The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-10-10
MITCHElrs FAIR PROPOSITION
LEAVE DIFFERENCES TO A TIL
BUNAL APPOINTED BY
PRESIDENT.
OPERATORS SQUARtlY REFUSE
RECOGNITION OF UNION Is ROCk
ON WHICH CONFERENCE
SPLIT.

Washington, Oct. 5.-The coal con-
ference between the president and
representatives of the operators and
miners came to an end at the temper
airy White House yesterday afternoon
with a failure to reach an agreement.
Apparently the rock upon which the
conference split was recognition OF the
miners union.
The president had urged the con-
tending parties to cease strife n the
interests of the public welfare. The
miners, through the president OF their
union had expressed a willingness to
submit differences to arbitration Of a
tribunal to be named by the president
and enter into an agreement to abide
by the terms fixed by the arbitration
for a period of from one to five years.
The employers, through the presidents
of the railroad and coal companies
and a leading Independent mine ope-
rator, had ~squarely refused arbitra-
ton; had denounced the miners la
Dor organization as a
LaWless and A%narchistic
body with which they could and would
have no dealings; had demanded fed
eral troops to insure complete protec-
ton to workers and their families in
the mining region, and court proceed
irgs against the miners union, and
had offered, If the men returned to
work, to submit grievances at the in
dividual collieries to the decision of
the Judge of court of common pleas
for the district of Pennsylvania in
which the colliery was located. There
the matter ended.
1t was a remarkable chapter in the
economic history of the country that
was written yesterday. For the first
time the president of the republic
had interviewed in the difficulty be-
tween the great forces of capital and
labor in an effort to avert what he
himself regarded as a great national
calamity. The result was to bring the
principals in the great controversy
face to face with the whole country
eagerly intent and watchful of their
doings. Technically the issues be-
tween the two great forces
Stand as They Did Before
the president summoned the repre-
sentatives of the contending forces to
the national capital, and, forgetting
his W acute suffering, besought them
for love of the great country wherein
they dwelt, and out Of pity for the
countless throng of suffering poor, to
adjust their differences and work to-
gether In peace for the common veal.
The views Of the c%ontenders in the
great industrial struggle were so ex-
IRENE and wide apart that there was
no middle ground possible, and so the
conference came to an end without
any agreement for it's continuation.
The conference had lasted six hours.
including a recess of three hours be-
tween the morning and afternoon ses-
sions taken to enable the miners and
operators to prepare written responses
to the presidents appeal. The i'm
mediate parties to the strike say they
will
Continue as Heretofore.
What course the administration will
take next no one is prepared to say.
One of the operators, as he left the
White House with closely set jaw, was
asked regarding this, and replied:
If any n knows what the presi-
dent will do next, that is more than I
know"
Fourteen men, including the presi-
dent, we're in the second story front
room at the temporary White House
during the momontOus conference.
PRESIDENT Mitchell and three of his
district leaders represented the min.
ers, and five railroad men and an in
dependent operator, the employers.
With the president were Attorney
General Knox, Commissioner of Labor
Wright and Secretary C~ortelyou.
During the conference the president
listened to both sides with the great
est eagerness. Immediately after it's
adjournment his physicians, Surgeon
General Rixey and DR.. Lung, insisted
on making an examination of his
wound and redressing it. Apparently
no Ill effects had resulted from the ex-
element of the day, and after a later
call at 8 O'Clock DR.. Lung announced
that the presidents condition was
satisfactory.
It was announced at the White
House last night that the president
had no comment to make on the con
ference.