The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-09-12
NO INTERFERENCE IN STRIKE
HEWITT POSITIVE OF J. F. NOR
 CANS ATTITUDE.

New York's Ex-MayOr Declares Oper- ators wiu Not Arbitrate With Mitch- ell but Might Consider Grievances Presented by Miners Themsclves-A Severe Attack on the Labor Leader Mitchell Himself Destroyed the Prin- cIpIe of Arbitration.
 New York, Sept. 11.-Abram s. Hew- it, former mayor of New York, gave out statement to- day in which he said he knew positively that J. P. Morgan would not interfere in the coal strike. MT. Hewitt also said that the coal oper- ators would not agree to arbitrate with John Mitchell, but that he believed they would consider grievances present. ed by their employees.
 Continuing, MT. Hewitt said: T don't altogether blame MT. Mitchell for bringing on this strike. MT. Mitchell advised against the strike. When he called the convention at Shamokin he thought he would be able to control it and show what big fellow he was. But the young fellows came in and wanted the strike and the convention got beyond Mitchelrs control.
 'Then he called the Indianapolis con- vention. He told the anthracite miners that he would ask the bituminous min CTS to go on a sympathetic strike. He did so and they refused.
 ''Mr. Mitchell in public clamors for arbitration. But does he want arbitra- tion? What Mir. Mitchell wants is rec ognition for himself. MT. Mitchell is fighting for his very life, but there will be no recognition of MT Mitchell on the part of the operators and no arbitra- tion between the operators and MT Mitchell.
 Tt was MT Mitchell who destroyed the principle of arbitration in the coal fields. The operators are willing and ready to adjust any grievances by con- sessions or otherwise with their owr employees. But they will have nothing to do with MT. Mitchell. That is posi- tive. ....
 Some of my critics reproach me witf being the owner of coal property ane therefore not disinterested. Now al through my long life believe that it i: generally recognized that when have expressed myself in disputes betWeer capital and labor have generally sides with the workingman.
 Tn 1876, during the days of the Molly Maguires, I made tour of inspector through the mining regions. l founc " terrible conditions then. I found tho men living under wretchedly bruta conditions It was shortly after tni' that I became director of the Lehfgf Coal and Navigation company. ad yised the management to better thu conditions of the workingmen. The! replied that they could not do so ant derive profit from their business l dl' my best to convince them that it vii always conduce to the profit of the em blower to consider the interests of thos working for them. Finally brough them around to my point of view an' it was not long before better condition obtained among the employees Of tha company.
 "When tins strike was called the em ployes of the companies almost to man owned their own homesteads. The were thrifty and respectable-as re snectable people as you will meet any where. They had sSO0O00 in the saving banks. They never wanted to strik but now they have to live on their say ings and walk around with their hand in their pockets, against their will, sim ply because they do not dare to go bac to work"