Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-10-10
THE COAL SITUATION.
Frutless Result of Conference With
the President-Entire Militia OF
Pennsylvania Called Out.

In response to President Roosevelts re-
quest for conference on the coal stu
alton, the president or other representa-
tive of the coal operating companies,
and President John w. Mitchell of the
United Mine Workers of America and
two of his district presidents, gathered
at the temporary White House at IL
o'clock last Friday morning. The Pres
ident came Immediately to the question
at issue by reading to the gentlemen
written appeal, in which he said:
II wish to call your attention to the
fact that there are three parties affected
by the situation in the anthracite trade:
The operators, the miners and the general
public. The questions at issue which led
to the situation affect Immediately the
parties concerned-the operators and the
miners; but the situation itself vitality af-
fects the public.
81 disclaim any right or duty to inter
vene in this way upon legal grounds or
upon any official relation that | bear to
the situation; but the urgency and the
terrible nature of the catastrophe i'm
pending over a large portion of our peo-
pie in the shape of a winter fuel famine
impel me. after much anxious thought, to
believe that my duty requires me to use
whatever influence I personally can to
bring TO an end a situation which has
become literally intolerable.
1--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 reaching, so appalling. that 1t seems
to me that you are not only justified in
sinking but required to sink for the time
being any tenacity as to your respective
claims in the matter at issue between
you. In my judgment, the situation inn
peratively requires that you meet upon
the common plane of the necessities of
ho ratth1 oil he ctr,nc
there is in me I ask that there be an i'm
mediate resumption of operations in the
coal mines in some such way as will with
out a days unnecessary delay meet the
crying needs of the people,
At the close of this appeal the Presi-
dent said he did not invite discussion, and
he requested the gentlemen to retire to
consider the subject by themselves and
to return with their answers at o'clock
The conference was resumed at that
hour and the answers were in substance
these:
Mr.. Mitchell. on the part of the miners
offered to submit all the questions at is
sue to tribunal to be appointed by the
President. and agreed TO accept the de-
cision of such n tribunal upon all or any
of the questions involved If the mine OPP
orators would agree to such a proposal.
Upon the acceptance of this proposition
Mr.. Mitchell said he would recommend to
to work upon the understanding that
the wages which are to be paid shall go
into effect upon the day on which work
Is resumed"
The operators. on their part. each OF
whom made n personal statement. refused
to recognize the miners union or to make
any concession to the demands of the
miners is n body. They said in substance
that state of anarchy exists in the coal
regions. that a great body of miners who
wish to return to work are prevented
from doing so by threats of personal vio-
lence and murder. that a large number
of murders have already been committed.
and that what is needed is the enforce
ment of the laws by calling out the troops
to subdue violence and to protect the
miners who are ready to go to work.
President Baer of the Reading Railroad
company said: THE duty of the hour is
not to waste time negotiating with the
fomenters of 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 n
free people. and TO reestablish order and
peace at any cost. Under the conditions
existing We decline to accept Mr.. Mitch
ellis considerate offer to let our men work
on terms he names. He has no right to
come from Illinois to dictate terms on
the acceptance of which anarchy and
crime shall cease in PENNSYLVANIA. He
must stop his people from killing. MAIN
| ing and abusing Pennsylvania citizens
and from destroying property He must
stop 1t because it is unlawful. and not be-
cause of any bargain with us"
The only offer the coal presidents would
make was to continue the wages exist
| ing at the time of the strike and to take
| up and adjust at each colliery any eX-
| listing grievances. Further than this
| iii the employers and employees at any
/ particular colliery cannot reach n salts
/ factory adjustment of any alleged griev-
| ances 1t shall be referred to the judges OF
the court of common pleas of the dis
trict in which the colliery is situated fol-
! final determination
! The conference thus ended without any
/ result having been reached looking to q
| resumption of coal mining. On the
! contrary. tho two parties to the contest
We're apparently farther apart than ever
| The basis of the contention of the op.
orators was their right to have men who
wish to do so go to work without inter.
| ference from the striking miners. 1t 4:
| evident that the root of the whole matter
so far as the operators are concerned, 1:
| their determination not to recognize thu
| miners union in any way or yield Il
any dictation from its officers. At timel
in their addresses to the President thei
| tone grew almost insulting because al
they assumed they had not been Gale,
to consult with anarchists and murder
! ers.
On Sunday morning President Roose
Welt and the lawyers of his cabinet, will
Col. Carroll d. Wright, commissioner O
labor, were in earnest consultation TO
several hours on the threatening situa
ton.
As a result of Sundays conference
President Roosevelt made another effor
Monday to settle the strike. This was Il
the form of a proposition. communi
Gated to President Mitchell of the Unite
Mine Workers. 10 the effect that II tn
miners could be sent back to work Presi
dent Roosevelt would use his best effort
to have all matters in controversy set
tied through investigation by commits
sion.
Add coal situation =. e.. e. =. =. =. 49,, -.
1t is understood that this propositio
was declined by Mr. Mitchell, all hi
district presidents being opposed to II
acceptance.
Pennsylvania Militia Called Out.
Acts of violence in the coal region
have continued. On Sunday a railroa
was dynamited to prevent the operator
from taking out train of coal. Nor
union men are assaulted, and In one II
; stance this week a non-union miner