Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-01
WILSON APPOINTS
MINE PEACE BODY
Seth Low and Two Others Named as
Arbitrators to Settle Future
Colorado Labor Disputes.
PRESIDENT ISSUES STATEMENT
Hopes that Parties Will See that IL
is to own Interest and Duty
to Public to Accept
Mediation.

"<ASthAAN6IONt II. u, NOV. ~.-tTeSl-
dent Wilson tonight announced the ap-
pointment of Seth Low of New York,
Charles w. Mills of Philadelphia and Pat
ric- Gilday of Clearfield, Pa, as a COM
mission through which future differences
between operators and mine employees
in the Colorado strike may be settled.
The commission, the officials explained,
was not appointed to deal with the ex-
listing differences which have caused riot
ing and bloodshed in Colorado. HymeI
Davies and w. r. Farley, the concilia-
tors who have been attempting to settle
the strike for several months. will con-
tinue in their efforts to have the opera
tors and miners agree on a settlement
OF the present strike
In statement announcing the appoint
ment Of the commission the president ex-
pressed the very earnest and sincere
hope that the parties may see It not
merely to their own best interests. but
also duty which they owe to the COM
munity they serve and to the nation
itself to make use of this instrumentality
of peace and render strikes of the kind
which have threatened the order and
prosperity of the great state Of Colorado
thing of the past"
Chte1 ObJection Or Bosses.
The appointment of sucn a commission
was contemplated In the plan for tenn
porsry settlement of the strike which
the president proposed several months
ago and which was accepted by the
miners. but rejected by the operators.
One of the chief objevtions OF the opera
tors to the plan was the naming OF the
commission.
The president announced in his state
ment tonight that the commission will
place themselves "at the service alike
of the miners and the operators OF the
mines of Colorado in case controversy
between them should in the future de-
velop circumstances which would render
mediation the obvious way of peace and
just settlement"
/ Mr.. Wilson added that merely to with
draw the federal troops and leave the
situation to settle itself would seem to me
TO be doing something less than my duty
after all that has occurred" lie has
been asked by Governor Ammons OF
Colorado to withdraw the troops from
some OF the districts and win discuss
the question with Secretary Garrison or
the War department this week.
Basis of Agreement.
The original basis of agreement offered
by the president included the establish
ment of a three years truce. subject to
the enforcement of the mining and labor
laws in Colorado, the return to work OF
miners who had not been convicted of
law violations the prohibition OF intimi-
dation of union or non-union men; and
tie appointment of a grievance committee
by the employees. 1t provides that in
cases where the officers of the COM
pany and the grievance committees could
not settle differences q commission OF
three men, named by the president.
should step in and act as the final referee
of all disputes.
President Wilson's statement explaining
the naming OF the commission follows:
''The strike of the miners in Colorado,
which has now lasted for twelve months,
has attracted the attention of the whole
country and has been accompanied by
many distressing and tragical circum-
stances The mediation OF the govern
ment OF the United States was offered
early in the struggle. but the operators
of the mines were unwilling TO avail
themselves OF IL or to act upon the sug-
gestions made ip the interest Of peace
by representatives Of the department OF
labor authorized by statute to serve In
such cases. II became necessary to send
federal troops TO the district affected
by the strike in order 10 preserve the
peace but their presence could of itself
accomplish nothing affirmative
Proposes plan.
After long waiting. therefore and the
disappointment OF many hopes OF ac-
commodation. ventured. after taking
counsel with representatives of the gov
eminent, who had been on the field and
made themselvs thoroughly familiar with
all the circumstances Of the case, TO pro-
pose a plan OF temporary settlement TO
be put into operation for a period OF
three years and to afford means of
amicable consultation and adjustment
between the mine operators and their
employees. pending agreement upon such
terms and arrangements as might be
made the basis, for permanently satis-
factory relation between them.
The propOSai seems 20 be obviously
fair and sensible. The striking miners
( promptly accepted ~ but the mine OPP
cretors rejected ii saying in response