Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-10-11

| Absolute and complete failure TO settle
the great anthracite coal strike met the
efforts of President Roosevelt Friday,
and when two stormy conferences, held
at the White House in Washington
were concluded the solution of the labor
| fight seemed further off than ever.
President Mitchell, representing the
| striking miners, offered to submit the en-
tire question to a board Of arbitrator
appointed by the President, who was ask
ed to be member of the board, and to
abide by it's decision, even if every point
should be decided against the miners.
The coal presidents summarily and
with some bitterness rejected the proffer
of peace, demanded of the President that
he suppress anarchy in the coal regions,
and declared they never would treat with
Mitchell.
Summary of the Conference.
The rock upon which the conference
split was recognition Of the miners
union. The President urged the contend
ing parties to cease strife in the interests
of the public welfare. The miners,
through the president Of their union, ex-
pressed willingness to submit differ
ences to arbitration of tribunal to be
named by the President and to enter into
| an agreement to abide by terms fixed by
| the arbitration for a period of from one
| to five years; and the employers, through
| the presidents of the railroad and coal
companies and leading independent
mine operator, squarely refused arbitra-
| ton, denounced the miners labor organ
! ization as O 1aWless and anarchistlc body
with which they could and would have
| no dealings, demanded federal troops to
| insure complete protection to workers and
! their families in the mining region and
court proceedings against the miners
| union, and offered, if the men returned
| to work, to submit grievances at indi-
vidual collieries to the decision of the
| judges of the Court of Common Pleas for
| the district of Pennsylvania, in which
the coliery was located.
The President asked Mr.. Mitchell il he
| would agree to submit the questions to
| these courts, and he said mo"
Forcib1e Language Used.
The final session was a stormy one
President Roosevelt did not look with
favor upon the attitude Of the coal presi-
dents and did not hesitate to say so IN
the forceful manner so characteristic OF
him. President Mitchell resented the
attacks upon the men he represented, and
| the coal presidents then elaborated and
| REINFORCED the charges made in their
| statement.
every one spoke right out in meet
ing" said one of the officials, land 1t re-
| minded me of the Senate chamber during
bitter debate. Every one was SO much
| in earnest he did not realize how vigorous
was the language used.
From the time the afternoon confer
ence opened until shortly after 3 O'Clock
this heated argument continued. AT the
beginning the labor representatives and
the President were in conclllatory
mood, but the coal presidents evidently
did not intend to yield an inch, and threw
down the gauntlet by making a scathmg
attack on the miners.
Mr.. Mitchell made a most favorable
impression. He was cool, calm, selt-con-
tanned, and, during the insinuations made
against him by the coal presidents, lie
was earnest and forceful in the presenta-
| ton of the miners side OF the contro-
versy and resented with dignity the at
| tacks made upon him. He was the
spokesman for the miners, and his three
colleagues, who were present by courtesy,
did not open their lips.
The coal presidents were excited, even
after the conference adjourned. When
they arrived they were smiling and con-
| fident, but upon leaving, their faces were
flushed and their ill humor was apparent.
| On leaving the mansion, they passed
through a lane of humanity, plentltully
sprinkled with newspaper men, who tired
volley of questions at them. They de-
clined to answer, and would not Indicate
r. anv conclusion had been reached.