Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-10-10
lMPUDENT COAL BAR0NS.

The conference of the President with
the coal railroad presidents and coal
operators on the one side, and the La
Dor Union representatives on the other,
was fiat failure. This was no surprise.
We believe the President honestly
wanted to do something which would
avert an impending calamity. but he
has found of what stuff coal magnates
are made. Look at the impudent
statements of these kings at the con-
ference2
First-Their statement was covert
threat at the President for taking hold
of the matter at all.
Second-lt WAS q statement of grieY-
ances against the miners for their
disregard of law, and an accusation of
bloodthirstiness magnified beyond rea-
son and truth.
Third-They informed the President
that it was his duty to establish law
where the Governor of Pennsylvania
had failed. and reminded him of his
neglected duties in very blunt if not
insulting terms.
They used, in part, this language,
which we suppose is aimed directly st
the South, which they think sympa-
thises with the miners: 1.-The duty OF
the hour ia not to waste time negoti-
ating with the fOrmenters 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 a free
people, and re-establish order and
peace at any COST
This is the utterance of Geo. F.
Baer, president Of lot OF corporations,
speaking for himself and the other
magnates, to the President of the
United States. This is an evidence Of
the temper shown by these pampered
monopolists. and these very utterances
ought to remove every vestige of SYM
patty from the cause Of upstairs and
tyrants like these, who imagine that
they are heaven born and that their
rights and none others rights should
be safe guarded, In other words that
they have rights and no one else has
any. If Mr.. Baer's coal mine is not
run to suit Mr.. Baer, or the miners do
not work to suit Mr.. Baer, or do not
submit to all the indignities and out
RACES Mr.. Baer conjures up for them,
then Mr.. Baer assumes that a state of
anarchy prevails, and Mr.. Baer In
forms the President that he should do
as was done In the war OF the rebellion,
the army should be turned loose, men
should be shot down, their homes pill
LACED, their women insulted, their
children driven out to starve. that
what he calls the majesty of the law
might be restored.
This was the spirit of compromise
these lords of creation met the Presi-
dent with in Washington last Friday,
a spirit which assumed that the miners
had forfeited their lives and now 1t is
meet and right that they may be shot
down as dogs In order that the mines
of king Coal" Baer may be opened
and he continue unmolested in his loot
of the public.
How bis action contrasted with that
of Mr.. Mitchell, the representative of
the Labor Union. Mr.. Mitchell said:
I'VE (that is the miners) propose that
the issues eliminating in this strike
shall be referred to you (the Presidency
and a tribunal of your own selection.
Would the coal magnates submit
to the President Of the
United States and tribunal of his
selection No. They demanded the
pound of flesh, they wanted all matters
submitted to courts, which doubtless
they own. No wonder the President
was Disguised with them. No wonder
the nation is Disguised with them, and
Il such arrogance is carried much fur
ther there may be a reconing which
will demonstrate to Mr.. Baer, Mr..
Thomas, Mr.. Truesdale, and others
who have monopolized the coal which
he Lord put upon earth for the good |
If bis creatures, and who own the rail.
'oads which are to carry 1t, that there
8 power greater than they. 1t is the
cover of the people. This power has
ent the heads of kings rolling before
hem as ball. the same power may
ssert itself again, for as sure as the
un shines IL this winter breaks upon
be country and there is no coal simply
BECAUSE Mr.. Baer will not talk with
1r. Mitchell, just 80 sure some bloated
elf pround worms of the earth are
DING to suffer. This is no far fetched
there is no anarchy in the
digestion. Nothing but naked I'm.
arnished truth, and as firmly and as
1rely as Mr.. Baer and his friends
elieve they are entrenched behind
leir bank accounts, just so surely will
ley be called to the bar of public !
pinion, and made to face a storm
hich few have ever weathered. Are
lese men blind or mad, .or plain tools? -,
Yea the stork in the heavens know I
ID her appointed times, and the turtle,
nd the crane, and the swallow. observe :
lie time Of their coming" but these :
eople seem TO know not the Judgment 8
lat awaits them. lie
What beastly, bloody request that 9
as which the coal magnates made of :
lie President on Friday last when t
Icy demanded that the army be sent '
to shot miners on their preserve. =