The Elbert County tribune., 1902-10-23
ROOSEVELT AND MITCHELL.
Correspondence in Regard to Arbitra-
tIon by the Commission.

tlon by the Commission.
Washington. Oct 1s.-The following
telegraphic correspondence. consisting
of the letter OF President Roosevelt to
John Mitchell. president OF the United
Mine Workers. and the latter's reply
were made public at the White House
yesterday. The presidents letter is
dated October 10th and says:
II have appointed as commissioners
Brigadier General John NJ. Wilson. Mr..
E w. Parker. Judge George Gray. Mr..
E. e. Clark. Mr.. Thomas Watkins and
hBishop John Spalding, with Hon Car
roll ID. Wright as recorder. These
names are accepted by the operators
and / now most sincerely ask and
urge that the miners likewise accept
the commission. 1t is matter of vital
concern to all our people and especial
ly to those in our great cities who are
least well on, that the mining of coal
should be resumed without days
delay"
Mr.. Mitchell's reply. which is dated
October 10TH is a long document in
which the cause of the miners is
argued and good deal OF exultation
is expressed over the fact that the
coal operators have finally been COM
PEELED to arbitrate. Mr.. Mitchell says
in part:
81 am In receipt of your telegram of
October 10th. Replying thereto / beg
to inform you that your recommenda-
tions were submitted TO the members
of the executive board of districts 1.
and 8, United Mine Workers OF
America. and they have unanimously
4.
be held next Monday and will recon-
mend to the convention that all men
now on strike return to the positions
and working places formerly occupied
by them and submit to the commission
appointed by you all questions at issue
between the operators and mine work
ers 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 re-
cede from the untenable position which
they SO long occupied and to accept a
modified proposition for the arbitration
of the coal strike and to give you full
latitude in the selection of commits
sion"
Abiding to the restrictions made as
to the choice of commission in the
offer the operators, Mr.. Mitchell says:
ITO this proposition. as the operators
made 1t, we were 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 a party to a re-
quest of you to accept this great re-
sponsibility, accompanied by detailed
and impertinent restrictions as to the
manner in which you should meet it;
second. because careful analysis of
their proposition disclosed to us. as it
did to you and the public. that the re-
strictions were too narrow TO enable
you to secure under them a well bal
anced and thoroughly impartial tribu-
nal.
But now that you have yourself re-
moved these objections by broadening
and Strengthening the commission, we
feel confident that our convention Will
declare its willingness to have all ques-
tions between the employing companies
and the 80 per cent of their employees
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 honorable set !
tlement of the strike; efforts which you
continued despite the remarkable spirit |
and conduct which you at first found In
the company managers. We were in n
position to sympathize with you, mas
much as we had long been forced to en-
dure arrogance, insult and false witness
from the same source"