Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-10-04

in the coal mines in some such way rs
will without days unnecessary delay
meet the crying needs of the people.
We infer that you desired us to consider
the offer of Mr.. Mitchell verbally made
this morning, expressing and speaking
for the United Mine Workers, to go
back 10 work if you would appoint a
commission 10 determine the questions
at issue.
"You distinctly say that you do not
invite discuss ion of your (our) respect
i've claims and POSITIONS But we as
sumo that statement Of what Is gong
on in the coal regions will not be irrel-
evant. We represent the owners OF
coal mines in Pennsylvania. There are
from fifteen 10 twenty thousand men at
work mining and preparing coal. They
are abused, assaulted injured and NAL
treated by the United Mine Workers.
They can only work under the protec-
tion of armed guards. Thousands OF
other workmen arc deferred from work
ing by the intimidation, violence and
crimes inauguraoed by the United Mine
Workers, over whom John Mitchell,
whom YOU invited to meet you, Is chief,
"I need not picture the daily crimes
committed by the members of this or
ganization. The domestic tranquility
which every constitution declares is the
chief object of government does not ex-
ist in the coal regions. There is ter
rible reign of lawlessness and crime
there. Only the lives and property O.
the members OF the secret oath bound
order which declared that the locals
should have full power to suspend oper-
ations at collieries' unil the non-union
men Joined their order are safe. Every
effort is made to prevent the mining OF
coal and when mined, MitchelPs men
dynamite bridges and tracks, mob train
men and by all manner o. violence try
to prevent its shipment to relieve the
public.
"The constitution of Pennsylvania
guarantees protection to life and property
in express terms. 1t declares the right
of acquiring, possessing and defending
property to be inalienable. When riot
and anarchy too great to be appeased by
the civil power occur the governor oil
Pennsylvania is bound to call out the
State troops to suppress it. He must
iearlessly use the whole power OF the
State to protect life and property and to
establish peace-not an armed truce, but
the peace of The law which protects every
man at work and going to and from
work. He has sent troops TO the coal
regions Gradually the power of the law is
, asserting itself. Unless encouraged by
false hopes order will soon be restored
) and then we can mine coal to meet the
r public wants. If the power of Pennsyl-
, yania is insufficient to re-establish the
reign of law, the Constitution of the
United States requires the President,
f when requested by The Legislature and
the governor 30 suppress domestic vio-
: lence. You see there is lawful way
/ to secure coal for the public.
e "The duly of the hour is not to waste
f time negotiating with the fomenters OF
0 this anarchy and insolent defiance OF
law. but to do as was done in the war OF
| the rebellion-restore the majesty OF
law, the only guardian of free people,
and to re-establish order and peace al
any cost
'The government is contemplate
e failure if it can only protect the live'
and property and secure the comfort OF
/: the people by compromising with the
: violators of law and the instigators o.
Ii violence and crime.
It "Just now it is more important t.
8 teach ignorant men dwelling among US