Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-10-10
PRESIDENTS COAL CONFERENCE
RESULTS IN UTTER FAILURE

ingly accept 1t. even II 1t is against
their claims"
The president said:
Before considering what ought To
be done, | think II only Just to both
of you-both sides-nnd desirable from
nv standpoint. that you should hayo
time to consider what have stated
as the reasons for my getting you to-
gether, and | shall trespass so far
upon your good nature us to ask that
this interview cease now and that you
come back nt 3 o'clock. l should like
you to think over what ! have stated.
not to decide now. but give II careful
thought and return at o'clock"
The conference then adjourned until
3 o'clock. Upon reassembling Mr.. Baer
spoke as follows:
MIR. President. do we understand
you correctly that we will be expected
to answer the proposition submitted ny
Mr.. Mitchell this morning.
The Presidcnt-lt will be n pleasure
to mo to hear any answer that you arc
willing to make.
Mr. Baer-I have prepared an m.
swcr.
Statement. In part, OF George w.
Bncr, president Of the Reading rail-
road. Lnhi.h q wiikcsbarrc Coal Com
pany and Temple Iron Company:
TO tho President Of the United
States: We understand your anxiety.
M forcIbiy expressed In tho hint.mcnt
you read to us this mornin. to bring
about nm Immediate resumption Of op-
crations In the coal mines In some such
vAay ns will, without u days unnrc"r-
Kary delay. meet the crying needs OF
the people. W. infer that you desired
ua to consider tho offer Of Mr. Mitchell.
verbally mad. this morning. exprcsn-
inr and speaking for the United MinS
Workers. to 10 back To work " you
would appoint commission To deter
min. tn. questions at issue.
'You distinctly nay that you do not
invite a discussion OF your respective
claims and poaltiona.' hut ". assume
that a statement Of what is solns on
In tho coal regions will not bc irr-lo-
want. We represent tho owners OF coal
mines In Pennsylvania Thcr. aro
from i5.01o to 5000 men At work In
mining and preparing coal. They nfn
abused. assaulted. injured and NAL
treated by tho United Mine Workers.
They can only work under the prp'"c-
tion Of armed guards. Thousands ut
other workm-n are deferred from
working by tho Intimidation. violence
and erim-a inausurn'-i by ih. United
Mine Workers. over whom John Mitch.
ell. whom yon invite To meet you. 10
chief.
THE duty Of the hour IL not To waste
tine negotiating with the fomcnirrs
of this anarchy and insoiant irnanss
| Of iaw. hu, to do IA was done In tho
war Of the rebellion. restore th. ttl7I-
~ of the only guardian Of a FREQ pco-
pie and to r-.es,abiIsh order and p-aeo
at any cost. The Eo,rrnm-n, IL eon-
,cmptibic failure II II can only pro:r-s
the lives and property and secure tbo
eomfof, of tho people by compromising
with the tiola'ora Of ia~ and the in-
a,iEa,ora of ,iol"ncc and crime.
'Jus, now Il IL more important To
teach ignorant men dwelling among ua.
| misi.i and used as tools by citizens of
other states. that. at whatever cost and
| Inconvenience to tho public. P-nnaylsa-
MIA will use tho whole power OF tho
government to protect not only tho
man who wants to work. bu, hia wills
and children while he is at work. and
to punish every man who by ihA,iEa-
tion or by overt acts attempts To de-
prise any man Of his liberty to work.
| Under these conditions wo decline
to acc-p, MIR. Mitchrii's eonsidcra,o Of
l fer TO let our men work on terms hc
names. lie has NO right to come from
Illinois to dictate terms on the accept
| arrr Of which anarchy and Grim. shall
cease in Pennsylvania. lie must stop
his people from killing. manning and
abusing Pennsylvania citizens and from
destroying property. lie must stop IL
because Il Ia unlawful. and no, because
OF any bargain with us.
we will add to our offer. to con-
tintfc the wages existing at the time OF
the strike and to take up with each
/ coliicry and adjust any grievance ,his
| further condition: N the employers
and employees a, any particular coliicry
I cannot reach n satisfactory adjustment
of any alleged grievance. II shall be re-
fcrrud To the judges OF the court OF
common pleas of the district In which
the collicry is situated for final deter
mina,i,n."
Following is the offer made by tho
representatives OF the miners union:
mir. President: Confident Of our
/ ability TO demonstrate to any impartial
tribunal tho equity of our demands for
higher wages and improved environ
ment. We propose that the issues cul-
minating In this strike shall be referred
/ to you and n tribunal OF your own Sc
| lection. and agree to accept your
award upon all or any OF the questions
involved. II you will accept this re-
aponsibility. and the representatives OF
the coal operators will signify their
Willingness To have your decision in-
corporated in an agreement. for not
less than i've years. as may be mutually
determined between themselves and tho
anthracite coal mine workers, and will
pay the scale OF wages which you and
the tribunal appointed by you shall
award. we will Immediately call a con-
vention and recommend resumption
of work. upon the understanding that
the wages which shall be paid are to
go in effect from the day upon which
work Is resumed"
Mr.. Mitchell made statements TO
show that the report of murders and
violence were greatly exaggerated.
The President then asked the repre-
sentatiyes fo the anthracite companies
/ whether they would accept Mr..
/ Mitchells proposition. They answered
"No." In response TO a further ques-
/ ton from the President, they replied
/ that they would have no dealings what
ever with Mr. Mitchell looking toward
a settlement of the question at issue,
! and that they had no further PROPOSE
ton to make. save what was contained
/ in ;hs statement of Mr. Baer. which, in
effect. was that II any man chose to-
resume work. and had difficulty with
I ~. 49,, ,,tny,fa ln+b ehpuld fgaNa tho