Richmond planet., 1902-10-11
FAILED TO
END STRIKE
Coal Conference With President
Unsuccessful.
STRUGGLE WILL CONTINUE
Recognition Of Union Proved the
Stumbling Block.
FEDERAL TROOPS DEMANDED

NIhNG snOOTo OEmANOEO
The President Urged tho Contendlng
Parties to End the Conflict and tho
Labor Leaders Suggested Arbltra-
ticn, But the Mine Owners Refused
to Accept, Saying That II the Men
Returned to Work Grievances Would
BE Submitted 70 Judges of Penn
syIvanIa Courts.
Washington, Oct &-The great coal
conference between the president and
Representatives OF the. operators and
the miners came to an end at the tenn
porary White House, facing Lafayette
Square, at 4.55 o'clock yesterday after
noon, with a failure to reach an agree
ment- Apparently the rock upon which
the conference split was recognition OF
the Miners Union The president had
urged the contending party to end the
strife In the interests of the public
welfare; the miners through the presi-
dent OF their union had expressed q
willingness to submit differences to ar
hitration for a period OF from one TO
i've years ssnd the employers through
the presidents OF the railway and coal
companies and leading independant
mine operator had squarely refused ar
hitration, had denounced the miners
labor organization as a lawless and
anarchistic body with which they could
and would have no dealings. had de-
manded federal troops to ensure com
plete protection to workers and their
families In the mining region and court
proceedings against the miners' union.
and had offered II the men returned to
work to submit grievances at individ-
ual collieries to the decision of the
judges OF the court OF common pleas
for the district OF Pennsylvania in
which the colliery was located. There
the matter closed.
The Presidents Appeal.
AT the. morning session President
Roosevelt addressing the conference
said:
1 wish to call your attention to the
fact that there are three parties affect
ed by the situation in the anthracite
trade; The operators, the miners, and
the general public. speak for neither
the operators nor the miners, but for
the general public The questions at
issue which led to the situation affect
Immediately the parties concerned
the operators and the miners; but the
situation itself vitality affects the pub
lie. disclaim any right or duty to
interfere In this way upon legal ground
or upon any official relation that I bear
to the situation; but the urgency and
the terrible nature Of the catastrophe
impending over large portion of our
people In the shape of a winter fuel
famine impei me, after much anxious
thought, to believe that my duty re-
Quires me TO use whatever influence
l personally can TO bring to an end a
situation which has become literally
intolerable.
In my judgment the situation i'm
peratively requires that you meet upon
the common plane Of the necessities
OF the public. With all the earnestness
there is In me, ask that there be an
immediate resumption of operations In
the coal mines in some such way as
will without days unnecessary delay
meet the crying needs of the people.
Il do not invite discussion Of your
respective claims and positions. / ap-
peal to your patriotism, to the spirit
that sinks personal considerations and
makes individual sacrifices for the gen
eral good"
Mitchell Suggests Arbitration.
Upon the completion of the presi-
dents remarks Mr.. Mitchell made a
statement, as follows:
'Mr. President, am much Impress
ed with what you say. l am much
impressed with the gravity OF the sit
uation. We feel that we are not re-
sponsible for this terrible state of af-
fairs. We are willing to meet the
gentlemen representing the coal op-
orators to try to adjust our differ
ences among ourselves. II We can
not adjust them that way, Mr.. Presi-
dent we are willing that you shall
name tribunal who shall determine
the issues that have resulted in the
strike, and II the gentlemen repre.
senting the operators will accent the
award or decision Of such a tribunal
the miners will willingly accept IL
sven IL Ii Is against their claims