The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-07

intolerable. / wish to emphasize the
character OF the situation and 70 gay
that its gravity is such that 1 am con.
strained urgently to insist that each
one OF you realize the heavy burden OF
responsibility upon him. We ara upon
the threshold of winter, with an al
ready existing coal famine, the future
terrors Of which We can hardly Vel
appreciate. The evil possibilities are
so far reaching, 50 appalling. thai If
seems TO me that you are no only ms
titled in sinking, but required to sink.
for the time being, any tenacity as TO
your respective claims in the matter AZ
issue you. In my Judgment,
the imperatively REQUIRES thar
you meet upon the common plane OF
the necessities of the public. With all
the earneStneSS there is in me. 7 ask
mat there be an Immediate resump-
uon OF operations In the coal mines.
IN some such way as will without a
days unnecessary delay meet the cry
ing needs of the people.
L do moi invite a discussion OF your
respective claims and positions. 1 ap-
peal to your patriotism, to the spirit
that sinks personal considerations and
makes individual sacrifices for the gen
era1 good"
Upon the completion of the presi-
dents remarks, Mr.. Mitchell made a
statement as follows:
Mr.. President, 1 am much impressed
with What you say. 1 am much i'm
pressed with the gravity of the situa-
tlon. we feel that We are not respor:-
We are willing to meet the gentlemen,
representing the coal operators to try
to adjust our differences among our
selves. If we cannot adjust them that
way, Mr.. President, we are willing
that you shall name a tribunal who
shall determine the issues that have
resulted in the strike and if the gentle
men representing the operators will
accept the award or decision of such a
tribunal, the miners will willingly &C
cept, even if it is against their claims
The president: Before considering
What ought to be done, 1 think it only
just to o of you-both sides-and
desirable from my standpoint, that you
should have time to consider what l
have stated as to the reasons for my
getting You together and / shall tres
pass so far upon your good natu:e, as
to ask that this interview cease now
n that you come back at 3 O'Clock.
I should like you to talk over what 1
have stated, not to decide now, but to
give it careful thought and return at
3 O'clock"
The conference then adjourned until
3 o'clock. Upon reassembling Mr.. Baer
spoke as follows:
Mr.. President, do We understand
you correctly that We will be expect
ed 70 answer the proposition submitted
by Mr.. Mitchell this morning."
The President: ut will be a pleasure
to me to hear any answer that you are
willing to make"
Mr.. Baer: Il have prepared an an
swer."
Mr.. Baer said: You distinctly say
that you do not invite a discussion of
our respective claims and Positions
But we assume that a statement Of
what is going on in the c regions,
Will not be irrelevant. We represent the
owners of coal mines in Pennsylvania.
There are from fifteen to twenty thou
sand men at work, mining and prepar-
ing coal. They are abused, assaulted,
injured, and maltreated by the United
Mine Workers.
They can only work under the pro-
lection of armed guards. Thousands Of
other workmen are deferred from work.
! ing by the intimidation, violence, and
j crime i~naugurated by the United Mine
Workers, over whom John Mitchell,
whom you invited to meet you is chief.
Il need not picture the daily crimes
committed by the members Of this CT
ganization. The domestic tranquility
which every constitution declares is the
III oOJCSI VI v IiiClll " lioS
exist in the coal regions. There is a
terrible reign Of lawlessne5s n crime
there. The constitution of Pennsylva-
mia guarantees protection 10 life and
property. In express terms it declares
right of acquiring, possessing property
to be i~nalienable.' When riots and an
archy, too great to be appeaSeG by the
civil power occur, the governor IF
Pennsylvania is bound to call out The
state troops to suppress it. He has seat
troops to the coal regions. Gradually
the power of the law is asserting itself.
Unless encouraged by false hopes. CT
der will soon be restored and then we
can min coal to meet the public wants.
If the power of Pennsylvania is INSULT
cient to re-eStablish the raig1 of law,
the constitution of the Unitc1 States,
requires the president, when requested
by the legislature and the governor, tic
suppress domestic violence You see
there is a awful way to secure Goa
for the public. h duty &C the hour
is not to waste time negotiating with
the formenters of this anarchy and in
solent defiance of law, but to do as was
done in the war of the rebellion, re-
store the majesty of law, the only
guardian of a free people, and to re-
establish order and peace at any cost.
The government is a contemplate
failure if it can only protect the live:
I lAANA oAo ~
of the people by compromising with thu
~violators of laws and the instigators o.
violence and crime.
Just now it is more important &
teach ignorant men, dwelling among Us
misled and used as tools by Other
states, that at whatever cost n in
convenience to the public. Pennsylvania
will use the whole power of govern
ment to protect not only the men whc
want TO work. but his wife ant
children while he is at work. and L
punish every man who by instigatioI
or by overt acts, attempts to deprlv'
any man of his liberty to work.
"Unde these conditions, we declin
to accept Mr.. Mitchell's ~considerate of
fer to let our men work on the term
he names. He has no right to com
from Illinois to dictate terms on tn
acceptance of which anarchy and Grim
shall cease in Pennsylvania. He mus
stop his people from killing, manning
and abusing Pennsylvania citizens, an,
from destroying property. He mus
stop it because it is unlawful n no
because of any bargain with us.