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SCRANTON, PA., THIRSDAY MO K XING, DKCJSiHUWK n, xwz. TWtzLVtz r-Maczo
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VW f..J5j,.V-'',-' ' -T"-
('r
iPENING OF
OPERATORS' CE
Joint Statements bu Both Bio Com
panies and Independents Out
lining Their Contentions.
RECOGNITION IS
AGAIN DISCUSSED
Dperators Aver It Is Not at Issue
and Miners Maintain That It Is.
Commission Again Declines to De
cide the Matter Companies' Wage
Statistics Attacked Judge Gray
Delivers Himself of Some Caustic
Comments on Carrying the Sym
pathy Game Too Tar Factory In
spector and Mine Inspectors Exam
ined at Length Non-Union Men's
Witnesses Now Being Heard.
The operators opened their case be
fore the mine strike commission yester
day afternoon. Statements outlining
their position and what they propose to
prove were read by ITon. Simon P. Wol
verton, of counsel for the Reading com
pany, representing; all the bis; com
panies, and by Ira II. Hums, of coun
Hel for the Independent operators of the
Lackawanna and Wyoming regions,
representing' all the Independents.
The undecided question of whether or
not the recognition of the union Is be
fore the commission for decision inn
specifically raised by the operator.--'
s' i laments, and a lively discussion was
thereby precipitated, but once again the
i uiivnision refrained from a declura
t on nsv to how It stands on-this matter.
'I'o aeioinodate witnesses who reside
in I his' locality, the opem tors' pro
gramme of procedure 'as originally de
cided uj)on was modified to the extent
of allowing the non-union men's case to
in heard llrst. The last hour and a
half of tin afternoon session was taken
l p with the examination of witnesses
who told about the Winston murder In
filyphant; the attempted lynching of
Johp Flanaghan In Dun more and the
bolt of strikers from 'an Olyplumt
church because of the presence or a
non-union man.
A heated discussion was precipitated
by an objection by Attorneys Joseph
O'Brien and John T. Lenahan to a ques
tion as to who retained them to repre
sent the non-union men. Mr. Darrow
asserted that the question was proper
because it tended to show that the non
union men were- before the commission
under false colors; that they were sim
ply being used by the operators as they
were during the strike to combat the
union. Attorneys O'Brien and Lenahan
were not called upon to make any de
fense of their position. Judge flray did
it for them, lie declared with a con
siderable show of feeling that .Mr. nar
row's question was absolutely imma
terial, and that If the operators had
hired lawyers to present the case of thei
lion.iinlnii men thev did a vorv credit-
sihlo thine During the discussion Mr.
Darrow for the llrst time since the ses
Fions began deserted his usual calm,
rnsy, pleasant manner, and woruou nun-
Felf up tu quite a pitch of excitement
lie and Judge liray seemed to vie with
each other as to which could pound a
desk the more vigorously. The com
Hlonors conferred about. Mr. Harrow's
question and decided that Judge (Tray's
declaration represented the opinion of
nil.
Some Caustic Comment.
Knrller In the (lay Judge Gray was
prompted by a remark of .Mr. Darrow
to deliver himself of some rather caus
tic comment, the llrst he had Indulged
in at the present sessions. Mine Inspee
tor Kdwurd Hoderlck was telling thai '
miners had gone Into a dangerous mine,
despite hN Instru
notions. It was Intend-
td as u corroboration of tho claim that
tho miners do not always' co-operate
with the mine lnspe"elor"ln carrying out
the laws.
Bishop .Spalding suggested that thn
coiupun.v was to blame for allowing
them' to go In. The Inspector agreed
with him.
"Tito men were to blame, loo, weren't
they','" Inquired Judge dray.
"Weren't they trying to earn a liv
ing'."' Interrupted Mr. Darrow,
"Now, Mr, Darrow," said the Judge,
"don't carry this sort of thing too far.
No one has more sympathy for tho min
er than T have, hut I do nut hold them
us wholly exempt from the ordinary
laws governing the conduct of other
human beings. They are not Incapable
of wrong. Don't push tho sympathy
lines too fur. Let us not play tho baby
act. Wo don't want to become maud
lin." Mr, Darrow was discreetly silent,
At tho opening of tho morning ses
sion, tho miners nut on the fathers of
two of the llttlo Dunmoro silk mill girls
to contradict tho statement of the Penn
sylvania Coal company that they wero
earning big wages. It was made to ap
pear that the llgtircs given by the com
pany wero not for a miner and laborer
as represented, lint for two miners and
two laborers, Mr, Darrow declined
with much vehemence that this action
on the company's part was In bail fnlth
and an Injustice to the fathers, tho
commissioners and the miners, Judgo
dray Indicated that he was not disposed
to set much store by the other figures
mi miners' wages submitted by this
company, until It had been ascertained
and set forth how many men the differ
ent miners had to pay out of their earn
ings. General Manager May suld tho
company has no record of this and It
would be dlltl'eult If not Impossible of
ascertainment. He would, however, re
fer the matter to the company's audi
tor, who dad the matter of statistics In
charge.
Moat of the day was taken up with
THE
Vi
"a
. Vr
the examination of witnesses . Vlully
wanted td appear by the commit Y01"1
themselves. These Were Deptlt, - ac
lory Inspector K. V. Bishop iii.hu
mine Inspectors of the different ura ,
cite districts. From the factory In,"" V
lor, the commission sought to Iniorm
Itself of the workings of the factory
Inspection laws. The mine Inspectors
were asked general questions about
their duties and for opinions on various
matters based on thelu. observations, but
more particularly were they examined
as to the allegation made by so many
of the miners that they never or very
seldom saw an Inspector In the mine
and that when they did se one, he was
almost invariably accompanied by a
mine boss, whoses presence, the wit
nesses averred, deterred them from
making complaints.
Generally speaking, the Inspectors
admitted they were often accompanied
on their tours of a mine by the fore
man and that his company was not only
desirable, but necessary, but sill ex
cept one denied that It had been their
expel lenee that the presence of the boss
restrained the employes from making
complaints. It was generally agreed by
the Inspectors that the mine laws were
closely (diserved by the operators and
that the mujorlty of accidents are due
tf) carelessness on the part of the min
er, or his disregard of dangers to which
he becomes indifferent by reason of
constant association with them.
The opening statements of the oper
ators were read at the conclusion of tho
examination of tin; mine inspectors. A
nod from Judge Gray to Mr. Wolverton
Indicating that the commissioners were
through with their speclnl witnesses
brought Mr. Wolverton to his feet with
the typewritten statement of the big
companies and without as much as a
word of preface he began to read It.
The statement was sis follows:
Opening Statement.
Mr. Clinlrniim. U has been thought ail
vlsuble that a brief statement should b
inside in liehalf of the respoaiU'nts, out
lining their position.
All the anthracite coal in .the Tnlted
States Is found within the boundaries of
a few counties la the slute of I'euusyl
vaiila. It is safe to say that over $310.
iiOWWO are Invested in the ownership of
these, lauds, and many millions of dollais
in the development of them, and over
jlu.two men ale employed in the mhiliu;,
preparing and shipping of coal therefrom.
The conditions nre so entirely different
in different parts of tho anthracite coal
Held that it Is not practicable to adopt
nay uniform method of mining that can
ho successfully carried on throughout the
whole region.
Conditions not only differ In-dllferont
parts of the anthraeite Held. but. In differ
ent mines, In the same mines and in the
same veins. It Is, therefore, necessary
that the mining In the greater part of
this coal Held must be done by special
bargaining, from lime to. time, between
the operators and the miners.
Bituminous coal is found In almost ev
ery stnte and territory.
The Tolled Mine Woikers of America
was an organisation of miners of bitu
minous coal, covering most of these
states and territories, producing coal
which Is a competitor with anthracite
coal In the market.
The respondents will show thai It Is tho
acknowledged purposes of the l'lilted
Mine Woikers of America to organize all
of the mines of the t'niteri Slates, and
thus to establish a monopoly of the la-
I "or necessary to proline.- tlie inei sup-
l''.v'
which is essential to the domestic
I comfort and industrial prosperity of Hie
American people; a monopoly obviously
, ,, mlIl)l,. ilev.
tu the latter part of ISM, or the begin-
nhig of 1!kj, lliN organization reached out
to control the mining of anthraeite coal.
Organizers lllled the region, and during
IfiM succeeded In originating a slrlke la
the upper antlnaelte region, which, after
some time, through sympathy, extended
to the lower anthracite held, anil lb'1
strike became general. It was followed
by violence, and the calling out of the
National Guard to suppress It, The strike,
was settled In October, KHJ"), under cir
cumstances familiar lo every one who
has given the subject the least attention.
. AVages were increased 10 per cent,, nnd In
some Instances more, by that settlement,
and It was understood that all complaints
of tho miners should be taken up and set-
I ,IP1 " "'" operators nun men. us inej.-
arose, which wo shall show was uono.
Over 100 Strlhep.
Wo shall show that notwithstanding the
operators compiled with tho terms of tho
Settlement of 19y0. the uiltlins of coal
thereafter was very unsatisfactory to tho
operators, that union men refused to
work with non-union men, nnd that thoro
wero over 1W strikes In one year In dif
ferent parts of Iho anthracite region,
There was also a serious Impairment of
discipline, and a great Increase of un
necessary friction, which seems to be di
rectly attributable to lb" organization.
'J lie operators slgnllled their willingness
to continue to pay the Increased rata of
wnges agreed upon In ll'On, but thn Mlno
Workers, represented by Mr, .Mitchell,
wanted not only an additional Increase of
wages over that allowed. In ltwu, but tho
reduction of nue-rlttli of thn hours ui'
labor, with the same pay, and duniauded
that coal be weighed, and that the United
Mine Woikers, us an organization, be
recognized by entering Into a contract
with that organization.
These unreasonable, demands not being
acceded to. on May 1','th, IM.', tho l'lilted
Mini) Workers ordered a slrlke, notwith
standing tho miners of a luru part of tho
legion wero opposed to It. On May 21,
1'Jo:', to enforce, thn stilke deciartd on
May Kill, tho i.'uueii 31 1 ue workers also
Issued up order requiring the pumpniun,
tiivmen and engineers to abandon tho
mines to destruction, These men not
only left their posts under this order, but
other men wore prevented by violence,
threats of all kinds of intimidation from
lllllng their places.
As a conseiueneu somo mines were
abandoned and allowed lo 1111 with water,
ami many of. them partly tilled, icqulrlng
the expenditure of a great deal of money
and loss of time for thu inliiur, so that
lifter resumption was oidered, many of
them could not obtain work la their old
positions. Some of the mines arc even
yet Hooded und will not bo entirely pump
ed out for mouths to come.
Ilud It not been for tho moat stiemious
efforts on tho riarl of the operators to
keep tho pumps going, so as to keep many
of thu mines In condition for "vork, but
few miners would have been able to ob
tain employment after the resumption.
Nor could there have been a general re
sumption of mining until next spring, and
posslbly not even then. Had tho union,
therefore, succeeded In lis attempt to
prevent running tin pumps, llttlo or no
coal could have been furnished to thu
public dining the winter of 1902-:i.
night to Organize.
The respondents concede the right of
labor to organize for Its protection and
to benellt the conditions of the laborer,
but they feel that lo be subject lo any
control of n bituminous coal organization,
composed of boys as well ns men. In
which the youngest boys are entitled lo
half of it vote, anil many of them to full
voles, envoi lug the whole fulled State",
consisting of eighteen districts, of which
lll'leen are In Hie bituminous region, and
onlv three In the .inthradle. would end
hi the ruin of the niilhraclte coal busi
ness In Pennsylvania.
The steps that were taken, which led to
the appointment of this commission, are
familiar to nil,
The first, miestlon of Importance In be
detei mined Is, "What questions were sub
mitted for Its consideration and deci
sion'.'" It Is powerless to consider or
take any action upon any other question.
It has been conceded during tho progress
of this healing thai the bals or founda
tion of (he appointment of the commis
sion, and Its powers, real upon the letter
to the public, signed by tho presidents of
the coal mining companies, dated Oct. 1:1.
1!H)2, and the acceptance of the terms of
tills letter bv the convention of striking
mine workers, and that Hie powers of this
commission are confined to the questions
a (fooling the rales of wages paid and
tVe reduction of the hours of labor, and
in no wav Involve Hie question of recng
liltiuu, or (he entering Into any agreement
with that organization, as proposed in the
statement of claims filed by the complain
ants In this ense.
The respondents will also show that af
ter the settlement of t'e slrlke of WW.
there was an apparently concerted effort
on the part of the miners to restrict tho
output of the mines, and to load fewer
wagons or ears for a shift. Instead of six
or eight as before, and that this resulted
in a reduction of output of the mines of
over 12 per cent : that the miners by an
appaient understanding left their work
after a certain aninunl of coal had been
produced, regardless of the number of
hours engaged, and that scarcely any
coal was put tluough the breakers during
the lust two bonis of each day. although
the machinery was running the full lime.
This rcstllctlon was for the evident pur
pose of preventing the producers from ac
cumulating n. si net: of ciuil on hand to
meet emeigeiielei, such as Hoods and
strikes, and when the strike was ordered
In May. there was less than one month's
supply of eoal in the market, show lug
thai the strike wui contemplated nnd
planned a Ions time before hand, and
carried out without the slightest regard
for the Interests of Hie public.
Dissimilar Conditions.
That under the reasons kIvpii by the
Mine Workers before Ibis commission, In
the first claim for an Increase of twenty
per cent, upon the price paid dining inOI.
to employes performing contract work,
the respondents will show thai there Is
no similarity between the mining of bi
tuminous coal and anthracite coal, so as
to make the watrs paid lo the bituminous
miners a standard for the payment of
wanes lo the miners of ambr-wlt" eoal;
that mining of enul In the anthracite re
gion Is not similar work (o tho mining
of bituminous eoal. and that the rates of
wages in the mines operated throughout
the anthracite region is not forty or fif
ty per cent, lower thnn Is paid to miners
in the bituminous region, but is actually
hl'Hier.
That ns a rule, contract miners hi the
anthracite field earn $W0 per annum or
more, and that many of them earn up
wards of $1,000 h yrinr, and that all labor
ers are paid higher wages than those em
ployed In other occupations of equal skill
nnd training.
That according to the inoM reliable sta
tistics taken from the reports of the ISu
reau of Industrial Statistics of Penns'
vanln. from the report of the twelfth
censui of the I'nlted Slates, bulletins
of Hip department of labor, and from
other sources. It will be shown Hint the
average enrnlnr.s of all employes of man
ufacturing establishments, covering over
3(rt different elasses. skilled and un
skilled, Is much below Hie average wage
of the miners; that by the census renorls
of the United States, it appears that tho
average earnings, during the lnt census
year, of employes of manufacturing es
tablishments Is below the average earn
ings of the miner In the anthraeite coal
reelon.
From the report of the Department of
Tibor, the iiverniro wace of farm labor
hi Pennsylvania, Is about nun-half of the
miners' wage, and much less than the
wnscs paid to laborers about the mines.
From the annual reports of Industrial
Ptnllstles of Pennsylvania, It will appear
that tho averncre daily wages or all man
ufacturing Industries In 1!MI. was SI..V1
per day, and that the a vera go earnings
was about $H!U".
Some Wag0 Statistics.
Vrom the reports of Iho twelfth census
of the Putted Stntes, It appeals that tho
avnraare earnings of wngo workers of all
manufacturing industries In Pennsyl
vania, in the counties of Carbon. Colum
bia. Dauphin, Lackawanna, Luzerne,
Northumberland. Schuylkill nnd Sullivan,
Is about MGfi.Wl, and of all male employes
from Ifi years of age and upwards.
That the avurago earnings ot mis einsi
of employes In Lackawanna coiuitv ain'acls. Provided, further, that no pop
S.-,0l! In Luzerne county, Wi; In Norlhum
berland county, MOS; In Schuylkill county.
JIM; these cover nil manufacturing indus
tries. From tho report of the twelfth returns
nf the tmlted Btntex, the nveniMO earn
ings of wiikc workers of all manufactur
ing industries In 31 cities and towns, In
and near the anthracite region nrn be
low SiriO.Oo: and that In but three towns
do they exceed $r,00.
From the twenty-ninth animal report of
Die Bureau of Industrial Statistics nf
Pennsylvania, covering cluhlv-elght man
ufaeluring Industries In Pennsylvania,
requiring skilled labor of a higher char
acter than that required of miners, It
appears that thu average rate of wages
paid to tho employes for the year lOol Is
Jlio.i.': that among the Industries are tho
following;
Pteol eastings $197.01
Steel billets, slabs and booms, Tf.S.ll
iron nnd steel forghifts ra.-U
Iron specialties , ,,...,.. -178,72
Mulleahle iron IM.1S
Holts and nuts, etc &!3.H
Who nails and rivets, ,., , I.' 1.01
Tucks and small mills ."".o.u
Who 413.CU
Wagons and earrlmm axles and
sprliiBs ' -IW.12
Stoves, ranges, etc, 5.V..::9
llavdwnto specialties 430.S7
Edge tools, ..,, , luO.EO
Locomotive and car building and re-
pairing 012.5,
liruss, copper und bronze goods 450.IJ2
Iron and steel bridges, MG.M
Knglnes, boilers, etc &B.SS
Locomotives, stationery engines,
etc, ., t ....)
Hallway supplies ,.
Iron vessels and engines, ,, ,
Hollers, tanks, slacks, etc., .,
Machinery. , , ,.
Foundry and machine, shops
Electrical supplies,
Metal and metallic goods
tK5.27
572.32
!;!."
651.12
ots.sa
570.7$
Continued on Pago 5.
TO ENFORCE
ANTI-TRUST
MEASURE
Mr. Bartlett's Amendment to Ap
propriation Bill Meets with
No Opposition.
A SUM OP $500,000 TO
BE USED IN THE WORK
The Amendment Agreed to Without
a Dissenting1 Vote Senate Enacts
the Pension Bill Without Discus
sion The Urgent Deficiency Bill
Also Passed An Item of $500,000
to Enable Secretary of Agriculture
to Stamp Out Foot and Mouth Dis
ease. Il.v Ki'lute Wire frmn The Ai-oclalcd I'nw,
Washington, Dec. 17. The senate to
day passed the pension appropriation
bill without discussion. It carries $19,
847.000. An urgent dellcieney. bill also
was passed. The amount carried -by
this bill Is $1,140,000. and includes an
Item of $."00,000 to enable the secretary
of agriculture to slump out the foot
and mouth disease, which has become
epidemic In the New Kngland states.
A bill was passed reimbursing tho
Mellert Foundry and Machine com
pany, of Heading, Pa., for money re
tained by. the TTnited stales for failure
to complete a contract within a speci
fied time.
The militia bill was up for a short
time, Mr. Haoon, of Georgia, continu
ing his remarks against tnc constitu
tionality of the provision for a reserved
force or ti allied men.
At 2 o'clock Mr. Kuan, of New Jer
sey, called up the resolutions express
ing the regret of the senate at the
death of the late Senator Sewell, of
New Jersey, nnd feelingly spoke of the
life and character of tho dpceascd. Ho
was followed by several other senators,
and as a further mark of respect an
adjournment was taken until Satur
day. Mr. liartlett, a Georgia Democrat,
during consideration of the legislative
appropriation bill in the house today,
expressly and without warning, sprang
an amendment for the sum of $7f0,000
to enforce the anti-trust law, and to
direct, the attorney general to proceed
to the prosecution of all violators of
tho law. Although such a proposition
was plainly amenable to a point, of
order, not a member on either side of
the house raised objection. Both sides
wheeled Into line, and all agreed that
some such action was advisable. Somo
of the Itepublicans, however, raised
objection to the looseness of the lan
guage of the amendment, and Mr. Hep
burn (Iowa) offered as a substitute for
It the language of the bill he intro
duced on the opening day of the ses
sion, to appropriate $1500.000 ror the en
forcement of tho law. This was further
strengthened to make the appropriation
Immediately available, and, as amend
ed, the substitute was agreed to with
out division. The legislative bill was
passed, practically as it came from the
i committee, except tlie amendment.
January 31, at .'! o'clock, was fixed ns
j the time for holding tho exercises In
connection with the acceptance of tho
I statues of Charles Carroll and John
Hensen, Maryland's contribution to
Statuary hall.
The language of the Hepburn amend
ment, as amended today, Is as follows:
"That for the enforcement of the pro
visions of the Act of July , 181)0, the
' """ f $500,000 Is hereby appropriated,
out of any money in Hie treasury not
heretofore appropriated, lo be expended
under the direction of the attorney gen
eral in the employment of special coun
sel and agents of the department of
justice to conduct proceedings, suits
and prosecutions under said acts In the
courts of the United States: nrovlded.
' I 1m f nn i-ii-i u"n ulinM lia nunn.vinliul -..
viiith iiw jn i nvu oiiiiii iiv yn ut.L utCU iJl
be subjected to any penalty or forfeit
ure for or on account of any transac
tion, matter or thing concerned, which
he may testify or produce evidence,
documentary or otherwise, in any pro
ceeding, suit or prosecution under said
son so testifying shall be exempt from
prosecution or punishment for perjury
committed in so testifying. This ap
propriation shall be Immediately avail
able." "INDEPENDENT" COAL PRICES.
President Olyphant Says Railways
Can Offer No Remedy.
Il.v i:iliilo Wlrdfroia Tlie .VsvmJuUiI IV,,
New York, Dec. 17. President Oly
plumt, nf the Delaware und Hudson
railroad, cnuld see no remedy today for
the extortionate prices for coal now
being asked by the Independent oper
ators. "Tlie railway companies carrying
their coal to market," said lie, "are
bound, by contract to transport so
many tons to tidewater per week. Al
though they could llll all their cars Willi
their own coal they would, by so doing,
lay themselves opuli to action at law
for breach of contract,
"They cannot say to the Independent
operators: We shall take your coal
after we have taken away all our own
coal from the mines, for thu reason
thut they have contracted to take so
much independent coal, Irrespective of
wjhut coal they themselves have to
transport. The men who own the Inde
pendent mines know their business;
they can gauge the public accurately,
and they will net out of It every ceiit
they can."
M. Olyphant was, asked If one way
to 'force the prion pf the Independent
coal down would not be to slop buy-,
Ing It. '
't)f course .It would.,', hp replied, .J'but
who Is going to Btop?'xThe public, wants
coal and doesp't care what price it Is
inn, In 1,1 tml for It. If till' l'etllllel'S
stopped buying elovon-dnllnrVoal there
would im it nowi set up 111 .i "
It would make absolutely no difference
that the uniform price would be $7.fi0 a
ton; the people want coal, even If It Is
going to cost them $20 a ton. Tile deal
ers do not make as much pi-nut on toe
coal they buy at $11 as they make on
the railroad coal, for which they pay
$:., but they have to buy thy eleven
dollar coal. Their customers make
them do It."
ARBITRATION FAVORED.
Discussion of the Terms of Settlement
at Caracas Washington Officials
Anxious.
By i:.chibe Wire from The A.ocldtcil liw.
Caracas, Dec. 17. It has been decid
ed that the Venezuelan dlillculty shall
be arbitrated, and the discussion of
terms of settlement. Is now going on.
I'nlted States Minister Howen undoubt
edly wl! be one of tile arbitrators.
The government fears that coercive
measures will follow the establishment
of the blockade.
The blockade olUi CSuuyrn, notillca
tlon of which In the names of Great
Hrltaln and Germany, was communicat
ed to the Venzuelans, December 13, went
into effect today. The order applies to
Venezuelan vessels only.
Washington. Dec. 17. Officials here
are not surprised at the feeling which
has manifested Itself in Caracas of a
desire to seek a termination of the un
fortunate situation that now confronts
Venezuela. Our government Is anxious
that some settlement may be found
very soon, as It Is realized that the pres
ent conditions cannot last long without
a climax being reached quickly. With
this end in view the state department
already has given permission to Minis
ter Howen to be the bearer of any mes
sages that Venezuela may wish to
transmit to the allies on the subject of
their dlfllculties, such requests, huw
eveiv to come from the Venezuelan gov
ernment. He already has been Instru
mental in one capacity, viz.: that of
transmitting a desire on the part of
President Castro to settle the existing
controversy by arbitration. Whether
the minister would be permitted to per
form the larger function of exercising
full powers toward effecting a. termin
ation of the dlillculty is not stated. In
deed, it would be questionable whether
such an arbiter as the American minis
ter would be acceptable to the allies in
view of the natural proclivities which
he might have In favor of American
countries.
So far us could be ascertained here to
night no reply has come to the state
department In nuswer to the requests of
President Castro that the pending
claims be submitted lo arbitration.
MR. TVTITCHEIX AT BUFFALO.
He Is Given an Ovation and Answers
a Question.
By llxrluslie Wiie from The .UmjiI.iIci! I'ics.
Ituffalo, X. Y Dec. 17. John Mitchell,
president of the I'nlted Mine Workers
of America stopped off in Ituffalo to
night for an hour. He is on his way to
Seranton.
Mr. Mitchell was given an ovation in
the dining room of the hotel. In re
sponse to a query he said:
"The strike, I believe, is now in a fnlr
way toward a settlement."
tfOT TO JOIN- IN OUR FAIR.
Nation Cannot Participate Officially.
Individuals Will Be Urged To.
lly i:cluslre Wire limn The .SiKiclaloil l'io.i.
Itome, Dec. 1H. Slgnor Uacelll, min
ister of commerce, has informed Fair
Commissioner Crldler that Italy will be
unable officially to participate In the St.
Louis exposition. He has promised,
however, to encourage Italian manufac
turers to support the fair privately.
The Nazionale and other newspapers,
commenting on this news, remark that
the decision Is not flattering to Italy's
credit In the eyes of the world.
SENATE HAS CUBAN TREATY.
Document Referred to Committee
Without Reading.
Ily I'.xchi.lVfi Wire from The As.oeUteO !'im,
Washington, Dec. 17. Tho president
sent to tho senate, today the reciproc
ity treaty recently negotiated between
the United States and Cuba.
The treaty was iccelved by the sen
ate in executive- session, and was in
ferred to the committee on foreign re
lations without being read. It Is said
that the treaty does not concern the
disposition of the Isle of Pines.
Two Men Cremated.
lly i:cliitlvo Who llulii Tlie ASMJililril, I'll",,
Lebanon, Pa., Dec. 17. Oscar ISenihr
and Oeorgo Focht met horrible deaths
this evening at the North Lebanon furn
aces, of the American Iron and Steel
company. Tho men were engaged In fill
ing a cupola. Header was overcome by
mis and fell In, when Focht. In trying lo
save him, met tho same fate. The furn
aces were at once shut down for the
night.
Board of Pardons in Session.
lly Kxclihhc Whr (ruiu'fliv Av.ocI.dinl I'liw.
HnrrWhuig, Dee. 17, Tho boanl of par
dons had an all-day session to. day In the
l'lilted Stntes court room and heard ar
guments la a large number of cases. The
hoard went Into xt-iuiiivo session at tlie
elude of the arfiuiueuls and will iiuuoimce
Us decisions to. morrow.
Quigley Appointed Archbishop,
lb llM'liiiliu Whc (lur.i The .WicUifil Piww,
Hume. Dee. 17. It Is reported thai
Hishop .lames H. Qulglt-y. of Ituffalo, N.1
V., has been apoluled archbishop of Chi
cago, In succession lo tho late Aichhlshop
Feehan,
Steamship Arrivals,
lly i:chuhe Wire iruiu'lhc AnonUm! Iie.
New Voik, Dec, 17. Arrived; Stunner
Hluchcr, llulnburg. Cleared: Steamer La
Tourulue, Huvrc. Sailed: Stcuuicrs
Oceanic, Liverpool; St. Paul, Southump
ton. gueenstpwu-rAii'lved. Steamer Teuton
ic', New Vorlv
Naples Arrived: Steamer l.uhu, New
York. ' ' ,'
.lilhraltarr-l'nssed: Stjrunier Phoenicia,
New .Yoik. for, Naples and Oenoa, , ,
, Liverpool-Sailed; Steamer Celtic, New
Yoiu; - ' t
AMERICAN SHIPS
SENT TO CARACAS
Admiral Dewey Is Instructed to De
' spatch at Once Wat Vessels to
Aid Minister Bowen.
PRECAUTIONS TAKEN TO
GUARD THE CABLE
A Torpedo Boat Destroyer or Other Vessel Ordered to Cart
cas Executive Officer Van Duzen, of the Marietta, Has
Been Appointed Temporary Assistant to Minister
Bowen Italian Minister Leaves; Caracas.
Il.v i:theoc- Who (loin Tlie AmolIjIciI Pros.
Washington, Dec. 17. The following
cablegram was sent today by the navy
department to Admiral Dewey in com
mand of the combined iieets, addressed
to San Juan:
"Send competent officer with dispatch
in torpedo boat destroyer or other vessel
to Caracas as assistant to American
minister."
The following cablegram was also
sent to Commander Diehl, of the Mar
ietta, now lying at La Gttayra:
"Send Van Duzen (executive officer of
the Marietta) as assistant to the Amer
ican minister temporarily."
The olllcer from Dewey's tleet will re
lieve Lieutenant Commander Van Du
zen, who Is only an hour distant from
Caracas, when he ai rives upon the
scene. While no explanation, is given
for the above orders' it is believed that
these measurtt are being taken to
guard against an Interruption In the
ifibb- connecting Mr. Howen with his
home government.
It was stated at the navy department
that one reason for sending the officers
to Caracas was the fact that Mr. Bow
en is almost overwhelmed with the
amount of work imposed upon him by
his nianv charges. He has nearly all
nf the '.iisrllsh residents In Caracas
domiciled in the American legation and
is feeding them from his own table. As
c. tin. toriieilo boat dcstiover, It Is
pointed out that it will serve as a dis
patch boat to keep Mr. Bowen In touch
with the nearest cable station to La
Ouayra, which can be relied upon to
transmit messages to Washington in
case tlie La Guayr.i cable is cut as an
Incident to the blockade.
No further orders than that noted
above went forwurd to Dewey today.
Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 17. Tho
Italian m inlster left Caracas this
morning.
At S o'clock Culled States Minister
Howou went to the Italian legation In
a state carriage, accompanied by Secre
tary Russell, and took the Italian min
ister, Slgnor de Rlvn, nnd the Italian
consul, Signor Ciiizzuerelll, and conduct
ed them to the railroad station, where
they were met by the, leading ltnlian
residents of this city. Mr. Bowen then
accompanied the minister to his car,
shook hands with him, and handed him
papers and cigars for his journey to
La Ciuavra.
The Veiieauulan newspapers are still
ignorant of the fact that the Italian
minister presented an ultimatum to the
Venezuelan government yesterday af
ternoon and thereforo there were no
i'lowds at Hie railroad station and no
hostile demonstration.
The state department has received no
response thus far to the messages sent
to tho European foreign otllces relative
to the arbitration proposition. It is not
Known here whether President Castro
will consent to apologize as a condition
precedent to arbitration, but it Is hoped
that Minister Howen can induce him to
do so, If this will be sulllclent to meet
the demands of the allies, it is pointed
out here, however, that the limner
prosecution of attacks on Venezuelan
forts will iimuo an adjustment just
that much more dltllcult, If apologies
arc tendered and accepted, then tue
critical phase of tho situation will be
removed and some time may bo spent
Hi an arrangement of the basis upon
which the arbitration should be con
ducted. This will be a difficult proh.
lem, for It is anticipated that the allies
will base their acceptance of the arbi
tration upon an asreemenl of Vene
zuela jo Instruct the arbiters to accept
cerium principles tu advance, which
would commit Venezuela to a recog
nition of Indebtedness of about $1G,
000,000, SHU the state department Is
hopeful that arbitration will prevail,
foe the alternative Is now realized to
be actual -war between the allies and
Venezuela. It Is believed here that Ger
many, at least, is not anxious to enter
upon tills state. A 'declaration of war
would at once clotlio the Venezuelans
with the full iihts ot belligerency, and
this might greaty protract -the efforts
of the allies 'to subdue President Cas
tro.
VENEZUELA NAY TIELD.
Citizens of Caracas Address a Noter
to Castro, Asking That Powers Be
Given tho TTnited States.
lly KsilusUc Wire from The AMOctited I'ims.
Caracas, Dec. 17. Indications here
are that Venezuela will yield to the de
mauds or tho allies. , ,
The leading citizen of Caracas have
addressed a Joint note to President
Castro, ashing him to give full powers
to Cnlted States Minister Bowen to ef
fect a. terminatioa a the present diffi
.eully. '
This note trail transmitted' to Presi
dent Castro at 1 o'clock thl9 afternoon.
It is signed by all the leading mer
chants, bankers, and agriculturists of
Caracas, it reflects truly the consen- .
sits of current opinion anions the busi
ness element of this city. The 'men who
signed the note will meot,agaln tonight
to discuss ways and means of .obtain
ing money with which Venezuela can
meet her obligations, as well as the
guarantees which it will be possible to
offer to her creditors.
The note Is as follows:
"To the President of th United Stntes
of Venezuela:
"rib Tho undersigned, having met with
the purpose of offering their aid to tho
government of Venezuela in the present
conlllctlng situation, which has been cre
ated by the aggressive attitude of Gor- ,
many and Great Britain, and upon your
request to givo our opinions In writing,
wo address you in the following terms:
"iu view of tho acts of violence al
ready committed and of absolute Impo
tence of Venezuela to meet force with
force In responso to the allied action of
Germany nnd Great Britain, in view ot
tlie fact that Venezuela lias exhausted all
the means required by civilization and di
plomacy to put an end to tho present sit
uation, and the government and the peo
ple of Venezuela having complied hon
orablv and worthily to the demands of
national honor; wo consider with all dim
respect, that tho moment to yield to force
lias arrived.
"We. therefore, respectfully recommend
that full powers be given to the minister
ot the I'nlted States of North Amorica.
authorizing him to carry out proper meas
ures to termlnato tho present conflict in
tho manner least prejudicial to tho inter
ests of Venezuela."
The note Is signed by about 200 pronn
Inent citizens of Caracas.
VENEZUELA'S RESOURCES.
The Country Can Raise an Army ot
400,000 Men, for Service,
lly i:rludio Wire from The Aioitd Pim.
Paris, Dec. 17. M. Thiesse, formerl;
minister of Franco to Venezuela, win
negotiated the convention ot 1885 and
who has lived many years In Vene
zuela, has been Interviewed concernhis
the situation there. He said:
"Venezuela can put 400,000 men In the
Held, and even foreigners there are
liable for military service. The regu
lar Venezuelan army numbers! only 10,
ooo men. A number of the younger offi
cers received their education in tlje
military schools of Prance and fler
many. The Venezuelans are armed
with Martini and llemingto'n rifles nnd
have a few Ma.Nhn and Krupo euus,
They have no cavalry. Caracas Is ul
most Impregnable, owing to the fact
that It Is situated on the other side o
tt mountain range, about 0,000 feet high.
These mountains are Impassible, except
by steep mule paths, where twenty met
could stop n whole regiment. There it
a railway from ba tiuayra. to Carecafc,
bill the destruction of ai single brldgi
would render the line useless. If, by 8
miracle, Caracas was taken, the Vftie
zuelais would wage a guerilla war
fare, ns they did against Spain,"
YESTERDAY'S WEATHER.
Local data for Deo. 17. lSC'.'i
Hliiliest temperature... , 3ti clegreel
Lowest tempurturc 30 degree!
Hel.it I vo humidity;
S u, m., 57 percent
s. p. m ...3 per c?nt
Precipitation, 21 hours ended t p. ru
trace. '., ,
f-f-fT-f-f-f-fi-f-f-f-f
WEATHER FORECAST;
Washington, Dec. IT Forecast for
'I'IiiiimI.iv and .Friday! Eastern
Pennsylvania Fair Thursday; frh
west winds. Filitay.rfair.
rt--r -tft.tt.t. ttt.t.t.f.,
i