The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-11-27
MOVE CAUSES BIG SENSATION
AR5iTRAToRs WILL NOW ACT AS
A SORT OF BOARD OF CON- ).
cILIATloN.
AGREE ON BASIS or NEGOTIATION
BOTH SIDES SAW THAT PRESENT
PROCEEDINGS WOULD BE
INTERMlNABLE.

Scranton, Pa. Nov. 24.-The mine.
workers, through their representa-.
tives, have agreed with the mine
owners to adjust the differences ex.
listing between them outside the an.
thracite coal strike commission. The
proposition was made Oh a compro-
mise basis. and negotiations, 1t is ex.
pected. will be at once begun, with a
reasonable hope of settlement with
the aid of the arbitrators. The rough
proposition which is to form the
basis of negotiations, is 10 per cent
increase in wages, a nine-hour day,
and trade agreements between the
they are employed. The only one of
the foT demands not touched upon is
that Of the weighing of coal by the
legal ton. While both sides have ex,
pressed the willingness to settle their
differences among themselves, IL is
not to be construed that II carries
with II the acceptance of the terms
proposed. They are mentioned only
as a basis, II is understood, from
which a settlement is to be effected.
II is possible that the foundation al
ready laid can be
Wrecked by Either. Party
holding out too strongly against some
question and thus leave the whole
matter in the hands of the commits
sioners, who, in the meantime, will
act as a sort of board of concilia
ticl, rather than as a board of arb!
tration.
Few persons were aware that an
attempt would be made at an outside
settlement until it was practically so
intimated by Judge Gray, the chair
man of the commission, who read a
carefully prepared announcement
from the bench" The move. one Of
the most important in the whole his
tory of the coal strike, created a mild
sensation when it became known. II
is said 1t was all brought about by
both sides seeing that the proceed
ings before the commission would be
interminable, and that in the inter
mingling of the lawyers for both sides
the outside agreement proposition
was preached and taken up. 1t can
not be officially stated which party
made the proposition first. Wayne
MacVeagh, who carried on such a
brilliant cross-examination of Presi
dent Mitchell,
Is Given Credit
for bringing about the present situa
ton. He went to New York after he
finished with Mr. Mitchell and had a
conference with certain persons con.
nected with the coal industry, among
them, 1t is reported, j. p. Morgan
He was in New York yesterday in con.
nection with the matter.
The commissioners were informed
of the new turn of affairs Thursday
night and acquiesced in the proposed
arrangement
1t was learned last night by the cor
respondent of the Associated Press
that all the large companies have not
yet assented to the proposed outside
agreement, but that in all probability
they will consent and continue to
work as unit as they did during the
strike.
There is a wide difference of opfn.
ion as to whether the proposal to set
tie differences among themselves will
meet with success. AS a geneeal
proposition, 1t is believed by lawyers
that it will succeed, but that some
Of the controversial points will have
to go before the arbitrators.