Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-20

Nv
4c,erraphic correspondence between
President Roosevelt and John Mitchell.
president of the United Mine Workers,
was made public at the White House,
Friday:
White House.
~ Washington. Oct. 16, 1902.
Mr.. John Mitchell. President United
Mine Workers of America, Wilkes
barre. Pa:
have appointed as commissioners
Brig. Gen. John NJ. Wilson. T.. w. Par
ker. Judge George Gray, f.. f.. Clark.
Thomas II. Watkins and Bishop John
L. Spaulding, with Hon. Carroll d.
Wright. rs recorder. These names are
, adcepted by the operators and l now
most earnestly ask and urge that the
miners likewise accept this commission.
II is matter of vital interest to all
our people and especially to those in
MIR great cities who are least well OFF.
that the mining of coal should be re-
sumed without a days unnecessary
delay.
(signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
%, Wikesbarre. Pa, Oct. Is. 1902.
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President of
the United States Washington, d. c.:
Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your teie-
gram of oct 16 which names the gen.
.lemen you have appointed as commits
sioners.
Replying thereto l beg to inform you
that your recommendations were sub
mtted to the members of the executive
board of Districts |. : and ., United
Mine Workers of America. and they
have unanimously agreed to call dele
gate convention to be held next Mon
day. and will recommend to the con-
vention that all men now on strike re-
turn to the positions formerly occupied
by them and submit to the commission
appointed by you all questions at issue
between the operators and workers OF
the anthraftrS''coaI fields.
In connection with this subject we
are glad to know that the managers of
the coal companies have decided to re-
cede from the untenable position which
they so long occupied and to accept a
modified proposition for the arbitration
of the coal strike and to give you full
latitude in the selection of a commits
sion. 1t will be remembered that we
proposed on Oct. to place the whole
matter in your hands and to accept the
verdict Of tribunal of your own selec-
tion. 1t will also be remembered that
the company managers at that time re-
fused to accent the arbitrament of the
President of the United States and
named that of the local common pleas
1tllups % In
to you without condition or reservation.
having the utmost faith in your inn
partiality and good judgment.
In their refusal to accept your arbi-
tration the operators sought to hold
you partly accountable for the very
conditions which YOU We're trying to
remedy, ard to instruct you as to your
cuties concerning them. Eight days
later they again appeared before you,
dropping the common pleas judges and
proposing to abide by the verdict OF
tribunal appointment by you. but at
tempting to prescribe within fixed and
narrow limits the character and voca-
uoh OF the men you were to name. TO
lh's proposition us the operators made
IT, we were unalterably opposed. First,
because our respect for you as man
ana our ideas as to what is due to the
dignity of your office demanded that we
should not be a marty to q request of
YOU TO accent this great responsibility
accompanied by detailed and imperti-
neht restrictions as to the manner in
which You should meet it; second, be-
cause careful analysis of their PROPOSE
o'oh disclosed to us as it did to you
anu 10 the public, that the restrictions
were too narrow to enable you to Sc
cure under them Il well-ba1anced and
thoroughly impartial tribunal.
sut now that you have yourself re-
moved these objections by broadening
anu strengthening the commission, we
sei confident that our convention will
ueciare its Willingness to have all ques-
uohs between the employing companies
anu the 70 per cent. of their employees
WIZ are members of our organization,
oelermined by the board of eminent
uu impartial men chosen by you. We
e grateful to you. Mr.. President. for
'ne patriotic efforts which you have
MADE to bring about an honorable set
uement of the strike; efforts which you
suuuhued. despite the remarkable spirit
any conduct which you at first found
:" me company managers. We We're in
oosition to sympathize with you, in
"s"'ueh as we had long been forced to
culture arrogance, insult and false wit
Aess from the same source
Nuf gratitude is due to you and to the
efican people and the press VIII,
We supported you and us in the Ions
S'ussie which we hope is now abou
~ eose. During all these long month,
IN which our motives have been i'm
puehed aud our characters maliciousl,
esSaied We have refrained from say
"s any word or taking any action
"'"ch would tend to render reconcilia
s'h more difficult, but now it become,
uuS TO defend ourselves against TIL
s'e'i'efs which have been heaped uro,
Us ana to proclaim that we have from
~ nrs' Favored practically the metho,
40, u Is now employed to break TIL
~ our offer of arbitration or imnar
nu investigation had been accepte
~ months ago instead of now. Their
WV nave been no strike. We. hay