The Indianapolis journal., 1902-10-11
BACK FROM DETROIT.
Mayor Bookwalter Thinks the Confer
euce Accomplished Something.

Mayor Bookwalter Thinks the Confer
ence Accomplished Something.
Mayor Charles A. Bookwalter. John F.
White Frank E. Gavin. John j. Appel. l.
S. Gordon Herman Lieber ST.. Albert Lie
ber, Edgar A. Perkins and Ferd l.. Mayer,
members of the committee Of indianapolis
citizens appointed by Mayor Bookwalter to
attend the conference called by Mayor May
bury, of Detroit, looking toward settle
ment of the anthracite coal strike in Penn
sylvania, returned at noon yesterday All
of the members of the committee were well
pleased with the result of their delibera-
tions with the representatives of other cities
of the country and express the hope that 1t
will result in some good.
Mayor Bookwalter, in speaking OF the con-
ference, said that the only great good COM
ing out of 1t in his mind is the demonstra-
ton by the conference, COMPOSED of rep
resentative men from all over the Union,
and the interests of both capital and Ia
Dor. and also the administrative heads OF
some of the largest cities in the central
States, that the sympathy of most or the
manufacturing communities is with the
strikers. The conference was unit. the
mayor says. in expressing it's disapproba-
tion of the action of the mine owners in re-
fusing to arbitrate the difference with their
employees The cause of the strike, as
known by the men attending the conference.
and the refusal of the mine operators to
submit to arbitration proposed by the Pres
ident. created a sentiment against them
which was clearly defined at the confer
ence, he says.
1.-The most remarkable feature of the con-
ference" said Mr.. Bookwalter. was the
fact that not discordant note was struck
over the relief suggested in the resolutions
adopted. The representatives OF the mu-
inequalities all agreed that the strike should
be terminated quickly, and the necessity
for such a termination is apparent to all
but the operators, who with subbornness
refuse to submit to arbitration or in any
other way try to end the strike.
"A surprising thing to me was the So
cialistic tendency of the conference. Men
who would least be expected to favor gov
proved of 1T and and looked forward to the
time when 1t will be impossible for capital
to tie UP industry, as the mine operators
in Pennsylvania are doing now. Sugges-
tions of compulsory arbitration by state
legislation were numerous, and this was
thought to be the one solution of future
labor difficulties. The United States Con-
stitution does not permit of national legis-
lation on this, but that the several States
should agree on legislation that will make
it impossible for prolonged struggles be-
country, this strike is doing, was the
opinion Of many Of the deep thinking men
at the conference.
1.-The best speech of the conference was
by an Indianapolis man, am glad to say.
Judge Gavin in his talk in support of this
resolution calling on the President to act.
which was favored by the Indianapolis del
egation, spoke eloquently. The resolution
was adopted. after an approval by the COM
mittee on resolutions, of which I was a
member. Mayor Burghoff. of Fort Wayne,
and John c. Nelson. of Logansport, were
the other two Indiana members of the COM
mittee."
Mayor Bookwalter and Mayor Jones, of
Toledo, were members of the committee of
five appointed to draft resolutions to be
sent to the President. Indiana's represen-
tation at the conference was the second
largest, Michigan being larger than Indian
apolis by a few votes, Mr. Bookwalter said
The Indianapolis men were quartered at
the Hotel Cadillac, and although not much
time was given to social engagements in
Detroit, they were warmly welcomed by
the reception committee appointed by
Mayor Maybury.