New-York tribune., 1902-10-15
MITCHELL WAITS FOR WORD
MINERS OBJECT TO THREE CLAUSES OF
PROPOSITION.
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE rRrprxr. 7

resumption of work until a convention Of the
strikers delegates voted on the question. Such
/ convention would take some time. about a
week, TO organize and hold so that there will
be no speedy resumption Of work
In short statement issued tonight 10 alIay
the public anxiety as TO the conditions of the
strike President Mitchell between the lines
voices his disappointment that the operators
did not expedite a resumption Of work by off,
cially informing him OF their proposal AS the
condition is now. he does not officially know
that they have made any proposal having
heard neither from the operators nor the Presi-
dent The statement is as follows:
/ fully appreciate with what anxiety the peo-
pie OF our country are awaiting the end Of the
coal strike. The coal operators have not ad-
dressed the miners union or It's officers in max
ing their public statement. IL is, therefore i'm
possible for me % state the attitude Of the
miners at this time. / am now I have al
OF the public and the welfare Of the mine work
ers who have been on strike for the last five
months. A formal statement defining our posi-
tiOn and intentions VIII be issued Just as soon
we are in possession of the full meaning Of
the proposition OF the operators.
The proposition is TO be discussed at a meeting
here tomorrow. at which there will be present,
besides President Mitchell Secretary Wilson and
the three district presidents, Nichols. Fahey and
Duffy. Unless by the time thew meet there has
been received some word from either the Presi-
dent or the operators. Ii is expected that there
will be further official action taken by the
strike leaders than 10 issue statement TO the
public that no proposition has been presented to
the strikers, and no answer can be given until
one Is received
When the answer is made there will be OBJ
lection 10 three clauses of the proposition II is
understood tonight that the miners will not
agree 10 the dictatiOn of the operators in Spect-
flying the class and profession OF the men who
10 compose the commission. They VIII also
object 10 two minor POINTS, but these may read
fIx- he adj he n ~
commission fix the time when the findings shall
take effect. instead OF having them, as the
strikers propose, go into effect on the day they
return to work, and the clause specifying that
the findings shall be operative for three years,
the strikers wanting Ihe tluie 10 pe HNeu Oy tiie
commission as between one year ana hVe. lt Is
not improbable that in his reply President
Mitchell viii renew his former arbitration offer
to President Roosevelt, and the operators viii
be asked IL they really wish to settle the strike,
20 abide by that proposition
The feeling of the strikers was well expressed
to-day az meetings OF the locals throughout the
region when it was determined that they should
stand soIidly opposed to accepting any plan OF
dictaton instead Of arbitration. This action
will be reported II is understood, to the confer
ence. II the operators withdrew this clause
then the for speedy settlement OF the
President Mitchell. it appears. did not know
that the offer was coming from the operators
He said tonight: Il did not know that one was
will you and the district presidents answer
the proposition" he was asked.
We will have conference Tomorrow ne
will you submit a counter proposition to
that Of the operators?
Il cannot answer that
win the miners stand by the original propo-
sitiOn Of arbitration
Il have nothing 10 say
will you answer the operators statement
unless you are officially Informed of it?'
Il can say nothing more than is contained IN
my statement"
Have you received any communication from
President Roosevelt"
Il have not received any"
District Presidents Nichols and Fancy, acting
under instruction from President Mitchell. would
not make a statement. The miners are gong
10 win this strike said Fahey, however.
IL was anxious day for President NltcneIl-
When he arose il was with the eXpectaJlos that
he would receive message from the OpeIeloIS
conveying the official copy or their proposition
or some official notification that 10 had been
made But none came, and as the hours wore
on he saw that the operators had maze
studious effort 10 ignore him. All morning ne
was kept busy answering telegrams, long DIS
tanCe telephone messages ana numerous re-
quests for a statement ON one thlhS or ahotneI,
TO which he invariably replied nave hoIh'ns
to say"
AT go O'Clock in the afternoon District
Presidents FahNv and Nichols arrived from
RostOn where they have been for some days
addressing labor meetings, ana had snort
conference with Nr Mitchell lt was not uhlil
4 o'clock that he learned thaJ no messenseI
from the ODerators on the way 10 see hllli,
ana then ne still declined 10 say anything
Tonight a score or more newspaper men
visited him THE people or America are wait
ing 70 hear what you have TO say; they heeq
soTretbing. they must have something IN reply
10 me oneratorsr they said. Then he wrote
his short statement