Evening journal., 1902-09-11
OPERATORS Will
NOT ARBIVRATR
Strike to Continue Until Men
Tire Of It
|Again Assert That Strikers Must Re-
turn TO Work on Conditions
Existing Last Spring

New York, Sept. l1.-John Marlkle,
the head of the firm Of G. B. Markle &
Co.. the largest of tho individual coal
operators in the anthracite field, yester-
|day made a statement respecting the
proposed arbitration between the en-
|ployers and the employees.
There will be no arbitration said
Mr.. Markle, "and no settlement of the
4 coal strike in any way. We have not
forgotten our experiences on a former
occasion. There had been in existence
from 1885 an agreement with the men
/ in our employ providing for the settle
ment of all differences that arose by
arbitration. This was the result of a
local strike lasting three months in
1885. In 1900 John Mitchell appeared
and began campaign on our property.
Our employees presented a list of griev-
ances, and l replied to them and sug-
gested that if our answers were not
satisfactory they could demand arbitra-
& tion under the existing agreement. Mr..
4 Mitchell distinctly opposed any arbi-
( tration, asserting that we were insin-
cere Father Phillips, a well-known
4 priest Of Hazleton, of his own volition,
+ urged the men to abide by their COM
pact, and suggested Archbishop Ryan,
of Philadelphia, as the third arbitra-
. tor. Mr. Mitchell opposed all of this,
claiming that 1t was a bluff. A meet
0 ing Of our employees was held, to which
E Mitchell came unsolicited and made q
a speech. He asked me publicly il
would abide by the arbitrators' verdict,
5 and when l said we would, he turned
to the audience and pleaded with them
nevertheless to go upon a strike. Father
4 Phillips and followed him, urging the
men to stand by their agreement for
II arbitration, and the men refused TO fol-
Fl low Mitchell's lead. Then came .
round of threats. intimidation and vio-
n lence Almost daily rioting parties OF
several hundred men appeared upon
our property, led by Mitchells lieuten-
n ants, in the vain effort to compel ouI
men to break their agreement. They
Il inaugurated a reign OF terror which
finally resulted in the employees break
ing their compact and throwing the
projected arbitration to the winds.
"The Hon. Marcus A. Hanna came
into the dispute and secured some con
cessions. The strike ended. and it wal
heralded as a triumph for Mitchell
The result has been the establishment
u Of every kind of trades union in thu
coal districts. From that time on ther,
have been innumerable strikes. Mr.
Mitchell has become a demi-god an,
alone is obeyed so that all ordinar,
and usual means of discipline are prac
ically disregarded.
with this history before us, / an
sure no reasonable man will ask us t
engage in any arbitratioa with MI
Mitchell or his immediate followers"
President Fowler, of the New York
Ontario and Western Railroad Com
)any, said yesterday afternoon: 9TH
strike will end when the men com
lacS of their own accord and on tn
erms on which they worked befor
he outbreak of the strike. In no othe
manner can this strike be ended w
will brook no outside interference O
whatever nature, political, humanitaT
an or of any other origin. When tn
men go back it will be at the wage
md on the conditions obtaining las
pring. After they have returned W
will take up any grievance with on
Iwn men. We have posted notices t
hat effect on our collieries, and tina
las been our attitude right along"
President Olyphant, of the Delawar
nd Hudson, said that if he was we
Informed, and he thought he was, ther
would be no interference on the pal
# Mr.. Morgan. Mr.. Olyphant said n
outside influence would be needed, an
hat the strike would continue unit
he miners got tired of it and returne
work.