Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-10-10
CONFERENCE WAS FRu'TLEss.
Operators and Miners Remain Firm
After New York Meeting.

AFTER rev VoVk meeSiU0s
New York, Oct. 10.-Replete at its
opening with promise of a solution Of
the long drawn out struggle between
the United Mine Workers Of America
and the operators OF the anthracite
properties In Pennsylvania yesterday
closed without apparent appreciable
progress toward an agreement on the
issues in controversy.
The most noteworthy Of the days
events was conference at the Office
Of Senator Thomas c. Plat. at which
there were present, among others, TIE
two senators from Pennsylvania and
the governor OF New York and nearly
all the heads of the big corporations
controlling the anthracite fields. In
all seeming, this conference had q
contrary effect to that which had been
hoped from it. and the operators de.
parted declaring adherence to the
policy they have followed from the
first of resisting the demands Of the
miners union to the bitter end. There
were other conferences during the day
in which President Mitchell and peo-
pie of more or less consequence in the
industrial world participated, but
these, SO far as information goes, were
barren of result as the principal meet.
ing.
In brief, there had been no change
so far as it might have been affected
by the gathering in New York of labor
leaders, mine operators and public
men,
Washington. Oct. 10.-The follow.
ing was made public at the white
house yesterday:
Office National President United
Mine Workers of America, John
Mitchell, National President, Sec
ond Vice President American Fed
Grafton of Labor:
Hotel Hart, Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. S,
1902.
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President
of the United States, Washington, D.
C.-Dear Sir: Hon. Carroll d. Wright
has, no doubt, reported to you the de-
livery of your message to me last
Monday and my statement to him that
should take your suggestion under
Amusement although l did not look
upon it with favor.
Since that time l have consulted
with our district presidents who con-
cur fully in my views.
I'VE desire to assure you again that
we feel keenly the responsibility OF
our position and the gravity of the
situation, and it would give US great
pleasure to take any action which
would bring this coal strike to an end
in a manner that would safeguard the
interests of our constituents. In pro-
| posing that there be an immediate re-
sumption of coal mining upon the con-
ditions we suggested in the conference
at the white house we believed that
| we had gone more than half way and
| had met your wishes.
1T is unnecessary in this letter to
| refer to the malicious assault upon US
| in the response of the coal operators.
! We feel confident that you must have
been impressed with the fairness OF
| our proposition and the insincerity OF
| those who maligned us.
| Having in mind our experiences
| with the coal operators in the past
We have no reason to feel any degree
! of confidence in the future, and mas.
much as they have refused to accept
| the decision of tribunal selected
by you, and inasmuch as there is no
law through which you could en-.
force the findings of the commission
you suggested We respectfully decline
to advise our people to return to work
simply upon the hope that the coal
operators might be induced or forced
| to comply with the recommendations
, of your commission. $751;.
LAS stated above, we believe that
we went more than half way in our
proposal at Washington, and we do not
| feel that we should be asked to make
! further sacrifices.
I'VE appreciate your solicitude fol-
the people of our country who are
now and will be subjected to no end
of suffering, Inconvenience by a pro
| longation of the coal strike. and we
| feel that the onus Of this terrible
state of affairs should be placed upon
the side which has refused to refer to
fair and impartial investigation.
81 am respectfully.
! (Signed) John Mitchell.
"prasjdept IT NJ w Of A :"