The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-07

New YORK, OCTOBER i.-The presidents
Of the anthracite coal railroads, arrfv-
ed here from Washington, on a special
train today. E. B. Thomas, chairman
of the board of the Erie railroad COM
pany, said he thought the offer to sub
NIT individual miners grievances to
judges, gave every opportunity, for fair
and liberal treatment, with appeal to
an imperial tribunal, free from the in
fiuence Of the bitumenous coal COM
binations.
President Fowler of the New York,
Ontario and Western road, said:
1T is not unlikely that the public
may jump at the conclusion that Mr..
Mitchell offered to resume operations
Immediately, in order that the suffering
public might be relieved at once. Mr.
Mitchell cannot order an immediate
resumption of work, because the by
laws of the United Mine Workers de-
clare that such a proposition must first
be submitted to a convention of its
delegates. That cannot be done in less
than two weeks time. The public will
observe that there is a great difference
between resuming work Immediately
and resuming work in two weeks
In word, MitchelPs proposition has a
string to it.
David Wilcox, vice-preSident of the
Delaware and Hudson railroad, en-
phatically denied that the operators
ever had said there was nothing to ar
bitrate and he explained what he meant
by citing the DebS case at the confer
ences with the president in Washington
yesterday. He said:
cat the conference yesterday, the
operators made a suggestion looking
to arbitration of future difficulties
which would be entirely just and prac-
ticable. This was, that if the men
would return to work, in case there
should be any grievances at any col
| liery and the employer and employees
should be unable to agree in reference
to them, the differences should be set
| tied by the judges of the court of COM
| mon pleas, of the district in which the
| colliery is located.
The operators offered to embody this
| provision in contractual form if de-
| sired. 1t was in fact an offer by the
| operators to submit to compulsory ar
bitration.
"Mr. Mitchell has repeatedly said
| that he did not insist upon recognition
| of the mine workers association. Not
withstanding this, offer of compulsory
| arbitration was Immediately and fatty
| declined by him on behalf of the mine
workers, although this would secure
everything asked, except recognition
| of the union.
| The attention Of the president and
attorney general was directed to the
fact that the United Mine Workers
association is a body which seeks to
control the supply and production OF
| all the coal of the country, both an
thracite and bitumenous and of the
labor employed therein; that this is a
| combination and monopoly of interstate
/ commerce, under the federal antitrust
| act, as has been held jim numerous cases
| and that the precedent of the Debs
case covers this association exactly. 1t
| was suggested that, if the course were
| adopted which was pursued in the
| Debs case, and was so effective in
/ strike could be ended next week.
That course would be for the United
States to file a bill in equity against
this illegal combination and obtain a
| preliminary injunction. In case that
injunction should be disregarded, the
| progress of the court defied, the fed
eral troops could be used, if necessary
| to enforce obedience thereto
| John Markle, the independent opera
tor spent some time in conference with
| ]. P. Morgan today. Mr.. Markle said:
| ct am satisfied that President Roose-
| Welt did not know the situation of at
| fairs in the anthracite coal fields, when
4 he invited us to the conference that
took place yesterday. I have no hest-
| fancy in saying, that when the presi-
dent realizes that he has power to act
he will take such measures as are vest
ed in him to establish law and order in
| the anthracite fields"