The Elbert County tribune., 1902-10-16
MAY NOW ARBITRATE
COAL OPERATORS PROPOSITION.
Ready to Refer All Questions to
Committee Of Five to Be Appoint
ed by President Roosevelt

have agreed to the appointment OF
commission, to be appointed by the
President of the United States. to
whom shall be referred all questions
at issue between the companies and
their own e.nployes, whether they be-
long to a union or not, and the deci-
sion of the commission shall be ac-
cepted by the operators.
The commission is to consist Of
An army or navy engineer officer,
An expert mining engineer not con-
nected with the coal mining proper
ties,
One OF the judges of the United
States courts of the eastern districts
OF Pennsylvania.
A man of prominence, eminent as
sociologist, and
A man who, by active participation in
mining and selling coal. is familiar with
the physical and commercial features OF
the business.
The operators also make a part of the
proposition that the miners shall return
to work as soon as the commission is
constituted and cease all interference
with non-union men.
The commission is to name date
when its findings shall be effective and
to govern conditions of employment be-
tween the companies and their own en-
ployes for at least three years.
The statement was read to the Presi-
dent as an act OF courtesy before being
given to the press
Washington, Oct. 13.-By authority
OF J. P. Morgan. who, with his partner.
Robert Bacon. and Secretary Root.
were in conference with President
Roosevelt at the temporary White
House tonight for an hour and half.
n statement was given out by Secretary
Cortelyou. in which the presidents of
the coal-carrying railroads and mine
operators propose commission Of five
persons to adjust the differences and
settle the coal strike in the anthracite
coal fields OF Pennsylvania The propo-
sition is believed by the administration
to be satisfactory TO the miners, as it
covers the proposition made by Presi-
dent Mitchell OF the United Mine Work
ers Union. with additional conditions
which it is believed the miners will ac-
cept The statement follows:
y. p. Morgan came TO Washington
with his partner, Mr.. Bacon. at the re-
quest OF the coal companies, who de-
sired that as a matter of courtesy their
statement should be shown TO the Pres
ident before it was made public Hav-
ing been laid before the President by
Mr.. Morgan. it is now given to the
press"
The statement of the coal operators
is, in part, as fallows:
''To the Public-The managers OF
the different coal properties compris-
ing the anthracite coal fields wish their
position in the the present strike to be
understood, and therefore make the
following statement of facts:
There are in the anthracite region
about seventy-ive operating companies
and firms and 147.o00 miners and
workmen (of which 10000 are under
age) comprising some twenty nation
alities and dialects
''Of these workmen possibly one
half belong to the United Mine Work
ers' Union, of which Mr.. John Mitchell
is president. That organization was
originally formed in the bituminous
coal region, and bituminous coal is
sold in active competition with anthra-
cite coal. The remaining workmen in
the anthracite fields either belong to
no union whatever, or do not belong
to the Mine Workers Union.
"The present strike was declared by
the Mine Workers Union on the 10th
day of May. 1902. Since that time
many workmen not belonging to or
not willing to follow that organization
were working about the mines. From
1000 to 10000 are now at work. Many
more have wished to work. but have
been prevented by course of violence
and intimidation, by the destruction of
properties and the fear of death or
bodily harm to every man who wishes
to exercise his right to work.
''The coal companies realize that
the urgent public need of coal and
lne apprehension of an inadequate
supply for the approaching winter
calls for an earnest effort to reach
practical conclusion which win result
in an increased supply, and the pres
idents of the companies desire to make
every effort to that end which does
not involve the abandonment of the
interests committed to their care and
of the men we are working and seek
ing to work in their mines. This re-
sponsibility they must bear and meet
as best they can.
"They therefore restate their posi-
ton: That they are not discriminat-
ing against the United Mine Workers,
but they insist that the Miners Union
shall not discriminate against or re-
fuse to work with non-union men; that
there shall be no restriction or deter
ioration in quantity or quality of work.
and that owing to the varying physical
conditions of the anthracite mines,
each colliery is a problem by itself.
I'VE suggest a commission to be
appointed by the President of the
United States df he is willing to per-
form that public service) to whom
shall be referred all questions at issue
between the respective companies and
their own employees, whether they be-
70 nrfr httf darf.
sion OF this commission shall be &C
cepted by u.s."