The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-04
FAILED.


Continued from First Page)
the constitution of the United States
requires the president, when requested
by the legislature and the governor, to
suppress domestic violence You see
there is lawful way to secure coal for
the public.
The duty of the hour is not to waste
time negotiating with the fomenters of
this anarchy and insolent defiance of
law, but to do as was done in the war
of the rebellion. restore the majesty of
the law, the only guardian of free PEG
pie, and to re-establish order and peace
at any cost. The government is a con-
temptible failure if it can only protect
the lives and property and secure the
comfort of the people by compromising
with the viola tors of law and the inSti-
gators of violence and crime.
Just now 1t is more important to
teach ignorant men dwelling among US,
misled and used as tools by citizens of
| other states, that at whatever cost and
] Inconvenience to the public Pennsyl
vania will use the full power of the gov
eminent to protect not only the man
who wants to work. but his wife and
children while he is at work, and to
punish every man who by instigation or
by overt acts attempts to deprive any
man of his liberty to work
Under these conditions we decline to
accept Mr.. Mitchelrs considerable offer
to let our men work on terms he
names. He has no right to come from
Illinois to dictate terms on the accept
ance of Which anarchy and crime shall
cease in Pennsylvania. He must stop
his people from killing, manning and
abusing Pennsylvania citizens and from
because it is unlawful and not because
of any bargain with u.s.
We Will add to our offer ito continue
the wages existing at the time of the
and adjust any grievance this further
condition. If the employers and en-
ployes at any particular colliery can not
reach a satisfactory adjus tment of any
to the judges of the court of common
pleas of the district in which the col
iiery Is situated for final determination.
president Philadelphia & Reading Coal
and Iron Company, and Lehigh x
Wilkesbarre Coal and Iron Company,
Following is the text Of the statement
made to the president by the official rep
reSentat1VeS of the Miners union:
Washington, Oct. 3. 1902.
Mr.. President: At the conference this
morning, we the accredited representa-
yves or the anthracite coal mine workers,
were much impressed with the views YOU
expressed and the dangers to the welfare
OF our country from a prolongation of a
coal strike that you so clearly pointed out.
Conscious of the responsibility resting
upon us conscious of our lI1tv 70 socief1e
,.ls,ee--4l- II oti u1tS ~ ley
mine workers whom we have the honor to
represent, we have, after most careful
|
| ing the situation and averting the suffer
! ingS and hardship which would inevitably
/ follow in the wake of a coal famine de-
cided to propose resumption of coal min
| ing upon the lines hereinafter suggested.
Before doing so. Mr.. President. we de-
sire to say that we are not prom pied to
suggest this course because of any doubts
of the justice of our claims. In defering
to your wishes we are prompted by no
! fear on our part of our ability to continue
the contest to a successful issue. Thanks
/ to the generous assistance rendered us bv
] fal in lie of,
! lands; thanks to a justice loving Ameri-
can public, whose sympathies are always
on the side of right. are able to con-
tinue the struggle indefinitely. But con-
| fdent of our ability to demonstrate to
any impartial tribunal the equity of our
demands for higher wages and improved
environment We propose that the issues
eliminating in this strike shall be referred
| to you and a tribunal of your own selec-
| ton, and agree to accept your award upon
all or any of the questions involved. If
YOU will accent this respOnsibility and the
! cool ,r,er.o
signify their willingness to have your de-
cision Incorporated in an agreement. for
not less than one year or more than five
years. may be mutually determined
between themselves and the anthracite
of wages which you and the tribunal ap-
pointed by you shall award. we will i'm
mend a resumption of work. upon the I'M
dersta nding that the wages which shall
be paid are to go into effect from the day
upon which work is resumed. Very re-
specially, yours, -
JOHN MITCHELL,
president L. NJ w. of A.
JOHN FAHY
THOMAS DUFFY.
I'D. d NICHOLS,
District Presidents U. NJ. w of A."
When all the operators had submitted
| statements the president asked Mr.. Mitch
ell if he had anything further to say. Mr..
Mitchell SAID
1.-THE charge made by the gentlemen that
twenty murders have been committed in
the anthracite coal regions during the
present strike. is untrue. If they will name
the men and viii show that they have
committed the murders. / will resign my
position. That is a fair proposition Mr..
President. that is a fair example of how
our organization and our people are ma
ligned. The truth OF the matter is, as far
as I know, there have been seven deaths.
unfortunately. No one regrets this more
by the coal and iron police, and no one else
has been charged with them. God knows
the miner does not escape being charged
with everything done there. They speak
about burnings. There was a reward Of
fered for burnings. I can bring affidavits
of a hundred people, If necessary. that thc
lightning caused one burning that they
charged to the United Mine Workers. Mr.
President, I have admitted more thar
one occasion that there has been some
lawlessness. but I viii say that a large
vol1ed by criminals who have been brought
into the anthracite regions to recruit the
coal and iron police I want to say Mr.
, President. that 1 feel very keenly the at
I came here with the intention of doing
nothing and saying nothing that would at
feet reconciliation.
The president then asked the represen
er they would accept Mr.. Mitchelfs propo-
. sition. They answered no. In respons'