The Topeka state journal., 1902-10-04
Cabinet Members Advise Against
Issuing a Statement.
OPERATORS SEE ROOT
But Further Negotiations Had
Been Made Impossible.
All Parties Leave For Their Re-
spective Homes.

]
issue a statement commenting upon the
result of yesterdays coal conference.
Some of the cabinet members will ad-
wise against such a course. There IS
disappointment that the effort of the
president met with no better success,
but it seems to be the opinion of those
who are cognizant of the situation tnat
the administration can do no more. The
good offices of the president to settle
the strike was the limit of his power
Late last evening the operators who
were IN the conference called upon Sec
retary Root. but the position they had
assumed made it impossible to carry
i the negotiations further, although vari-
Gus phases of the situation were briefly
/ discussed.
President Mitchell and the other
members of the anthracite miners com
mlttee who attended yesterdays con-
ference, left Washington at 1915 today
over the Baltimore & Ohio railroad for
| their headquarters at Wilkesbarre
Before boarding the train Mr.. Mitchell
said that probably soon after his arrival
! IN Wilkesbarre he would issue directions
to the miners as to how to proceed, but
t ne would do. Asked what directions if
any, he would issue, he replied that any
directions issued would only be for the
continuance of the strike.
DO you feel" he was asked, that
public sentiment will sustain you in con-
tinuing the strike?''
TT certainly must do so after the re-
suit of yesterdays conference he re-
piled. I'VE are confident that we have
the sympathy of every working man
in the country and we believe that we
will have the financial support of most
1 of them
rs the outside contribution suffici-
ent to relieve present distress p
I can't state the exact amount. but
so far we have been able to relieve all
cases of absolute want, and we expect
the contributions to increase in volume
| We feel confident of being able to con-
tinue the strike through the winter, but
do so, not only on our own account
4 but on account OF the public Indeed,
If only the interests or the miners and
the operators were concerned the strike
would be of comparatively little general
Importance
Mr. Mitchell referred to the charge of
lawlessness made by the coal operators in
the conference yesterday, saying:
Several of them made the statement
that there had been 20 murders by the
strikers since the beginning of the strike.
! We challenged the statement the spot
and Volunteered to tender my resfgna-
tlon Lhen ana ther IL II could b proven
that there had been twenty deaths all told
4 from violence since the inception of the
strike The proposition was not accepted.
| The truth is that there have been just
sevea deaths and three of those were
/ caused by the coal and iron police
ployed by the mire operators The trou-
| bic is that these men never go to the
mines and they accept without question
The Mitchell party expects to reach
| WillSesl5arre at 4:30 o'clock this afternoon
Washington, Oct. 4-The special train
bearing the railroad presidents who
| came here to confer with the president
| over the coal question left here at 8
| o'clock this morning for New York
and was scheduled to arrive at Jersey
City at 80 O. clock. All the officials
who came the train left with it.
President Baer of the Philadelphia &
Reading railroad. was to leave the party
| at Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Oct 4-President Baer
of the Philadelphia & Reading railway
company, returned from Washington to
his Office this morning. In response to
an inquiry he stated that he had moth
ing to say for publication beyond the
statement published this morning.
WON'T ASK FOR TROOPS.
New York, Oct. 4.-The presidents of
the anthracite coal railroads arrived
here from Washington on a special train
today E B. Thomas, chairman of the
board of the Erie railroad company
who represented that company at the
conference with President Roosevelt at
Washington, said today:
There is nothing to add to my state
ment al Washington yesterday in re-
spect to the proposition made by US
that in case we cannot satisfactorily
adjust any grievances with our own
employees it shall be referred to the
judges of the court of common pleas of
the district in which the colliery is situ-
ated for final determination. This Ger
the miners every possible protection.
but we cannot be expected to turn the
conduct of property which involves the
interests of such a large number of
people over to the control of an ire
sDonsible and illegal associa ton and
place the lives and property of our loyal
employees at their mercy Our offer
affords every opportunity for fair and
liberal treatment with appeal to an
!. impartial tribunal free from the inffu-
ences of the bituminous coal combina-
ton Our forces of men are increasing.
and we produced yesterday over 1000
tons CO coal -
President Truesdale, of the Lacka-
; wanna road, had nothing to add to the
statement submitted by him to the
president at Washington yesterday. He
believed, he said that it was not the
intention Of the authorities to call out
|, the federal troops.
MAKING EXCUSES.
President Fowler, of the New York,
. Ontario & Western road said:
1T is not unlikely that the public
may jump at the conclusion that Mr..
Mitchell offered to resume operations
Immediately in order that the suffering
public might be relieved at once
think it worth while to call attention to
the fact that Mitchell offered at yester-
days conference to make an agreement
for not less than one year, or more than
five years, as may be mutually de-
, terrr:aed.'
Nov, the 7oint wish to make clear
!, RI - here is this: Mitchell cannot order
an Immediate resumption of work be-
cause the bylaws Of the United Mine
Workers declare that such proposition
must first be submitted to a convention
of its delegates. That cannot be done in
r less than two weeks time. That much
i notice. I am told is called. for in 1le
{ bylaws Il ss.s
THE public will observe that. there is
a great difference between resurning
: work Immediately and resuming work
Let <1f .v.I