The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-18
MITCHELL SCORES OPERATORS
IN REPLY TO THE PRESIDENT,
President of Mine Workers Mediation
Striking and FOrceful Manner-Mllionae
Placed in Sad Contrast the Humble

Washington. Oct. 1.-THE following :ele-
graphic correspondence. consisting OF the
letter OF President Roosevelt TO John Mitch
ell. president of the United Mine Workers.
and the latter's reply were made public 1t
the White House to-day:
White House, Washington Oct, Is, ise.-Nr.
America, WiiksbaTre Pal have appointed As
Commissioners, Brigsdier General John n VII
E. E. clark Air. Thomas H. watkins and Eishop
John l. spalding. with Honorable Carroll d:
by the operators and now most earnestly ask
sq 9SkT 'hah ne HsIs as nSey s i,sI spS - ne ,e
! all people and especially 10 those in our
great cities who are least well on. that the min
Ing OF coal should be resumed without q oay's
unnecessary delay.
CsiEneD THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
MTTCHELLS REPLY.
wIIksbsrre. Pa, Oct. L. ise2--HonorAble Theo-
dore Roosevelt. President OF the United States.
your teieEram OF october IS.
Replying thereto. beg 70 inform you that your
hers q the executive boards q districts l. and
vention 10 De held next Monday and viii recon-
5Ifss e Ter TS me TO Is o5ions and places formerly
occupied py them and submit 70 tae commission
the operators and mine workers of the anthraeiis
In connection with this subject We are glad
to know that the managers u the coal com
Sc posiiion which they 50 long occupled and
aecept Tnodnsd proposition Tor me 5TsstrSSlSa
in the selection OF a cosnrniss.on .,
October 20 place the whole matter IN your
hands, and 10 accept a verdict OF a tribunal OF
iSSt tSI the compsny managers Al ihsi time refused
10 accept the af5itrsmynt q the President OF me
Common Pleas Judges. We proposed 70 leave
son Sai1nr - .be utmost fsrn In Your impartial
iy and good Judgment
FORMER REFUsAL.
In their refusal TO seespt your sTSitrsmsnS TIE
bic for the very conditions which you were try
a s to ns 70 EEh5 s ts s2 s
again eppearvd before you. cropping the Com
verdict Of = tribunal appointed BY you, but at
sirsits ~. esarseter Snd yoaton of the men v5
were 20 name To this proposition. as the oPsrs-
because our r respect for yo1 as q man ana aGf
Ideas a. 70 what Is que 70 the dignity Of your
bv e e9sss5 81 ysS 10 S ssss5i ss sB gs5
should meet Il: second. because careful analy-
% you and the public. that the retrictlon. were
synsi Si.' O-'AD'e1 'H- '''''SA'' Impartial IN
But now that you have yourself removed these
objections by broadening and strengthening the
commission, We feel confident that conven-
tioIs between the employing companies and the
IS per cent of their smployes who are members
- 80 - N-e 1NaAA
eminent and impartial men chosen BY you. We
ZEE s's,I 70 S,t nv, vi Sf- iIesllsnt IoT the
about honorable settlement Of the strike: ef-
forts which you continued. despite The remaris-
able spirit ana conduct which YOU AZ first fouad
in the company Tnanagers- We were IN a posi-
long been forced 10 endure arrogance. insult and
fAlse witness from the same source Our graf
tnce is Que 70 YOU Gno 70 the American people
and the press. who have supported you and
10 close Durinzsa these long months IN TbicS
our inoslves havs esen iinpugned and our char,
from saying any word taxing any action which
would tend 70 render cancellation more difficult.
against the ISLANDERS which have been heaped
ffst favored Practically the method which Is now
employed TO break the deadlock.
RETROSPECTIVE VIEW
II our pro1sr Of arbitration impartial In
instesd OF now. there need have been no s,riEe
respond 10 the peoples demand for coal and dur
thsn 'oS oncs orsd a 5rS but rs hass have i i
NaElany been met with ne reply, We Will not
ment Of our Affairs We have nothing 70 arbi-
have been compelled bv vou ana a thors'u@hly
aroused public Conscience 10 recede frum this
hsTolc endurance OF our men and women IN sup
port OF their rights and q vital American
principle have won the victory.
The poor. underpsid mine workers % these coal
iais al nIsht Tor ivelihood. no6iy supnSrted BY
erEantzed labor In this and sther lands, have
son IN civic and social duty. we sxult over
these tributes 10 the dignity % labor because tt
is the triumph Of riE6t and OF good public pol
ICY We 90 not, however. sNuit over our oDpO-
nentE: we appeal 20 them as have from
the FIRST. 20 fhciy eyes 10 the future and 10
cooperate with u IN effort 20 establish better
relations between employer and empioye FOR the
We forgive them their arrogant refusal 10 deal
with and In this hour when they are forced
% acknowledge their inability 10 operate their
mines without our consent and cooperation. We
hold out the rieht hand OF friendship and ask
them 70 loin with Us in securing arnicabie rela-
uons and wholesome condi;iGrE IN this region.
We fosEive them even the false accusations
which they have made against They charred
US with being criminals rioters and anarchists.
and our orEaniEation they Denounced A. 'lawiesz
and irresponsible They knew thas their rharres
were untrue and vifhou; foundation: IN fact.
tTy tney Knew that every officer Of the raited Nine
workers of America from the president down.
i.as constantly urEed upon It's membcrship the
Imperative need Of rerDectinE the law: that
every man who commits deed Of viOleace IS
a. enemy 70 our cauSe' has been our watrh
word Despite these admonitions supported with
al our infuerce. there have been 4 few crimes
and number OF misdemeanors cahrEeabie 70
GUARDS CONDEMNED.
But Mr.. President make the unqualified
oeciaration that Imported guardians OF law and
order, the companies. coal and iron police. have
committed more unprovoked murders during this
strike that can b eharEed to the great army OF
men who have been In idleness for the last Eve
not susceptible OF misconsfruction, condemned
sFsnssseTsionS q law On the part q thoss o.
e enc pubic utterance on their part IN EhicE
they have even deprecated acts Of violence com
I1ittec By their hired guards.
~ si oie15s A. that y vas g5fsir 70 11d 1snly so.
wsrs y0ur suezts and eharES cur orEznizItica