Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-10-08
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THE GREAT COAL STRIKE.

Mine Owners Think Their Rights
Alone Are Entitled to Considern-
tiOn.
The conference between President
Roosevelt and representatives Of the
owners Of, and laborers in, the anthra-
cite coal mines Of Pennsylvania, took
place in the temporary White House in
Washington last Friday. There were
two conferences-one in the morning
and the other in the afternoon-but
there was no practical result other
than to show that the mine owners are
blind and unreasonable, and that the
mine workers are willing to do what is
right.
The conference was commenced In
the morning. Those present were
President Roosevelt. Attorney General
Knox, Secretary Cortelyou, Carroll D.
Wright, commissioner of labor; Pres
ident Baer, Of the Reading: Mr.. Will
cox. of the Delaware and Hudson rail-
road, and Mr.. Markle, representing the
independent coal operators, and Presi-
dent Mitchell, Of the Mine Workers
Union, with Thomas Duffey, T. D.
Nichols and John Fahe, presidents of
districts Nos. 7, and 9, of the miners
union, being the districts where anthra-
cite coal is mined. Later Assistant
Secretary Loeb and Mr.. Barnes, who
are stenoghaphers, came into the con-
ference room.
The president opened the conference
with the following statement to the
mine owners and mine workers:
"I wish to call your attention to the
fact that there are three parties affect-
ed by the situation in the anthracite
trades-the operators, the miners ana
the general public. I speak for neith-
er the operators nor the miners, but
for the general public. The questions
at issue which led to the trouble be-
tween the operators and the miners,
and the situation itself, vitality affects
the public. AS long as there seemed to
be reasonable hope that these matters
could be adjusted between them, 1t DID
not seem proper to me to intervene. L
disclaim any right or duty to inter-
vene in this way upon legal grounds or
upon any ground other than on account
of the nature of the catastrophe to a
large portion Of our people In the win
ter fuel famine, which Is staring us IN
the face. I believe that my duty re-
uuires me to use whatever influence l
can to bring to an end sit
uation which has become literally In
tolerable. I wish to emphasize the
character Of the situation and to say
that it's gravity Is such that l am con-
strained urgently to insist that eacn
one of you realize the heavy burden or
responsibility upon you. We are upon
the threshold of winter with an already
existing coal famine, the future terrors
of which we can hardly yet appreciate.
The evil possibilities are so far reach-
ing, so appalling, that it seems to me
that you are not only justified In sink
ing, but required to sink. for the time.
any tenacity as to your respective
claims in the matter. 1t is my judg.
ment that the situation requires that
YOU open the common plane Of the ne
cessities of the public. With all the
there Is in me I ask that
there be an immediate resumption of
operations in the coal mines In some
such way as will without any neces-
sary delay meet the crying need of the
people. I do not invite a discussion OF
your respective claims. I appeal to
your patriotism. to the spirit that sinks
personal considerations and makes in
dividuals sacrifice for the general
good"
In reply to this, President Mitchell,
of the Mine Workers Union, spoke as
follows:
II C.
ed with what you say. I am much I'M
pressed with the gravity Of the situa-
tion. We feel that we are not respon-
sible for this terrible state Of affairs.
We are willing to meet the gentlemen
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 de-
termine the issues that have resulted
in the strike. and If the gentlemen rep
resenting the operators will accept the
award or decision Of such a tribunal.
the miners will willingly accept 1t. even
if it is against their claims"
The representatives Of the mine own
ers looked uneasy and surprised, when
President Mitchell concluded; but were
Roosevelt relieved the situation by sug-
gesting an adjournment of the confer
ence until the afternoon, requesting
that in the meantime the conferees
give the situation full consideration,
with a view of trying to reach an
agreement later in the day.
After a conference among themselves
and over the long distance telephone
with people in New York. presumably
]. P. Morgan, and probably others, the
of the mine owners
agreed upon a course of action. 1t was
that each would make separate state
ment, and all would agree to decline
President Mitchell's offer.
Upon the return of the cOnferees to
the conference room. the mine owners
took the position that they were the
owners of the anthracite
mines: that because Of dissatisfaction
the union workers had struck; that as
the owners had right to do, they en-
ployed other miners: that the union men
had interefrred with these miners. and
had brought about a condition of riot,
bloodshed and anarchy: that the con-
stitution of Pennsylvania guaranteed
the owners in the peaceful possession
Of their property; that troops were on
the scene trying to uphold the consti-
tuition, and if they were unable to do
so it was the duty Of the president to
send Federal troops to the scene; that
Mr.. Mitchell was not even citizen of
but of Illinois, :nd they
were unwilling to recognize his right
to interfere in matters that were none
of his business; that the union miners
were responsible for the murder and