The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-29
JUDGE GE0, GRAY
 URGED ID ACCEPT
Governor TeIegraphed Asking Him to Act as Arbitrator
JUDGE GRAY INTERVIEWED
VIII Not State Whether or Not He VIII Act In Wage Scale contro- versy Until After He
 Sees Delegation.

The four members of the miners ana operators arbitration commission. who left here on Monday morning for Will mlngton, Del. to see Judge Gray, were delayed by railroad accident near Dam vile, va and did not reach Wilmington until late last night.
 The news reached Birmingham about 11:so yesterday morning, and while 1t was matter of regret that the gentlemen who made up the delegation should be so inconvenienced 1t was generally felt that the delay was, perhaps. fortunate, as 1t afforded an opportunity for citizens to reach, Judge Gray with number of tefe- grams urging his acceptance of the posi- ton of fifth arbitrator. General Awakening. There seemed to be general awakening early yesterday morning on the part of the business public to the fact that out hide pressure must be brought to bear on the distinguished Jurist or there would be little hope of his acceptance. Later in the day this feeling took concrete form in the following message which was sent to Judge Gray: Birmingham, Ala July 2S 1903. Judge George Gray. Wilmington, Del: We beg leave to request and urge that | you accept position of fifth arbitrator. The welfare of a quarter of a million peo- l pie will be seriously affected by your de- clinatlon. Tn their behalf we send this | telegram.
 The Birmingham News. | Birmingham Age-Herald. w. M. Drennen, mayor of Birmingham. | A. J. Dickinson, pastor First Baptist church.
 W. P. c. Harding, president First Na- | tional bank A O. Lane. president board of sduca- | ton.
 Luman S. Handley, pastor Central Pres- | byterian church.
 Charles W. Ferguson, associate judge | City court
 John W. stagg pastor First Presby- terian church. H. P. Hefiin, solicitor Criminal court J. w. Hughes, postmaster ea at J. A. Van Hoose, president Southern Wholesale Grocers' association. J. B. Cobbs, president Alabama Na- tional bank.
 A. A. Coleman, judge Circuit court.
 N. L. Steele, assistant United States district attorney
 J. P. Stiles. judge of probate
 John London, president Birmingham Bar association
 Charles J. Allison clerk United States court.
 John L. Parker. vice president Board of Trade.
 J. B. Gibson, secretary Commercial club.
 Charles A. senn. judge of City court of Birmingham.
 Other telegrams were sent during the day.
 Much Interest Manifested.
 Lively interest was manifested on all sides as to what Judge Grays action would be, and the telephone bells at the newspaper offices and other places that were looked upon as likely sources of in- formation were ringing necessarily throughout the afternoon and evening. People in all walks of life were among those who asked for news.
 prominent lawyer in discussing the matter last night. said:
 While would not be. thought to dis parage the personnel of the arbitration commission in any matter, in so far as it is already chosen. could not but be struck by the statement in an interview in the Age-Herald of this morning, to the effect that that whole matter should have been handled on broader lines''-- @.'
 The local delegation will call OF Judge Gray today, but it may be that the judge will not give his final decision as to ac- ceptance or non-acceptance for several days.
 Judge Gray Interviewed.
 The following Associated Press dispatch was received at a late hour last night:
 Wilmington, Del. July 2S.-Judge George Gray, who was president of the anthracite coal strike commission, said tonight that he had not yet been officially approached to act as an arbitrator in the matter of existing disputes between the mine work CTS and operators in Alabama. He said he had received numerous telegrams from Alabama urging him to act as arbitrator, among them being one from the governor, and others from operators and mine work CTS. The judge added that he understood that committee was on the way here to formally ask him to act as arbitrator This committee, he said, was to have arrived at noon, but up to late hour tonight the committee had not reached Wilmington. Judge Gray declines to say what he will do until after he has met the committed.
 It is expected that the committee will meet him tomorrow.
 
 Birmingham has 29 commission ,,ar