Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-23
Will Not Accept Defamation OF
Colorado Coal Operators to
Agree to Arbitration.
MAKES HIS STAND CLEAR
AT CONFERENCE TODAY
Grants Interview to J. F. Welborn,
President of Company Which
Controls IS Per Cent of Output.

President Wilson today sent word to
| the Colorado coal operators through
one of their number with whom he
talked that he will not accept their
declination of his recent proposition
that the two sides to the Colorado coal
strike troubles get together. The
President insists that the difficulties
there ought to be settled and that he
can not accept the view that the ope
rators are unwilling to trust their side
of the case to commission of the
kind suggested by Mr.. Wilson.
| The Presidents ultimatum to the
operators followed an hours talk with
J. F. Welborn, president of the Colo
RADIO Fuel and Iron Company, which
controls about 35 per cent Of the coal
output in Colorado. Mr.. Welborn had
asked for an interview with a. COM
mittee of the operators, but no repre-
sentatives of the other operators ap-
peared today and the President re-
ceived word from them that they had
been unable to select Representatives
in time to get here.
| There were intimations today that the
| other operators are not in full accord
with the fuel and iron company, which
| is willing to accept mediation under
| certain conditions, and that some of
them are inclined to yield to the Presi-
dents insistence that the trouble has
gone far enough. and ought to be set
tied by an impartial commission The
| lntimations go farther, to the effect
that the Independent operators, who
! nave stood by Rockefeller's big COM
pany, are afraid of the power of that
company if they do not continue to
| stand by it.
Declines to Discuss Question.
At the close of the conference Mr..
| Weloorn said that he would not talk,
but would leave the publicity end to
the White House. He said that no date
had been made for further conferences,
and that he did not know what the
next steps would be-
The White House would not comment
on the steps to be taken if the coal
operators still stand out against ac-
| ceptance of the Presidents plans for
arbitration. 1t is conjectured that the
President will follow a plan familiar
to him Of slowly applying moral pres
sure until he brings the situation to
a conclusion satisfactory to him.
Mr.. Welborn, it is understood. ex-
planned to the President the whole
situation. defending the attitude of the
coal operators throughout and seeking
to enlighten the President as to the
| operators side of the fight. He in
sisted on arbitration under certain
conditions. which the President is not
willing to agree to. The President is
can afford to submit their case to a
commission the operators can do like
wise, and the miners have agreed to
the Presidents proposals.
Further Details in Interview.
Mr.. Welborn discussed today at the
New Willard Hotel with reporter for
The Star some details of the situation
in Colorado which were not gone into
in his letter to President Wilson. He
said:
During the month of August we had
so per cent of the men at work that we
had last August, and this number rep
resents, actually. ?5 per cent of our
present requirements in this way of
labor.
Market conditions in regard to coal
are not the same as they were a year
ago. The coal business all over the
United States has fallen off. The Au-
gust production of coal was only SO
per cent Of what it was last year.
II would not attempt to say whether
this is due to the war in Europe. but
I will say that If we have produced and
are producing within 10 per cent of the
amount of coal required, there is. gen.
orally speaking, no real strike in Colo
rado'
Mr.. Welborn was asked if he is will
ing that the federal troops in Colorado
should be withdrawn, in accordance
with the generally understood idea that
President Wilson thinks the United
States soldiers have served there long
enough. He said:
j Explains Necessity for Troops.
"One Of the newspapers this morning
commented on our statements in regard
to the large number of men We have
employed and asked. this being so.
What is the necessity for these troops?
The answer is that they are there be-
cause Of the presence of strikers and
strike leaders. Our men are entirely un-
armed. These strikers and strike leaders
have guns hidden away. While these
strikers and strike leaders have arms
lection to the men who want to work
and are working.
80 far as the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company is concerned we are empIovine
between $500 and 1000 men. The fact act
lis that If the strikers were willing to
return to work tomorrow we could not
put more than 500 more men to work
The strikers are returning to work al
most daily. They have been doing so
for weeks and months past.
No Objection to Unionism.
I'VE have no objection to unionism, as
such. We are objecting to this particular
Organization of the United Mine Work.
ers OF America as 1t Is conducted in
Colorado, that's all.
The strike went into effect just
year ago today. Tuesday, September 2s
We have not more than 1900 men
formerly employed by US still OUT
Mr.. Welborn said that he appeared be-
fore the President this morning, unac-
companied, and representing only the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. it had
been arranged that other mine operators
were to take part in the interview at
the White House, but after Mr. Vel
born arrived here he found that the
other operators had decided to reply to
the Presidents letter by mail.