The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-11-20
BAER REPLIES TO MITCHELL
Elaborate Statement From the Pres.
ident of Coal Operators.

Washington, Special.-The reply OF
President George F. Baer, Of the Phila-
delphia & Reading Coal Company, to
the charges Of President Mitchell, Of
the United Mine Workers, which has
presented to the Anthracite Coal Strike
Commission, was Tuesday given to the
public. MI. Baer makes no reference
to Mr.. Mitchell as the president Of the
miners organization, but refers to hin
simply as an individual. Taking up tho
specifications in Mr.. Mitchell's charges
seriatim. Mr.. Baer first admits that
his company owns 81 collieries and
that before the strike it employed &c.
$40 people. Following Is a brief sum-
mary OF the response to Mr.. Mitchell's
other specifications:
Second. The demand for 20 per cent.
Increase In wages Is denounced as AR
bitrary, unreasonable and unjust"
The company contends that after max
ins all necessary allowance for differ
ent conditions that the rate Of wages
paid for the mining of anthracite coal
Is as high as that paid In the bitumiu-
Gus coal fields.
Third. The company denies that the
present rate Of wages Is lower than is
paid in other occupations in the same
locality and controlled by like condl-
lions.
Fourth and fifth. Mr.. Baer denies
that the earnings Of the anthracite
workers are less than average earnings
for other occupations requiring skill
and training and that earnings are in
sufficient because Of the dangerous
character Of the work in the anthracite
mines.
Sixth. This specification made by
Mr.. Mitchell is referred to as vague for
specific answer, but In a general way
It Is stated that the anthracite regions
are among the most prosperous in tie
United States.
Seventh. The company pronounces
es unjust and unequitable the demand
for a reduction Of 20 per cent. in the
hours Of labor without a reduction OF
wages for the same hours of labor, and
this demand Is pronounced impractical
Bile. In this connection the following
statement Is made: Because Of the
injury to the mines because Of the
strike of the United Mine Workers, the
cost Of producing coal has been greatly
increased and a temporary advance in
price was made by this company, but
it will be impractlcable to continue
such increase when mining operations
become normal"
Eight. Mr.. Baer says that his CON-
pany has NJ disagreement with any Of
its employees about the weighing Of
coal, because the quantity is usually
determined by measurement and not
by weight.
Ninth. Replying to the fourth de-
mand made by Mr.. Mitchell, Mr.. Baer
says since the advent Of ths United
Mine Workers organization into the
anthracite fields, business conditions
there have been intolerable; that thu
output Of the mines has decreased;
that discipline has been destroyed;
that strikes have been Of almost daily
occurrence; that men have worked
when and as they please. and that the
cost Of mining has been greatly in.
creased. He also takes the position
that the jurisdiction oi the commission
is limited to the condition named by
the coal company presidents, which e1-
cludes the United Mine Workers from
any recognition in the proceedings. He
says. however, that when a labor Or
ganization limited to anthracite mine
workers is created which shall obey
law, respect the right Of every man to
work and honestly cooperate with en-
ployers, trade agreements may be prac-
ticable.