Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-14
TO END THE STRIKE
Optimistic Feeling at White
House.
BELIEF IN ACCEPTANCE
JECTIONS
Otherwise It is Felt He Will Agree
to Operators Proposition
Conferences Today.
BELIEF IN ACCEPTANCE

the settlement of the Pennsylvania coal
strike, and .he opinion around the White
House this afternoon is rich In optimism
that the strike leader will do nothing that
will indefinitely delay the resumption oil
work by the thousands of men under his
control.
At almost any hour this afternoon Pres.-
dent Roosevelt expects to hear the answer
of Mr.. Mitchell to the proposition submit ted
by the coal operators last night to arbitrate
the strike through a commission of five
members. The proposition submitted
to John Mitchell by telegraph by the Presi-
dent and has been under consideration by
him since early this morning. That he has
been in consultation with his district presI-
dents is a foregone conclusion. His failure
to respond Immediately to the proposition
Is regarded due to the fact that ne
would first lay it before his advisers before
making response.
Hope for Early Ending of Strike.
The optimism that today characterized
all those who have taken part in the White
House coal conferences directed to an
early end of the strike through the propo-
sition of the operators, and not wholly TO
the unconditional acceptance by Mr.. Mitch
ell of the terms set forth. Among those
disposed to look the matter from labor
standpoint there was strong tendency to
believe that Mr.. Mitchell will do this:
Accept unreservedly the idea of COM
mission to arbtrate the strike.
Requesting the selection of man on the
membership of the commission fully ac-
Qualnted with the demands and needs of the
strikers; thoroughly conversant with their
wages and how these wages enable them to
live.
desrrla aud {S <eIy he de in I-ie.y
of the fifth member of the commission pro-
posed by the operators: "A man who by
active participation in mining and selling
coal, is familiar with the physical and COM
mercal features of the business In this
demand the coal operators express desire
to have a man the commission fully con-
versant with their business and, therefore,
largely, by nature and association, in SYM
pathy with their demands and desires
May Object to Third Member.
It is also indicated that Mr.. Mitchell may
not see fit to accept without some condi-
tions the third member of the commission,
lone of the judges of the United States
court of the eastern district of Pennsylva-
ME" II Is pointed out that Mr.. Mitchell
may see fit TO ask for some United States
judge outside of Pennsylvania; in fact. from
any state in the Union the President may
see fit to make the selection from.
The balance of the commission. pro-
posed by the operators, Mr.. Mitchell will
probably not object 10. With these two
possible objections from Mr.. Mitchell the
President will have to deal AS the media
tor he can do nothing but send to Mr..
Morgan the answer OF Mr.. Mitchell and let
the operators decide what they will do.
Having gone thus far in proposing a settle
tors would yield on two points to the extent
OF negotiating upon basis that would be
agreeable to both sides
White House Conferences.
The probabilities in all directions We're
discussed by the President this morning with
several callers The first of these was Sec
retary Root. who took breakfast at the Ar
lington this morning with ]. P. Morgan and
Mr.. Bacon. his associate. Secretary Root
went from the Arlington to the White House
and remained with the President for some
time. Mr.. Root knew nothing of the prob
able Intentions of John Mitchell. but wore a
hopeful air as 70 the outcome
Mr Roots Work.
To Mr.. Morgan and Secretary Root. but
more especially the latter. are in a large
measure awarded the credit for bringing the
operators TO making a proposition The for
mer was at work on the arbitration PROPOSE
ton before Secretary Root went to New
York last Saturday and the idea was at that
time under consideration. Secretary Root
was probably called to New York to say
whether President Roosevelt would be will
ing to undertake the formation of a COM
mission of the kind that has now been sug-
gested by the operators AS the closest
man in the cabinet to the President he
could answer that question better than any
other person.
frank p. Sargent and Carroll D. Wright
wefe two other men who talked with the
President on the subject this morning They
were hopeful also. buJ could not venture
opinions as TO how long 1t would be be-
fore settlement is reached so that the
miners could again enter the mines
MI. Morgan Departs.
Messrs. j. Pierpont Morgan and Robert S.
Bacon. his partner. breakfasted at the Arl-
ington this morning w.,h Secretary Root
AT 10 o'clock Mr.. Morgan and Mr.. Bacon
boarded their special train on the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad and left for New York.
When asked by representative of the
Associated Press whether he had ANYTHING
to say. Mr.. Morgan replied:
think you have enough for one day"
ment.
Secretary Root and Mr. Bacon also re-
fused to discuss the situation.
Before a Convention.
1t was not until the afternoon that the
White House officials learned from press
dispatches that President Mitchell had
stated that the propositions would have "a
be submitted to a convention of the miners
to be held at once. thereby delaying an I'M
mediate answer from the head of the strik-
ers. 1t had been hoped, and rather ex-
pected, that Mr.. Mitchell would act after
conference with his three District presi.
dents. inasmuch as he bound himself abou.
commission n ha
pointed by the President without reserv:l.
tion to going before a convention.
Rumors flew in all directions during the
day that Mitchell had submitted a countt =.
proposition and that this was being con
veyed to the operators, but the belief was
general that nothing would be received be-
fore the afternoon at any rate