The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-09-11
NOT WILLING TO ARBITRATE
STATEMENT BY HEAD OF THE
 MARKLE COMPANY.
VIII Make No Settlement of the Strike in Any way-Grievances of the Com cern Against the Miners Reviewed. Mitchell BIamed-seitlement of the 1900 strike Caused the sprInging Up of Every Sort of n Union.

New York, Sept. 10.-John Markle, the head of the firm of G. B. Markle & Co.,, the largest of the individual coal operators in the anthracite field, to-day made a statement respecting the pro- posed arbitration between the employ CTS and the employees.
 There will be no arbitration" said MT. Markle, and no settlement of the coal strike in any way. We have not forgotten our experiences on former occasion. There had been in existence from 1885 an agreement with the men in our employ providing for the settle ment, in an amicable way, of all differ ences that arose by arbitration, This was the result of local strike lasting three months in 1885. In 1887, notwith- standing the existence of this contract for arbitration, the men deliberately broke their agreement and went on strike which lasted six months Yet we re-esta blished the arbitration agree ment after it was over and went on. In 1897 there was a widespread strike in the Lehigh region, but our men stood by their agreement and never lost a Ndy , Wul h.
 "In 1900 John Mitchell appeared and began a campaign on our property. Our employees presented list of grievances, and I replied to them and suggested that if our answers were not satisfac- tory they could demand arbitration un- der the existing agreement. MT, Mitch ell distinctly opposed any arbitration, asserting that we were insincere. Rev. Father Phillips, well known priest of Hazleton, of his own volition, urged the men to abide by their compact, and suggested Archbishop Ryan. of Phila- delphia, as the third arbitrator. MT. Mitchell opposed all of this, claiming that it was bluff A meeting of our employees was held, to which Mitchell came unsolicited and made a speech. He asked me publicly if I would abide by the arbitrators' verdict, and when said we would he turned to the audi ence and pleaded with them, neverthe- less, to go upon a strike. Father Phil lips and I followed him, urging the men to stand by their agreement for arbit- ration, and the men refused to follow Mitchell's lead. Then came round of threats, intimidation and violence AL most daily rioting parties of several hundred men appeared on our property, led by Mitchell's lieutenants, in the vain effort to compel our men to break their agreement. They inaugurated a reign of terror which finally resulted in the employees breaking their compact and throwing the projected arbitration to the winds.
 -"The Hon. Marcus A. Hanna came into the dispute and secured some con- sessions. The strike ended and 1t was 1leralded as a triumph for Mitchell Work was resumed under these condi- tions on October 29, 1900. The result has been the establishment of every . kind of trades union in the coal dis trict. From that time on there have been innunerable strikes. Mitchell has become 8 demi-god and alone is obeyed so that all ordinary and usual means of discipline are practically disregard ed.
 with this history before us I am sure no reasonable man will ask us to engage in any arbitration with MT, Mitchell or his immediate followers"