proper to me to intervene in any way. I dis claim any right or duty to intervene in this way upon legal grounds or upon any official relation that bear to the situa- ton; but the urgency and the terrible nature of the catastrophe impending over a large portion of our people in the shape of winter fuel famine, impels me, af- ter much anxious thought to believe that my duty requires me to use whatever influence I personally can to bring to an end situation which has become liter ally intuserahle
 T wish to emphasize the character of the situation and to say that its gravity is such that I Aam constrained urgently to insist that each of you realize the heavy burden of responsibility upon him. We are upon the threshold of winter, with an already existing coal famine the future terrors of which we can hardly yet appreciate. The evil possibilities are so far-reaching, so appalling that 1t seems to me that you are not only justi- fled in sinking, but required to sink, for the time being, and tenacity as to your respective claims In the matter at issue between you. In my judgment the sit- uation imperatively requires that you meet upon the common plane of the ne- cessities of the public. With all the
 
 that there be an immediate resumption of operations in the coal mines in some such way as will without a days un- necessary delay, meet the crying needs of the people. I do not invite a discus sion of your respective claims and posi- tions. l appeal to your patriotism, to the spirit that sinks personal considera- tions and makes individual sacrifices for the general good.''
 Almost immediately after the Presi- dent had closed MT. Mitchell arose and on behalf of the miners offered to sub init the differences to arbitration, saying:
 Mitchell Speaks.
 MT. President, I am much impressed with what you say. I am much in- pressed with the gravity of the situation. We feel that we are not responsible for this terrible state of affairs We are willing to meet the gentlemen represent ing the coal operators to try to adjust our differences among ourselves If we cannot adjust them that way MT Pres ident, we are willing that you shall name a tribunal who shall determine the is- sues that have resulted in the strike, and if the gentlemen representing the oper- ators will accept the award or decision of such a tribunal, the miners will will lingly accept 1t, even If it is against their claims"
 The operators looked surprised, but be- fore any reply could be made President Roosevelt said he desired that both parties take the matter under considera- tion and meet him again at clock. The first session of the conference has lasted less than fifteen minutes. The operators were driven to their private cars in the railroad yards and Mir Mitch ell and his party returned to their hotel. Both parties immediately set to work to prepare statements in reply to the Presi- dents suggestions.
 The operators decided to make separate responses, but before doing so, had a dis cussion of the general tenor of the state ments they would make. It is understood that President Baer communicated his statement to parties in New York over the long distance phone before reading it to the President. There was only ons stenographer on the special train. and the time consumed in dictating and pre- pairing the statements caused three of the operators to be fifteen minutes late for the afternoon session of the conference. All the other parties to it were on hand at o'clock. At 3:15 he afternoon proceed ings began, President Baer of the Read ing opening them with a statement set ting forth the views of those he repre- sented. He was followed by President Mitchell of the miners union. Then MT. Thomas of the Erie followed and was succeeded by Messrs Markle. an inde- pendent mire operator, and Messrs Truesdale. Wilcox and Fowler of the Lackawanna, Delaware and Hudson and Ontario an4 Western railroads respec- lively.
 A tinge of the dramatic was given to the proceedings by MT. Markle. who in addition to the prepared statement told the President that he wanted to present the case in another light, and as FIX hibit A he handed the President copy of an illustrated paper, with a cartoon showing non-unio1 miner being abused by the union miners ana prevented from gong to work. with justice bound and powerless. It was laid on the table with other papers the President making no comment.
 Some Informal Talk.
 At the conclusion of the statements there was considerable, general and what