The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-19
Mitchell Defends PIerpOnt Mof-
 gan in a Brief Statement
TRIED ID SETTLE STRIKE
Almost All Miners Delegates win Vote to Accept Committee of Ar bitratIon If They Are All
 Taken Back to Work.

wiikesbarre. Pa. October le-What is probably the last full week of the anthra- cite coal strike closed today without any, thing developing to change the peaceful trend of events. All the locals" have met and selected their representatives to the Wilkesbarre gathering Monday morn- ing. There seems to be little doubt but that the convention will accept the offer of arbitration. Reports nave been re- ceived here. coming principally from tho region around Scranton. that there will be considerable opposition to the aceept- ance of tie plan, but these reports arc not taken seriously at President Mitch- elrs headquarters. There will be opposi- tion in the convention but it is to disap- pear after MT. Mitchell explains the proposition to the delegates.
 Probably the most difficult question which will come before the convention is the one relative to strikers securing their old places. The companies are on record as saying they will take care of all of the employees who have stood by them during the strike. Many of the miners want the convention to withhold aecep- tance of the arbitration plan until the union is assured that the strikers will bs re-employed in their former places. This will likely cause long debate, but tho officials of the union say the matter will be fixed up satisfactory to all concerned.
 President Mitchell was asked tonight what he knew of the report cablea to the Manchester Guardian from New York that J P. Morgan was forced to inter-
 
 said:
 Morgan Tried to Settle.
 ITO my personal knowledge MT. Nor gan has been trying to settle the coal strike ever since he came back from Europe two months ago. If others had been as fair and reasonable as Mir. Nor gan was, the strike would have been set- tied long time ago. I know nothing about MT. Morgans financial interests compelling him to seek settlement of the strike but I am informed that he has keenly felt his responsibility to the public in connection with the fuel famine and has done his best to bring about the end Both MT. Morgan and MT Cas- satt of the Pennsylvania railroad were working for a settlement when Presi- dent Roosevelt made his last and suc- cessful move. MT. Morgan could not very well be forced to do something which he had been trying to achieve for sev- eral weeks. make this statement in justice to MT. Morgan. I am creditably informed that he is friendly to organized labor"
 The shaft of the Mount Lookout col liery of the Temple Coal and Iron conn., pany at wyoming was wrecked today by one of the small locomotives used for hauling cars containing culm.
 The engineer left the locomotive for moment and 1t suddenly started and ran full speed 200 yards to the shaft and plunged down, lodging 320 feet below the surface at the red ash vein. Fortunately the boiler did not explode, but the big machine in its fall tore out the lining of the shaft and did other damage that will cause a suspension for week or more. It is probable the homeward movement of the soldiers will begin about the mid dle of next week. It is costing the state more than s9O,00o day to keep the na- tional guard in the field.
 Shenandoah Favorable.
 Shenandoah October 8.-A majority of the local miners of Shenandoah and vi- cinity have instructed the delegates elected to the Wilkesbarre convention to vote against calling the strike ofr unless assurance is given that every man who responded to the call to go on strike will be given his old position back.
 Shipped 12o Cars.
 Reading. Pa, October 1e.--About 120 cars of hard coal were brought down the Philadelphia and Readrng road ts- day from the washeries and mines It is expected that more will be sent out late tonight from different parts of the region. The company claims that with tonights shipments the total amount will be 2s,00o tons, the largest since May k