Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-10-14

Absolute and complete failure to settle
the great anthracite coal strike met the
efforts of President Roosevelt Friday,
and when two stormy conferences. held
at the White House in Washington
we're concluded The solution of the labor
fight seemed further off than ever
President Mitchell. representing the
striking miners. offered to submit the en-
tire question to board of arbitrators
appointed by the President, who was ask
ell to be memller of the board, and to
abide by its decision, even if every point
should be decided against the miners.
The coal presidents summary and
with some bitterness rejected the proffer
of peace, demanded of the President thar
he suppress anarchy in the coal regions,
and declared they never would treat with
Mitchell.
Summary of the Conference.
The rock upon Which the conference
split was recognition of the miners
union. The President urged the contend
ing parties to cease strife in the interests
of the public welfare. The miners,
through the president of their union, ex-
pressed willingness TO submit differ
ences to arbitration IF tribunal to be
uamed by the President and to enter into
an agreement to abide by terms fixed by
the arbitration for period of from one
to FIVE years: and the employers. through
the presidents of the railroad and coal
companies and leading ind, ,,cndent
a.
ton. denounced the miners labor organ
ization as lawless aud anarchistic body
with which they could and would have
no dealings, demanded federal troops to
insure complete protection to workers and
their families in the mining region and
court proceedings against the miners
union, and offered if the men returned
to work, to submit grievances at indi-
Vidual collieries to the decision of the
judges of the Court of Common Pleas for
the district of Pennsylvania, in which
the colliery was located.
The President asked Mr.. Mitchell if he
would agree to submit the questions TO
these courts, and he said No"
Forcible Language Used.
The final session was stormy one.
1IeSluenI iNooSeNelt Ntiu not lOph AiNl
favor upon the attitude Of the coal presi-
dents and did not hesitate to say so in
the forceful manner so characteristic Of
him. President Mitchell resented the
attacks upon the men he represented, and
the coal presidents then elaborated and
REINFORCED the charges made in their
statement.
Every one spoke right out in meet
ing" sdid one of the officials, "and il re-
minded me Of the Senate chamber during
a bitter debate. Every one was so much
in earnest he did not realize how vigorous
was the language used"
From the time the afternoon confer
ence opened until shortly after o'clock
this heated argument continued. At the
beginning the labor representatives and
the President We're in cOnciliatory
mood, but the coal presidents evidently
did not intend to yield an inch, and threw
down the gauntlet by making a scathing
attack on the miners.
Mr.. Mitchell made most favorable
impression. He was cool calm, self-con-
tanned, and. during the insinuations made
against him by tile coal presidents, lie
was earnest and forcefu in the presenta-
ton of the miners side of the eontrQ-
versy and resented with dignity the at
tacks made upon him. He was the
spokesman for the miners, and his three
colleagues, who were present by courtesy,
did not open their lips.
The coal presidents were excited, even
after the conference adjourned When
they arrived they were smiling ana con-
fident, but upon leaving their faces were
flushed and their i'll hunior was apparent.
On leaving the mansion, they passed
through a lane of humanity, plentflilly
kprinkled with newspaper men, who fired
q volIey Of questions al them. They de-
rlined to answer, and would not Indicate
n any conclusion had been reached.