Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-10-16
END OF THE STRIKE.

region, OF Pennsylvania when mas last
ed six months and produced a coal famine
throughout the country, is at an end.
An arbitration commission named by
President Roosevelt will adjust the diff
ferences between the operators and mine
workers. An immediate resumption Of
work is promised, and every effort will
be made to prevent suffering at the open
ing of winter through shortage OF coal.
President Roosevelt, at an early honr
this morning, appointed commission OF
six members, with Labor Commissioners
Wright as recorder, to inquire into the
coal strike situation and settle all dis
putes.
This action was taken after yesterday 5
conference with President John Mitchell
and another conference last night with
Messrs. George w. Perkins and Robert
Bacon, partners of J. Pierpont Morgan.
Having received the approval of these
representatives of the two sides, the coal
strike is ended.
1t is reported from Wilkesbarre that a
meeting of the miners leaders will be
held there today. on call issued by
President Mitchell. Having agreed to
the plan yesterday, the convention
of the strikers will certainly follow their
leaders, advice and ratify it at once.
At 2:20 a. M, Secretary Cortelyou
gave out the following statement:
"After a conference with Mr.. Mitchell
and some further conference with repre-
sentatives of the coal operators, the
President has appointed the members OF
the commission to inquire into, consider
and pass upon all questions at issue be-
tween the operators and the miners in
the anthracite coal fields. The follow
ing are the arbitrator named:
BRIG. Gen. John NJ. Wilson, u. s.
A., retired Qate Chief of Engineers, U.
S. Az Washington, d. c.
"Mr. +. w. Parker, Washington, d..
CAS- an expert mining engineer.
Mr. Parker is chief statistician of the
coal division of the United States Ge-
illogical Survey, and the editor of the
Engineering and Mining Journal" OF
New York.
"Hon George Gray, Wilmington,
Del.-As a judge of United States
court.
'Mr. f. f. Clark, Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, Grand Chief of the Order of Rail-
way Conductors--As a sociologist, the
President assuming that for the purposes
of such commission the term sOciolog-
list means man who has thought and
studied deeply on the social question, and
has practically applied his knowledge.
'Mr. Thomas II. Watkins, Scranton,
Pa.-As man practically acquainted
with the mining and selling of coal.
"Bishop John l.. Spalding, of Peoria,
Ill.-The President has added Bishop
Spaldngs name to the commission.
"Hon. Carroll d. Wright has been
appointed recorder of the commission.
1t was stated at o'clock this morn
ing that the board of arbitration had
practically been ratified by Mr. Mitch
ell. upon behalf of the miners, and by
Mr. Morgan, upon behalf of the opera
tors.
Mr.. Mitchell reached Wilkesbarre at
O'Clock and was shortly thereafter
called bylong distance telephone from the
White House, and it is understood that
he expressed personal approval of the
personnel of the commission.
Mr.. Perkins left the White House
with Secretary Root and Mr.. Bacon at
| :15 o'clock, and went to the Arlington,
where he communicated with Mr. Nor
gan by telephone in New York. He re-
turned at l:45 O'Clock, and brought
with him Mr.. Morgan's verbal indorse-
ment of the board as constituted. Mr..
Perkins remained with the President a
half hour upon his return. When he
left, the announcement of the personnel
of the commission was made.
When Mr. Mitchell returned to the
White House at 3 O'Clock in the after
noon for his second interview with the
President, lasting half hour, it is said
that he abandoned his demand for the
recognition of the miners union. In
the interval between his conference with
Mr. Sargent and his second visit to the
President, Mr.. Mitchell had held
long-distance telephone conversation
with some Of his colleagues at Wilkes
barre, and had frankly explained to
them the utter uselessness of attempting
to demand a recognition of their Or
ganization at this time
1t is understood that Mr. Mitchell
will endeavor to have the question of
the right of the union to recognition
brought up before the court of arbitra-
ton when it meets, This was the main
issue involved and its reputation by
the operators shows they have not re-
ceded from their first standpoint Mr..
Mitchell will ask that the court recon-
mend that a contract be made between
the operators and the official representa-
tiyes of the union. Unfortunately for
Mr.. Mitchell, it is well remembered that
he himself ordered the miners in John
Markle's mines to break the contract
which they had made with Mr.. Markle,
and that he 'for strategic reasons" as
he stated, made Markle's men strike |
along with all the others, although they |
had no grievance at the time. The |
operators may very consistently refuse
to make contracts with a'leader who has
not hesitated to make his subordinates
break their obligations.
Adyices from Wilkesbarre are to the
effect that work will be resumed by the
mine workers on Monday next, accord
ing to the plans of President Mitchell,