The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-26

service to every mining company. The
pubic Will nave an opportunity of seeing
the other side. The men themselves will
talk about IT, about how much a miner can
earn. The mechanic who finds that he is
working more hours for less money than
the miner will talk. Unemployed labor will
learn OF the opportunity for comfortable
earnings and will talk, and the miners,
when they enter into a discussion with
other workers. will not be long in seeing
that they have had the opportunity and
have made good earnings and become jeal-
Gus that their fieI- would be entered by
others who wish for equally good fortune.
such testimony will clear the atmosphere
of much Of the maudlin sentiment which
Thus far the general effect of the testi-
mony presented has given undue promi-
hence to Mr.. Mitchell. In the four and one
half days in which he was kept on the
stand the only point Of value ascertained
miners and was not familiar with anthra-
cite mining. Half an hour would have
served the same purpose and prevented
much sympathy creating generalities. He
said that others knew the situation better
they would be called. Probably these per-
sons are to be the next witnesses for that
side and If they are men with a good record
for faithful work, cross-examination will
show what we have already stated-that
their earnings are sufficient-and this could
then be supported by our own witnesses.
But our local attorneys and the superin-
tendents of the collieries are best fitted for
such questions. They are familiar with the
details and can bring out the proofs.
OPPOSED TO COMPROMISE.
1--WE think it highly desirable that any
| attempt at a compromise should Immediately
stop. that the investigation should con-
tinue and that one or two Of the individual
| operators, with your representative, should
collect and tabulate figures of earnings for
the purpose of presenting them in evidence.
After that our witnesses can appear. After
struggling through the last five months
with their losses and annoyanceS, ii is a
little matter to wait a short time more. A
good fight is never useless and If, In the
end we should not win, it will be better to
have ended with the dignity of a strong
effort than to go on our knees now, when
We know the other side has practically ex-
hausted its resources"
The meeting of the independent operators
and railroad officials lasted about an hour,
and at its close President Fowler, of the
New York. Ontario & Western. said hat
pairing q statement. Later the statement
was issued and Mr.. Baer left at once for
Philadelphia. After mentioning at the out
| set the names of the private operators
forth in the protest of the independent
operators, together with the name of John
Markle and a few others. the statement
given out by Mr.. Baer says:
They (the private operators) met the
coal presidents who had signed the request
to the President of the United States. They
AtctAAN0 "a PAORNoN oo0AaNN chN adJuOlIltnl
being made at this time, insisting that the
principles involved were so serious and
affected so many interests that it was neces-
sary now to have the commission hear all
facts and pass its judgment upon the whole
controversy. a. r. Simpson, as chairman,
read a paper expressing their views and
other gentlemen expressed decided opinions.
In the midst of the conference the request
came from Washington to the operators
of both classes to meet Mr.. Mitchell and
his associates next Friday morning at 10
o'clock. The parties present without dis
sent instructed Nh. Baer TO make the fol-
lowing answer:
The conditions are such that no sub
stantial progress can be made by the sug-
gested meeting. The general judgment of
the operators is that it will be best for
the present TO go on with the hearing 4"
The list of operators present besides those
who signed the protest. including. according
to the statement issued by Mr.. Baer, Lewis
A. Riley. president of the Lehigh Coal and
Navigation Company, and Mr.. Taylor. of
the st. Clair Coal Company. They are
called operators from other regions"