Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-05
PRESIDENT WILcox'S VIEW
President of Delaware & Hudson
River Line Defends Course Of
Coal Operators.

NEW YORK, Oct. 4.-David Wilcox, pres
ident Of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad
company, denied that the operators had ever
said there was nothing to arbitrate.
The coal operators" said Mr.. Wilcox,
made IL entirely plain that they were us
ing every effort to produce coal; that IL full
protection we're furnished by the lawful
authorities the production would increase
very rapidly. and that the obstruction OF
such production was due to the methods set
on foot by the United Mine Workers. The
papers have said there was nothing to ar
bitrate. which is without foundation.
I'm the conference yesterday the opera
tors made a suggestion looking to arbi-
tration OF future difficulties which would
be entirely Just and practicable. This was
that IL the men would return to work, in
case there should be any grievances at any
colliery, and the employer and employees
should be unable to agree in reference to
them the difficulty should be settled by the
court Of common pleas Of the district in
which the ~colliery is located. The opera
tors, offered to embody this provision in
contractural form IL desired. 1t was. in
fact. an offer by the operators to submit
to compulsory arbitration.
This offer OF compulsory arbitration was
lHnHlCuldNtlg huO nhNlN uetilDGu DN TTtrl-
dent Mitchell on behalf Of the mine work
ers, although this would secure everything
asked except recognition Of the union,
which Mr.. Mitchell has repeatedly said he
did not insist upon
at was suggested that II the course we're
adopted that was pursued in the Debs case
and was SO effective In ~quelling the Chi
cago riots, the present strike could be
ended next week"
Mr.. Wilcox explained that that course
would be for the United States to file a
bill in equity against the miners union,
which he called an illegal combination. and
obtain a preliminary injunction, which
would be granted at once. because the cir
cult court has already passed on the ques-
tion OF legality.
I'm case that injunction should be disre-
garded and the process of the court de1ed, -
he said. 1.-The federal troops could be used.
IL necessary, to enforce obedience thereto.
The president and the attorney general
were strongly urged to follow the prece-
dent in this case, which was set by their
predecessors, President Cleveland and At
torney General Olney, the lawfulness OF
whose action was fully sustained by all the
courts"
John Markle, the independent operator
who was present at yesterdays conference
with President Roosevelt, spent some time
In conference with J. p. Morgan today. Mr..
Markle said: Il am satisfied that President
Roosevelt did not know the situation OF
affairs 10 the anthracite coal fields when
he invited us to the conference that took
place yesterday. l believe he Will now take
the necessary steps to fully seQuaint him
self with the situation. / am absolutely
convinced from opinions Of eminent law.
years that the statement made by Mr.. VIII
cox OF the right OF the president TO act ir
the matter Is sound. l rave no hesitancy
In saying that when the president realizes
he has power to act, he will take action &c
restere law and order in the anthracite re-
Eion."