Gilpin observer., 1906-03-01
TO AVERT STRIKE
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT APPEALS
TO JOHN MITCHELL.
MINERS WILL MEET AGAIN
Convention Will be Held March 18Th
Mitchell confers With Leading
Coal Operators.

SOnNCntioH VIII DC r1elo MARCH 1oTO-
Mitchell confers With Leading
Coal Operators.
New York.-President Roosevelt has
again intervened as a peacemaker be-
tween the coal miners and operators,
and as the result of letter ad-
dressed by him to John Mitchell, presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers of
America, national convention of the
united miners will be held at Indian
apolis March 18th to try to reach an
agreement with the soft coal opera
tors, in the hope of averting the threat
ened strike of April LIST in the btu
minous fields.
The Presidents letter and the an.
nouncement that the national conven-
tion would be called were made pub
lie Monday by Mr.. Mitchell after a
long conference with Francis L. Rob-
bins, president of the Pittsburg Coal
Company, and chairman of the btu
minous operators.
Also present at this conference were
w. c. Perry of the Southwestern Coal
Association, and B. F. Bush, represent
ing the soft coal interests allied with
the Gould railroads. The Presidents
letter to Mr.. Mitchell follows:
II note with very great concern the
failure of your late convention on the
joint interstate agreement to come to
basis of settlement of the bitumin-
Gus mining scale of wages. You in
this business have enjoyed great in,
dustrial peace for many years, thanks
to the joint trade agreement that has
resulted in the action Of your success
| sive conventions.
"a strike such as is threatened on
| April 1st is menace to the peace and
general welfare of the country. 1 urge
| you to make a further effort to avoid
such calamity.
"You and Mr.. Robbins are joint
chairmen of the trade agreement com
| mittee of the National Civic Fedora
ton, and it seems to me that this i'm
poses additional duty upon you both
and gives an additional reason why
each of you should join in making a
further effort. Very respectfully.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The conference did not adjourn until
nearly o'clock at night, when Mr..
Mitchell announced that after the
reading of President Roosevelt's letter
it was agreed both by himself and the
operators that the national convention
| should be called. The miners were in
session recently at Indianapolis, but
failed to reach an agreement with the
| operators. President Mitchell himself
has been quoted as saying that SO far
as he knew there would certainly be a
strike in the bituminous fields
April 1st.
With the anthracite negotiations
well under way President Mitchell has
been devoting most Of his time to
bringing about a settlement of the diff
ferences in the soft coal regions.
Mr.. Mitchell has not announced any
details of the conference. March 18th
he believes is the earliest date the con-
| vention can be summoned, and he be-
lieves that If there is to be peace the
| two weeks between the date fixed for
| the miners assembly and April 1st,
when the present agreement with the
operators expires, is sufficient time to
| bring about the desired result.
Concessions on both sides may be
| offered and President Roosevelts in
terest in the situation will be held as
an additional reason for bringing
about a new agreement.