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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 1902)
THE MOBBING QREGONIA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1902. MiNERS FOR PEACE Unions Elect Delegates to Big Convention. MITCHELL SURE STRIKE IS OVER Principal Isshc Before Meeting: Will Be Provision for Men Tkrovfa, Out ot Work by Retention Of XOHBBlORlstB. WILKESBARRE, Pa., Oct 17. In ac cordance with the call Issued yesterday by order of the executive boards of the an thracite districts, all "locals" ot the Min ers' Union throughout the coal fields began electing delegates today to the convention, -which will be held here next Jtfonday to consider the acceptance or rejection of the arbitration plan submit ted by President Roosevelt. Most ot the Jocal unions held their meetings tonight. They all will have been held by tomor row night. It is practically certain that a majority of the delegates will come to the conven tion Instructed to vote in favor of ac cepting the arbitration scheme. The prominent officials of the association have" no fears that tho opposition will be atrang enough to defeat the efforts of those who favor ending the strike by ar bitrating their differences with the oper i ators. President Mitchell does not care to anticipate the action of the conven tion, but from his manner it is taken that he has not the slightest doubt as to the result. He will go into the convention, and make a strong speech for the ac ceptance of the arbitration scheme. The Principal Issue. The Indications are that the conven; tion will last two days, and that there will be much debate on various features of the arbitration plan. The principal question to be disposed of before the plan Is accepted by the miners will be that of the taking care of .all the men. Th6 con dition of the mines are such that all men cannot be given work immediately, and some will have to wait for weeks before the companies can take care of them. Tho operators will not dismiss the non union men in order to give employment to a returning striker. It Is understood the union will take care of all such men who fail to find Immediate employment. This will be done by drawing funds from the relief fund, which is said to be growing still. i Preparation for Work. The coal companies will do all In their power to meet the public demand for coal. Preparations for resuming work as soon as the miners call the strike oft are going on apace. It is estimated that 25 per cent of the collieries will be In operation on the first day after the suspension in over. The railroads are also making every ef fort to have enough cars on hand to carry thefreshly-mined coal to market. They are 'sending thousands of cars Into the regions and placing them on sidings at he collieries. The state troops are having an easy time of it, and are expecting the withdrawal of a portion of the division any day. General Gobin said today that reports of petty acts of violence, such as the throwing of stones at men going to work, are still being reported to him. The stationary firemen, affiliated with the Stationary Firemen's Association of Pennsylvania, who went on strike June 2, along with- the firemen belonging to the Mlneworkers Union, met tonight, and decided to abide "by the decision of the United Mlneworkers' convention. Presi dent Barrett, and Secretary Mullahy were authorized to go before the arbitration commission, and urge that the firemen be granted the. eight-hour day. ARBITRATORS AT WHITE HOUSE. Wilson and Wright Dlncnas Work of Commission With Roosevelt. WASHINGTON, Oct, 17. Brigadier General John M. Wilson, tho military member of the coal strike arbitration commission, and Colonel Carroll D. Wright, recorder for the commission, had an extended conference with President Roosevelt today. They discussed prettv fully the events leading up to the ap pointment of the commission,- and ten tatively some arrangements for its work. On leaving the White House. General Wilson said it was yet too early to dis cuss for publication the work of the com mission. He Indicated that the body would be organized In Washington, but. when and where its sittings would be held were details which would be worked out ty the whole commission. It is known that the commission will not begin Its la bors formally until the miners shall have agreed to It Later in the day, E. W. Par ker, the mining expert of the commission, called at the White House with Dr. David T. Day. of the Geological Survey, and formally -accepted his appointment , Mr. Parker remained with the President and Colonel Wright for a considerable time. It is not yet announced how the expehscs of the commission will be paid. The civilian members will be entitled to a per diem to be fixed by the President CInrk Will Serve on Board. NEW YORK, Oct. J7.-E. E. Clark, grand chief of the Brotherhood of Rail road Conductors, who was appointed by President Roosevelt as a member of the coal strike arbitration commission, is in the city for the purpose of attending a railway employes' meeting. T have not been officially notified of my appointment," he said. "I will accept with pleasure. I am. a believer in arbi tration, but not in compulsory arbitra tion. I have a general Idea of the duties of the commission: The strike has gone home to the people more 'than any other In the history of the country." Thomas H. Watkins, another member of the commission, said he had not been officially notified of his appointment WRIGHT WILL HAVE NO VOTE. Still He Will Be the" Man Who Really Rnns the Arbitration Board. WASHINGTON, Oct. 17.-Hon. Carroll D. Wright as recorder of the commission to arbitrate the anthracite coal dispute will not have a vote. The following au thoritative statement Is made: "The commission Is so constituted that it "will require a two-thirds vote to settle any point upon which there Is a dispute " That means that Colonel Wright is not -to be regarded as a member of the com mission in passing upon questions at Is sue before It An official of the War De partment with a great deal of experi ence, said: "In all military boards and courts the recorder has no vote, but he is the man who runs the board." Colonel Wright will keep the records summon witnesses, carry out the orders Df the commission and perhaps prepare Its report under instructions. APPEAL FOR MINERS. Chicago Ministers Asked to Make Special Collection Sunday. CHICAGO. Oct. 17.-The miners' relief committee of 100 has sent out a circular to ministers qf Chicago churches asking a special donation Sunday. . "The close of the strike brings no Im mediate relief to the sufferings of the many thousands of. women and children in the poverty-stricken region," says the circular. .Foundry Closes for Want of Coal. ALTOONA, Pa., Oct 17. The' Pennsyl vania Railroad Soft Iron, Wheel and Brass Foundries were obliged to close down here today because of the fuel 'famine. CONFEDERATE HOMES. Explanations and Arguments From an Alsbaias. Paper. Montgomery Advertiser. The Advertiser this morning prints an editorial from a recent Issue of The Port land Oregonlan on the subject of Confed erate homes, and incidentally touching some other matters. The Oregonlan ia one of the great papers of the Northwest and is one of the fairest and most con servative Republican papers in the Union. For these reasons its opinions are worth reading, but there are two .or three points in the present article that we think should be discussed a little. The general tone of the editorial la ex cellent but It is not altogether fair In some particulars. In one paragraph the article says the Southern States "are prosperous enough tn4f. nrAitMfi acvlttmc fnr thnn old soldiers who are disabled by wounds and ri!nnn" nnrt nr1f1l- "Rut th Southern people do not like to pay a decent tax lor tne eaucniion oi tneir enwaren,. wuiw and black, and such a people are not disposed to make a generous appropria tion for the hundreds of ex-Confederates who are spending their old age In pov erty with the prospect of a pauper's grave." So far as Alabama is concerned thla statement is unjust' and inaccurate.-We admit that our state is- now sufficiently prosperous to provide a Confederate home and to keep it up, or provide the major portion of the funds necessary for that purpose. That we think, will surely be done, and we need not discuss It now, as the matter la going to be fully dis cussed before the Legislature meets, and such representations will be made to that body as will convince it that aid to needy Confederates Is a duty which the state owes them and which cannot be honorably postponed any longer. wnat Tne oregonlan has to say about the schools of Alabama is peculiarly un fair as well as Inaccurate. A few fig ures from, the Auditor's report, showing receipts and disbursements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1901, will show the Injustice of The Oregonlan's charge. For that year the state's receipts from all sources' were $2,842,435; paid o.ut for educational purposes, jl.556,321. This, as will be seen, shows that., a trifle over 54 per cent of the total receipts of the state for that year went for educational purposes. Does the state of Oregon do any better, than this? The figures for the present fiscal year are not yet available, but there will, not be a great difference in the proportional amounts. And, as our contemporary mentioned, "children, white and black," It is but fair to say that while these edu cational funds were fairly divided be tween the races according to numbers, practically all the money was paid in aa taxes by the white race. We hope soon to get at least approximately, the amount of money paid .by the" white and the black races and the amount expended for the education of the two races. If The Oreconlan Ahmilrf mtft tMo nr. gumcnt by saying that Alabama should raise more money by taxation the reply would be that the. white people of this state are paying Just about as much In taxes as they can afford to do, or should be required to do. The time may come when the. state will be able to expend much more money for educational pur poses than is done at present and when that time comes no one will rejoice more than the Advertiser. Now, a few words about the relief of Confederate soldiers and their widows, The state last year paid out $251,439 for pensions and expenses connected with tho pension fund. This is not a large amount and when it Is divided among the many claimants It Is but a pittance for each, and that it is no more Is cause of sorrow to every true Alabamian. Then, too, as in all pension matters, it is pos sible that some are drawing who are not really needy or deserving, but this seems unavoidable. And In this connection we think it but fair-to remind The Oregonlan that the people of Alabama. Confed erate veterans as well as others, are pay ing their full sharo of that $139,000 000 which goes to Union soldiers In the way of v pensions. If all the money paid for pension purposes by Alabamlans went to her own Confederate veterans there would be no lack of relief for them. This by the way. It Is not exactly pan of the argument, but we want The Oregonlan I to look at all features of the case. ! But we are fully In agreement with the sentiment It matters not from what source It proceeds, which- demands that Alabama should provide a home for those old veterans who have reached a point where they cannot, and should not do anything but rest Many of them are old. practically helpless, and with no one to do for them what they are each year less able to do for themselves. The de crepitude of age. of sickness and of wounds walks hand In hand with poverty and want The state can provide a Home for them. It ought to do It and It must do It No plea of high taxation, financial inability or anything else must continue to prevent the state doing its QUty to those whn irmv imtfAM. badge of honor acknowledged and recog nized by the civilised world. The Advertiser does not want to be misunderstood as to its attitude towards the offer made by Judge Torrance. We understand, approve and Indorse the spirit of independence which leads any of our Southern people to object to as sistance from the veterans of the Union 3;MTha,t Sp,rlt 13 noble and com mendable for we should talre care of our own. both as a matter of choice and a duty which we owe to them and to the cause for which they struggled, but "it is a condition which confronts us-not a th?tIy- UZ needv veterans are not re ceiving the help which they deserve and ought to have. While this condition con XLUeJ we, nnot feel any humiliation in sUrr5 C?P VU,t 0ther old Midlers" wS b2 th.e Uci of common brother hood, and actuated by that spirit which makes one brave soldier respect another voluntarily offers to help us bear the ta Sh"?1 PErha have n0t bn In condition to benr for ourselves, if the freely tendered rift nt v, tt.. . eran helps -to make more comfortable and endurable the last days of one of our Sli J Pte,rans J ould welcome that gift and feel no humlhation-because of It A' WhCn aU, the nocdv veterans of onr" "Vared, for and tained by own,8tate nd our own people we shall rejoice at It. but till that time comes ZlshYlA accept the heJP of ot thl other s de not abjectly or fawnlngly. but fftn-nWf ,atcrchanse of friendly se- eSS-betWeen thSe Who were "nee The Magnates Conferring. Baltimore American. "We will show the Impudent public" asserts the first magnate, "that we will not be dictated to." ' U "Certainly we will." agrees the second magnate. "I believe the time has come for us to reassert tho famous statement of Commodore Vandcrbilt concerning tho public - "No no " says the first magnate, who Is a timid but far-seeing person, "that would never do. If the public Were well we shall say condemned If it were con demned then it would not have to pay anything for its fuel." More Evidence Apainwt Rns.ila. LONDON, Oct 17. In a dispatch from Constantinople, the correspondent of tho Dally Mall says: "It is said at the Yildiz Palace that the Czar, In telegraphing the Sultan his thanks for the reception accorded to the Grand Duke Nicholas.- repented the Invi tation to His Majesty to renew the Un-kiar-Skelessi treaty. Russia is still will ing to arrange with Turkey for the con cession of two coaling stations, one on the Black Sea. near Constantinople, and the other on the coast of Smyrna.'" -V:, r.- f - ' i-. BOERS GETCHEERS, NO AID OSE AMERICAN'S CONTRIBUTION MORES THAN ALL. GERMANY.. Generals Are Sorry No-fv They Did Not ToHr the United States First Their Entertainment in Berlin. BERLIN, Oct 17. The Boer Generals now here are sorry they did not go "to America first for money, instead of mak ing a canvass of the Continent. General Botha said today that they Intended, of course; to go to the United States, but as they had started to tour the Conti nent, they would finish their tour of Europe before undertaking the trip to America. There have been plonty of cheers, but little money has been contrib uted, for the relief of the Bocr. One American contributed more than! all Ger many. The total gathered here is $67,700. The Germnns are doing everything pos sible to give the demonstrations an anti British character, but the Boers have re fused outright to do some of the things suggested. For instance, it was widely advertised that the Generals would this morning place a wreath at the foot of the statue of Emperor William I near the Schloss. Enormous crowds gathered there, and their ehpers wr hnnrA hv wta Majesty, who looked out of the window. xMimuy woru was circuiaiea mat tne Boers would not como at all. As learned afterwards, General Botha declined to take part In the affair that seemed to him to have a political quality. The popular explanation of the abandonment of the Visit to the statu was that n Writ urna received from the police that it was unde sirable. The Generals, with Herr Liebcrmann von Sonneberg. who In the Reichstag called Colonial Secretary Chamberlain "the greatest knave In Europe," drove to the Reichstag bulldlng.vand inspected Bis marck's statue outside, while several thousand people "shouted," one newspa per says, "such cheers as have not been heard in Berlin since Kaiser Wilhelm's triumphant entry In 1S71." Prince Herbert von Bismarck enter tained the Generals at luncheon In the RelchBtag restaurant The only Incident which disturbed tho afternoon reception at the hotel, where the Generals are staying was caused by a German "free lance," who" arrived here from prison In India today, asking Gen eral Botha to caBfy two Transvaal bills for $785, Issued in 1900, and given to the man in payment for service. General Botha said: "I cannot do It, my boy, I am a beggar myself." Count von Nor man discounted the bills as curiosities. The Philharmonic House was filled to Its capacity for thvBoer meeting tonight Herr Luockhoff, member of the Reichstag and president of the Boer reception com mittee, presided at the meeting. In the course of his evening speech, he pointed to the Transvaal and Orange Free State flags, which were suspended over the Ftago and dressed in mourning, and said sthelr presence was a sign of the heartiest sympathy for the Boers, and for admira tion for their courage in arms. He praised the humanity of the Boers during the war, which, he said, they had often oxer clsed to their own disadvantage and which should serve as a model for all civilized people. The Generals, especially General Dewet. received a rousing welcome. They nil spoke in Dutch at considerable length. Pastor Efhowalter, who at one time lived in the Transvaal, translating the speeches, which were eagerly applauded. The speakers avoided attacks upon Great Britain, but the audience cried shame when General . Botha referred to the charges that Mr. Kruger had carried off TranBvaal money, and mentioned the con centration camps. General Botha assert ed that the Boers would be true to tho peace treaty, like men. At the conclu v ( . .. Wit. xOoLfft ) ONE CONSOLATION FOR THE OPERATORS IMII rr- C . - i Rough TAN DM - sion' of General Botha's remarks, Herr Laieckhoff asked the audience not to cry shame. General Delarey described the miserable plight of the Boers in expres sive language. General Dewet said he hoped the Boers would have a great fu ture, and added: "We will wait until God's time comes." This remark was greeted with thunder ous . applause. Three young ladies pre sented, laurel wreaths to the Boer Gen erals, and Generals Delarey and Dewet kissed the girls who made the presenta tion. Telegrams of greetings were sont to Mr. Kruger and Mr. Steyn. RUSSIA POWERLESS TO ACT. It Cannot Revise Treaty With Tur key Without Consent of PoTrera. VIENNA, Oct 17. The Austro-Hunga-rlan Foreign Office entirely discredits the report telegraphed from Bucharest, Rou manla, to the London Dally Mall that Russia has proposed to Turkey a re veal of the Unklar-Skelessl treaty of 1833, which established a Russian alliance, un der the terms of which the Government of Turkey undertook at Russia's request to exclude In time of war all foreign war ships from the Black Sea, while Ruasla undertook at Turkey's request to furnish her aid by land and sea if necensary. It is pointed out at the Foreign Office hero that all the European powers are con cerned In the existing treaties governing the passage ot the Dardanelles by foreign warships, and that it la not possible lor Russia to modify them without the con sent of the co-signatories. The Austrian Ambassador at Constanti nople has also assured the Foreign Office In this city that no political matters were discussed during the recent visit to the Sultan of the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia; who Is said to have made the proposition referred to. ALBAMANS ARE ROUTED, Turkish Troopit Are Rapidly Putting Down the Rebels. CONSTANTINOPLE, Oct. 17. The mili tary authorities at Mitrovitza, Albania, have secured complete control of the sit uation. They have captured Chief Issa Bolgetlnez. who with hi- fitr. i cently tore up the railroad between Mit- .wa a.iU vuuuuein, ana announced his determination to take up his duties at the former nlaep. Tho nhiaf !.. , l - - ' - -...v.. iiu.' uccii Mitten t iu oiuonjca unaer escort. The Albanians ; at Mitrovitza and In Its neighborhood irnvu ueen oisarmea, and the Russian vu"DUt occupy ins onice shortly. Brigands Stirring Up Revolution. - CONSTANTINOPLE, Oct. 17.-An offi cial communication, Issued today, de scribes tho fighting with Bulgarian brig nnda in the vlelnitv of ndn- m bala, and declares that the object of thee i - - " u,i a. icvuiuuon. i ne communication continues: "Imperial troops have succeeded In rout ing and dispersing the brigands, and the villagers, in consequence, are beginning to submit and return peaceably to their homes. The disturbances, indoed, cannot last; tranquillity has already begun to as sert Itself." Macedonian Rising- Spreading-. LONDON. Oct. If. Advices received here from Salonlca. European Turkey, dated Monday,' October 13, report the In surrection In Northern Macedonia to be spreading. The telegraph wires have been cut in several places between Melnlk and ;DJumbaIa, and many Turkish reserves at Salonici have already been sent Into the Interior, and largo numbers of reinforce ments have been ordered from Constan tinople tb. Salonlca. A telegram from Vole, Greece, dated October 17, announces that In the Iatdpt clah of Salonlca re serves have, been called out. i It would cost a roan ?30 a .day to live on mushrooms. On the other hand, 10 cents would buy oufflcient flour to supply him with enough food to enable him to continue- at hard work. . ;-v. . -1 THAT 'STRENUOUS' v WAS A 1 ITTI 'C ;HoVe;r j CAN iV:,M Ant V nni i ar IRISH REFUSE TO VOTE ONLY ONE MEMBER ACTS WHEN EDUCATIONAL BILL IS UP. Liberals Threaten to Return Ilojne, Unless Dnlfour Agrees to Give Ireland a Hearing:. LONDON, Oct 17. With the exception of Timothy M. Healy, who voted to sup port all the Irish members of the House of Commons abstained from voting in to day's division on the education bill. A majority of them advocate returning to Ireland Immediately, but no action in this direction will be. taken until it Is seen Whether Premier Balfour Is inclined to grant a day for the dlscucslon of Irish af fairs, The leaders of tho opposition havo de cided to oppose the agreement between the government and the Cunard Steam ship Company In Parliament on the double ground of cost and principle. ROSEBERY RIDS FOR SUPPORT. Es-Prcniier Attacks the Educational Policy of Britain. NEW YORK, Oct 17. Lord Rosebery hao divided with Parliament the honors of political day In a speech before the City Liberal Club, a stronghold of cau tious, conservative Liberalism, cables the London correspondent of the. Tribune Tho address of the ex-Prcmler was a vigorous arraignment of the educa tional policy of the Government, and a bid for the non-conformist support It will help, the special declares, to concen trate the lines of attack upon the Govern ment measure, and serve to reconcile the non-conformlats to his leadership of the Liberal party. Lord Rosebery not only oondemned the abolition of school boards and advocated an unequivocal municipal control over ed ucational mechanism, but was prepared to consent to tho purchase of a voluntary plant In order to establish a truly Na tional system and to settle once for all the school question. PREMIER DEFENDS GOVERNMENT. Denies Irish Children Have Been Deprived of Primary Education. PARIS, Oct 17. The Premier, M. Combes, replied in the Chamber of Depu ties today to tho opposition's attack on the government, for the manner in which tho law of aasoclatlons has been en forced, on account of the closing of un authorized schools, which was perfectly lawful, saying that the resistance was In stigated by political agitators who de ceived the congregations regarding the Interpretation of the law. He depicd that any children had been deprived of pri mary education. They were accommo dated In the state schools. It was not true that troops had been marched against women. They were called out to protect the government officials against violence provoked by fanatics. Denounces Gerrann Tariff Bill. BERLIN, Oct 17. During the tariff bill debate In the Reichstag today, Herr An trlk, in behalf of tho Social Democrats, made a vigorous 'denunciation of the measure. He declared that the party he represented would' not support the bill, cither in its original form, or as amend ed by the committee, and If it were passed, It would stir up a popular move ment, which would "land In hades all supporters of the bill and the whole class "of Prussian bankers." Tho Methodist church of Canada- has 20I.S05 member, a net Increase of 2733 for the r!. or 11.35S lor the last four years, or 122,002 since 18S3, when the various Methodlat deriom- i lnatlons united. J MINERS, FORGIVE BARONS MITCHELL, AT THE SAME TIME, REPLIES TQ ALLEGED INSULTS. Strikers' President Acknowledges Note of Roosevelt Notifying- Him at Arbitration Committee. WASHINGTON. Oct 17.-The response of John Mitchell; President of the United Mlneworkers. to President Roosevelt's no tification that he had appointed a commis sion, was madej public today. It Informs mm of the action of the executive boards of districts .1, 7 and 9 in calling a conven tion and agreeing to recommend unani mously the resumption of work and tbe submission ot -the differences between tho 'operators and the mlneworkers of the an thracite coal fields" to the commission. The reply expresses confidence that the convention will agreo to the arbitration o the "eminent and impartial men" chosen by the President, and expresses gratitude to the President for his patriotic efforts to bring about an honorable set tlement of the strike. The reply goes at length, Into the griev ance of the miners, and concludes with theexpression of the hope and b6H6f that from this arbitration wUl come a "com plete, satisfactory and permanent solu tion of the troubles which have vexed the anthracite field from time Immemorial," Following is. the text of President Mitchell's communication: "WUHeabarre. Pa., Oct 16, 1G03. Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States. Washington. D. C Dear Sir: I am In receipt of your telegram of October 16, which reads as, follows: I have appointed as. Commissioners Brigadier-General John M. Wilson, Mr. E. W. Parker, Judge George Gray, Mr. E. E. Clark, Mr. Thomas H, Watkins and Bish op John L. Spalding, with Hon. Carroll D. Wright as recorder. These names are accepted! by the operators and I now most earnestly ask and urge that the miners likewise accept this commission. It Is a matter of vital concern to all our people and especially to those in our great cities, who are least well off, that the mining of coal should be resumed without a day's unnecessary delay,' Action of District Boards. "Replying thereto. I beg to Inform you that your recommendations were sub mitted to the executive boards of districts 1. 1 and 9. United MIneworkere 0f Ameri ca, and they have unanimously agreed to call a. delegate convention, to be held next Monday, and will recommend to the convention that all men now on strike return to the positions and working places formerly occupied, by them, and submit to the commission .appointed by you all question at issue betwoen the operators and mlneworkers of the anthracite coal fields. In connection with this subject we are clad to know that the managers of the coal companies have decided to recede from the untenable position which they so long occupied and to accept a modified proposition for the arbitration of the coal strike and to give you full latitude In the selection of a commission. "It will be' remembered that we pro posed on October 3 to place the whole matter In your hands and to accept a verdict of a tribunal of your own selec tion. It will also be remembered that the company managers at that time re fused to accept the arbitrament of the President of the United States and pre ferred that of the local Common-Pleas Judges. We proposed to leave everything to you without condition or reservation, having the utmost faith in your impar tiality and good judgment "In their refusal to accept your arbit rament the operators sought to hold you in part accountable for the very condi tions which yoq were' trying to remedy and to instruct you a$ to .your-.Auties con cerning them. Eight days later they again appeared before you, dropping the Conimon-Ploaa Judge and proposing to abide by the verdict it a tribunal ap pointed by you, bllt attempting to pre scribe within Used and narrow limits the character and vocation of the men you were to name, Objection to First Peace. Proposal. "To thla proposition as tlie operators made it. we were unalterably opposed: "First, Because our respect for you as a man and our Ideas as to what is due to the dignity of your office demanded that we should not be a party to a request of you to accept this great responsibility, ac companied by detailed and impertinent re strictions ps to the manner in which you Bhould moet Jt, "Second. Because careful analysis of their proposition disclosed to us, as It did to you and the publlo, that the restrictions were too. narrow to enable you to secure under them a well-balanced and thor oughly impartial tribunal. "But now that you have yourself re moved these objections by broadening and strengthening the commission, we feel confident that our convention will declare its willingness to have -all questions be tween , the employing companies and the 95 per cent of their employes who are members of our organization, determined oy tne board or eminent and impartial men chosen by you, "We feel grateful to you. Mr. President, for the patriotio efforts which you have made to bring about an honorable settle ment of the strike efforts whlah you con tinued, despite the remarkable spirit and conduct which you at first found in the company managors. We were in a posi tion to sympathize with you, inasmuch as we naa long ccen forced to endure arro gance, insult and false witness from the same source. In Defense of Miners. "Our gratitude Is due to you and to the American people and the press who have supported you and us in thclong struggle which we hope is now about to close. During all these long months, in which our motives have been Impugned and our characters maliciously assailed, we have refrained from saying any word or taking any action which would tend to render re conciliation more difficult, 'but It now be comes a duty to defend ourselves from tho slanders which have been heaped upon us and to proclaim that we have, from the first, favored practically the method which Is now emnlovil to hrunV ,ioo- lock. If our proffer of arbitration or m- paruai inveBiisaiion naa noen accepted six months ago Instead of now, there need havo been no strike. "We have been so eager, Mr. President, to respond to the people's demand for coal that during the progress of the strike we have more than once offered arbitra tion, but we have Invariably been met with the reply. 'We will not permit out siders to dictate to ub in tho management of our own affairs. We have nothing to arbitrate.' Now that the managers o the companies have been compelled by you and a thoroughly aroused public con science to recede from this position, wo are proud that the firmness and the heroic endurance of our men and women In sup port of their rights and of a vital Ameri can principle havo won the victory. "The poor, undcr-pald mjneworkers of these coal regions, who tqil hard from early morning until late at night for a livelihood, nobly supported by organized labor In this and other lands, have taught these corporation managers a useful les son in civic and social dutv. We exult over these tributes to the dignity of labor because it Is the triumph of right and of good public policy. We do not. however, exult oyer our opponents. We appeal to them now, as we have from the first, to turn their eyes to the future and to co operate with us In an effort to establish better relations between employer and employe for the advantage of both. Operators Are Forsrlvcn. "We forgive them their nrrogant re fusal to deal with usr and In thl3 hour when they are forced to acknowledge their Inability to operate their mines without our consent and co-operation we hold out the right hand of friendship and nsk them to Join with us in securing amicable relations and wholesome condi tions in this region. We- forgive theca even for the false accusations which they have made against us. They charged us with being criminals, rioters and anarch ists, and our organization they denounced as 'lawless and irresponsible." They know and did know that their charges were untrue and without foundation in. fact: they knew that overy pfHcer of the United Mlneworkers of America, from the President down, has constantly urged upon Its membership the imperative need of respecting the law; that 'every man who commits a deed of violence Is an enemy to our cause.' has been our watch word. "Despite these admonitions, supported with all our influence, there have been a few crimes and a number of misdemean ors chargeable to those on strike. But Mr- President we make the unqualified declaration xthat the Imported guardians of law and order, the companies' coai and iron police; have committed more un provoked murders during thl3 strike than can be charged to thje great army of men who have been In Idleness for the past live months. "We have repeatedly and In language not susceptible of misconstruction con demned transgressions of law on the part of those on strike; We challenga the coal companies .to point to one public utter ance on their part in which they have ever deprecated acts of violence com mitted by thett hired guards, "White House Insult Resented. "We declare that itwas unfair and un manly for tlie coal road" presidents to In suit us while we were your guests and charge our organization with responsibil ity for acts of lawleEsness during the" strike. It would be just as logical to . charge the American army In the Philip pines with being an army of murderers, torturers and robbers because a few crimes were committed by soldiers, there. Until the millennium there will be crimes in every community, and. human nature is the same, no better and no worse, among the half million people dependent upon the coal fields as it is everywhere In our country, "The pretense of the operators that they" were unable to produce coal because In timidation kept from work men who were willing to work has been proved false by the fact that the protection "Which they demanded has decreased rather than increased the number of men mining coal. A hundred thousand troops could not have enabled the operators to start their mines for the simple reason that the men who work them are mem bers of the United Mlneworkers of Amer ica, men who were determined to stand to the last for their right to organize and through their organization to demand better wages and Improved conditions ofj employment "Deprivation, misrepresentation and troops together were not sufficient to drive them Into surrender. They stood shoulder to shoulder to the last Compelled to Recognize Union. v 'ffhe operators declared they would have nothing to do with the United Miiic workers of America, but they have found It necessary to recognize the power of the United Mlneworkers pf America, through you, Mr, President, and to .seek terms of peace, which will enable them to resume their business ot mining and selling coal. The recognition of our strength thus forced udpn the operators by stern neces sity we exult over, not in any narrow spirit but because we believe It pxarks a forward step toward a new era. Upon tho foundations laid through war, we are ready to Join with them in building for better conditions and a long and lasting peace. The United Mlneworkers of Amer ica, since Its organization in the anthra cite field, has constantly sought fair wages and just conditions of labor con ditions Just both to operators and miners. We have never made demands beyond the ability of the Industry to pay on a basis of equitable division of profits between labor and capital. Good Work of Union in Other Fields. "Amicable relations between employers and employes, the latter speaking through their orgmlzation; 'adjusting all dlfijcviljv. ies by conciliatory methods. averUhg lo cal strikes and lock-outs and securing stable and. satisfactory conditions to, the Industry our organization, by the same methods which we have proposed fins se cured just such relations and Just such results in the coal flolds of the country. Organization, like an individual, must stand upon what It has done aijtl the life It has lived. We invito scrutiny and investigation of our record and character. In the saft-coal fields, we hive Joint conferences with the operators, and with them we adjust differences: we sign Joint agreements, together we preserve disci pline, settle disputes and maintain har mony and stability in the trade. Wo have asked the anthracite operators to inquire of tho soft-coal operators how well thoy are pleated with their business relations with us; whether wo keep our agreements and render satisfactory serv ice for wages paid to our members. One business man might thus leirn from an anothcr what Is the character of our or ganization. Many eoft-coal operators have publicly declared that they would not dispense with our co-operation, and would deem it a disaster if compelled to get bad to the chaotic conditions which existed when their labor was unorgan ized. "IVUlinK to Be Jutisrotl hv Rocord. "Upon our past record we are willing to siana or tan. ne nave, time and time again, invited tho anthracite operators to adopt these business methods, and to deal with us on this basis. Despite repeated rebuffs, we persisted, but they resented any attempt upon our part to organize their employes. They refused our over tures for amicable discussion and possi ble adjustment of wage differences In joint conference. They refused to have any dealings with their employes, except as individuals; they refused concessions and refused arbitration; they put their backs against the wall of prejudice, and tholr faces arbitrarily against progress; thoy thought themselves stronger than the great union principle which is miking such strides throughout the world. While combining their corporations and pooling their Interests in hard and fast alliance, they could deny the men who worked for them the right to organize- and speak through their organizations. The. Operators Stand. "When th conflict came on, they at tempted to justify them3elve3 upon the J&lse plea that our3 Is an Irresponsible organization. When we demonstrated our responsibility and reliability, they then asserted that we were a lawless organiza tion, which was dominated by violence. When the society attempted to Interfere to settle the strike, they declared their divinely appointed right to be let alone. When representatives of National and state governments tried to mediate, they resented such 'meddling by politicians. But, thanks to you, Mr. President, and to the power of public opinion, they have been brought to a realization of the fact that the Interests or welfare of the Amer ican people cannot be Ignored wrlth Im punity. "By the eminent tribunal which you have named, we have confidence that jus tice will be done our people. We are glad to have a chance to appear before such a court, empowered to consider and dispose of all questions at issue. First among these Is the demand of the mlneworkers for Increased wages and a reduction in tho hours of labor; second; is the rela tions which ourht to exist between the employers and the organization which the men have formed and which they author ize to speak for them. From this arbi trator wo hope and- believe will come a complete, satisfactory and permanent solution of the troubles which have vexed the anthracite field from time Immemor ial. Respectfully yours, "JOHN MITCHELL. "President United Mlneworkers of Amer ica." RcMlrcnntlon of Minister Accepted. VIENNA, Oct 17. The Neues Freie Presse today announced that the resig nation of the Austrian Minister of Justice. Baron Spenz-Boden, recently tendered, has been accepted. Premier von Koeber will administer the affairs of thn depart ment ad interim. 1