The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-10-17
MITCHELL is RETICENT.
Has Nothing to Say Regarding o.
orators New Proposal.


Wilkeebarre, Pa, Get. 14.-Presi.
dent Mitchell Of the Miners union, re.
fuses, point blank, to talk for publica.
tion at this time On the rev proposal
Tor arbitration c. the strike laid before
President Roosevelt last night by the
presidents of the coal carrying rail.
roads. No official Information can be
had as to his views and he himself
does not know whether he will make
statement later in the day.
The news Of the new offer was vari.
oUsly received by tho .trfsing mir eTs
OF tho region. 1t did not become
known until well in the morning and
there were many different views taken
by the men.
There are a number of mine workers
who favor rejection of the offer as
formulated by the operators, while
there are equally as many who see
some GOOD in the offer The miners,
however. have great confidence in the
Judgment Of their leader, and it is Ger.
tain they will leave the matter in
his hands to work out.
The citizens of the region generally
are rejoicing at the new turn of al.
fails, ard feel confident that the step
just taken by the operators will result
IN much gool, If not a speedy settle.
ment OF the great conflict.
Comparing President Mitchelps offer
made to the president of the United
States ten days ago with that of the
operators made last night, there are
many persons who look upon the Cd.
orators cffec as counter proposition
and believe that the miners will treat
1t as such.
Mr.. Mitchcll's offer to the president
was that he should appoint the com.
mission. The operators go that far
and step farther by stipulating that
the members Of the commission must
be selected from various occupations
OF professions suggested by the com.
panies. This shows that many miners
were against the plan, because no rec.
ognized representative of the work.
men is included in the operators sug.
gestiors. unless he can be selected
under the head of "a man Of prolni.
nencc, eminent as a sociologist."
Objection Is also expressed to clause
3, which, the strikers say, limits the
president Of the United States to sc.
lect a judge from about four men. In
fact, the element against the latcs.
offer of the operators pick flaws in
every clause OF the new offer. Those
In favor of the plan feel that Presi.
dent Mitchell should accept it and
trust to President Roosevelt to make
the board or commission as impartial
as it is in his power to do under the
conditions laid down by the operators
They do not favor a counter propos:.
ton as is being suggested by those
against the latest plan on the ground
that it would do no good AMI would
cause public sentiment, which the
miners think is with them, to turn
toward the operators.
The best judgment of those woo
have been associated with President
Mitchell through the strike. men who
have watched his every action and
talked with him privately, is that the
arbitration plan is unsatisfactory to
him. Owing to the tremendous pre-.
sure being brought to bear on botI
sides TO end the contest Is the fact
that the mine leader will waive his
objection and advise that the propo.
sition be accepted
The three district presidents ara
not here, but they are on their wav
to this city. They will hold a confer.
ence Immediately after they all arrive.
There is some talk that joint conyen.
tion on the three anthracite districts
may be called and the whole matte,
laid before the miners themselves.
The situation, summed up briefly, IS
still mixed, but the outlook for an end.
ing of the strike at no very distant
date is regarded as hopeful