Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-10-20

Washington, Od@. 14-By authority
If ], PierpOnt Morgan, who, with his
partner, Robert Bacon, and Secretary
Root, were in conference with Presi-
ient Roosevelt hast night, a statement
was given out by Secretary CorteIyou
ia which the presidents of coaEcarry-
ing railroads and mine operators pro-
pose "a commission of five persons to
adjust the differences and settle the
coal strike in the anthracite coal
Fields. THE proposition is believed by
the administration to be satisfactory
to the miners, IS it covers the propo-
sit6On made by Mitchell with addition
al conditions which it is believed the
miners will accept.
The statement sets forth the desire
of the operators to have their position
understood Then follows a. state
nnent respecting the number of com
panfes operating mines and miners
employed, and the declaration that
~EpossiblyCone half belong to rthe Unit
ed Milne Workers." The organizing of
the miners union is briefly reviewed,
leading up to the ordering ~of the
strike last May. Since then, the oper-
ators say, 1000 to 10000 ,men not
members Of the union have been at
work, sand that many more Wipo wished
to work were prevented by violence
and intimidation, destruction of prop
erty and fear Of death. They charge
that this teign of terror has continued
and increased Notwithstanding the dis
zmowals of Mitchell, and &say sit is
cBaar ibe either cannot or will not
prevent it." The operations say the
wages paid are fair and full; that
profits have been small They say
they have never been unwilling to sub
unit the questions between them and
their wOrkmen to any fBir tribunal,
But say they are not willing to enter
imtO arbitration with the mine work
eTs' unton nor to make any arrange
n24mt which will not secure to the
men now working. and all now or
hereafter wishing to wGTk, whether
they belong to the union or not, the
right and opportunity to- work in
safety and without personal insult or
bodily harm to themselves or their
families"
The operators then refer to the con-
ference October 8, and repeat the
proposition made them. They say
they ''realize that the urgent public
need of coal and the apprehension OF
an inadequate supply for the APP
preaching winter calls for an earnest
effort to reach a practical conclusion"
which Will result in increased prOduc-
ton The statement concludes:
I'VE suggest a commission to be
appointed by the president of the
United States (if he is willing ITO per
form that public service) TO whom
shall be referred all questions at issue
between the respective companies and
long to the union or not. but the feci-
sion of that commission shall be ftc-
cepted by us. The commission to be
constituted as follows:
An officer in the engineer corps of
either the military >Or naval service of
the United States, an expert mining
engineer, experienced in mining coal
n. 81 ~
connected with the coal mining prop {
critics, either anthracite or bitumin-
Gus: a Judge of the United States !
court of the eastern district of Penn /
syIvania, a man Of prominence, emf !
ment as a sociOlOgist, and a man who |
10y active participation in the mining
and selling of coal is familiar with !
the physical and commercial features
Of the business.
1T being the understanding that i'm !
mediately upon the constitution OF |
such commission, in order that idle
ness and nOn-productiOn may cease
instantly, the miners will return to |
work and cease all interference with
and persecution Of any nOn-uniOn men
who are working or shall hereafter
work. The findings of this commits
sion shall fix the date when the same
shall be effective, and shall govern
the conditions Of employment between
the respective companies and their
employees for term of at least three
years"
While no official statement was
made at the While house after the op-