The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-10-16
REJECTION PROBABLE
Miners Will Not Accept the Oper-
ators' Proposal in Its
Present Form.
THAT Is THE GENERAL OPINION
Mitchell Declines to Talk Until He
Has Studied Awhile.
Wants to Analyze the Offer OF the
Barons-A Coal Operators Re-
marks-Gomper's View OF
the Proposition.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct ia thor
ough canvass of the situation as it
exists at this writing shows every In
dication that the arbitration plan pro-
posed by the presidents Of the coal
companies for ending the miners strike
Will not be accepted in Its present
form There Is a division Of opinion
among the strikers but there is no
doubt that majority believes that the
offer to have the president Of the Unit
ed States select an arbitration commits
sion along the lines suggested by the
operators Is not fair, and that 1t un-
duly limits the president In making up
the board. The miners, It Is safe to
say. will abide the advice Of their ma
tionai president, In whose judgment
they have the utmost confidence.
Statement by President Mitchell.
President Mitchell dictated the fol-
lowing statement to the press last
night: Il fully appreciate with what
awaiting the end of the coal strike.
The coal operators have not addressed
the miners union or its officers In max
ing their public statement 1t is, there
fore, impossible for me to state the
attitude Of the miners at this time
/ am now, as l have always been,
deeply solicitous of the interests of the
public and the welfare of the mine
workers who have been on strike for
the past five months. A formal state
ment defining our position and inten-
tons will be issued just as soon IS
we are In possession of the full mean
ing of the proposition Of the opera
tors"
Mitchell VIII Say Nothing More.
This statement he had no intention
Of making until the hecorrespondents rep
resenting newspapers allover the coun-
try called on him In a body and In
formed him that the general public
desired to have an answer TO the propO-
sition Of the operators. After giving 1t
he was asked many questions, but
would not reply. His attention was
called to the fact that most Of the In
formation from Washington indicated
that the proposition would be accept
ed, and that the strike was near
an end, but he stoutly maintained that
neither his officers nor the rank and
file Of the men had done anything to
cause such an impression to 60 out
Strike Leaders Go Into Conference.
There Is a conference going on today
between Mitchell, the three district
presidents, and Secretary Treasurer
Wilson 1t is fully expected that the
sentiment of all the strikers will be
known today and that action will be
taken accordingly. There is talk Of
convention being held, but there is
nothing definite on which to base this
talk. When Mitchell was asked IL he
and the district officers had power to
end the strike. he said that it is a
rule Of the organization that no settle
ment can be made by the officers Of
the union without the consent Of a
delegate convention. 1t is practically
certain that Mitchell's advice will be
followed In the conference. While he
has not said a word as to what he will
do. 1t Is freely predicted by those who
understand the situation that he Will
advise a refusal Of the proposition.