The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-10-17
DOES NOT SUIT THEM.
Miners Not Satisfied with Proposal
of the Operators.
No Definite Action Yet Taken, But 1t
Looks ms Though They Might
Decline to Accept the
Terms.

Unere is every lnd1catlOn for believing
that the new arbitration plan proposed
by the presidents of the coal compa-
MES for ending the miners strike will
not be accepted in its present form.
There is division of opinion among
the strikers. but there is no doubt that
"a majority feel that the offer to have
the president Of the United States Sc
lect an arbitration commission along
the lines suggested by the operators
is not fair and that it unduly limits the
president in making up the board. The
miners, it is safe to say, will abide the
advice of their national president, in
whose judgment they have the utmost
confidence.
Mitchell Won't Give Opinion.
President Mitchell declines to say
how he personally looks upon the prop
osition, but he gave to the press the
following statement:
Il fully appreciate with what
anxiety the people of our country are
awaiting the end OF the coal strike.
The coal operators have not addressed
the miners union or it's officers in max
ing their public statement. 1t is,
therefores impossible for me to state
the attitude of the miners at this time.
am now, as have always been, deep
~ 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-
lions will be issued just as soon as we
are in possession of the full meaning
OF the proposition Of the operators"
Ibis statement was made by him at
9 o'clock after silence lasting a II day.
He had no intention of making it until
the correspondents representing news
papers all over the country called on
him IN body and informed him that
the general public desired to have an
answer to the proposition of the opcr-
ators. After giving it he was asked
many questions regarding the attitude
OF the men and the probability of the
acceptance or rejection of the new Of
Ter, but he had no reply to make to any
OF these questions. He denied that he
had any knowledge of what the new Of
Ter OF the operators was until it be-
came public property, and also denied
that he was in telephone communities
tlon with President Roosevelt. His at
tention was called to the fact that
most of the information from Wash
lngton indicated that the proposition
would be accepted, and that the strike
was near an end, but he stoutly main
tanned that neither his officers nor the
rank and file of the men had done any,
thing to cause such an impression to
go out.
Find Many Objections.
The rank and file of the miners view
the new proposal in different lights,
and make strong arguments according
to their views. Those who are opposed
to accepting the new offer look upon
the operators latest move as coun-
ter proposition to Mr.. MitchelPs offer
to arbitrate made in the temporary
white house at Washington. They
compare the two offers and pick out
what they allege to be many flaws.
Their greatest objection is that the
operators dictate to the president
from what class OF men he shall select
the arbitrators, and they charge the
operators with lack Of faith in the
president when they do not give him
free hand to pick the men he wants.
Another objection is that the presi-
dent is limited to four men in selecting
the jurist on the commission. Neither
are they sure, they say, that labor
would be represented, because the pro-
posal does not specifically say so, and
add that they have no assurance that
"a man of prominence, eminent as a
sociologist" would cover this objection.
Favor Acceptance.
A great many of the strikers think
the proposition should be accepted
and that the miners should trust to
President Roosevelt to do the best he
can under the conditions laid down
by the coal road presidents. An argu-
ment was made by one miner that Mr..
Mitchell could not we'll afford to turn
down the proposition after already
Offering to permit the president to
select the members of the commission.
He thought the president would APP
preciate the trust put in him and see
that the miners had fair play. Others
in the same class thought that not
much harm could be done by accepting
the proposition, but that in the end
much good will result.
The prospect for a coal supply to
meet the rapidly approaching cold
weather is by no means bright. If the
miners should accept the arbitration
plan of the operators it would take at
least two weeks before the details of
sending them back could be worked
out. AS the outlool, for arbitration is
rather dark, it can be safely said that
there will be little more coal on the
market for some time to come than
shere is at present.
Killed Burglar
Marquette. Mich. Oct. 15.-Agent
Towne, of Duluth, of the South
Shore & Atlantic railroad, surprised
two burglars at work in the station
at Lake NebagamGn. In the fight
that followed he shot and instantly
killed one of the robbers and wound