Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-04
CAN DO NO MORE
UNTIL STATE ACTS
Continued From First Page.

your anxiety as fOrcibly expressed in
| the statement you read to us this
morning to bring about an immediate
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 We
infer that you desired us TO consider
| the offer of Mr. Mitchell verbally
made this morning, expressing and
speaking for the United Mine Work
ers, to 20 back to work if you would
appoint a commission to determine the
questions at issue. You distinctly say
that you do not invite Il discussion
of your respective claims and posi-
TONS But we assume that state
ment of what is going on in the coal
regions will not be irrelevant
I'VE represent the owners of coal
mines in Pennsylvania. There are
from $1,000 to 10000 men at work
mining and preparing coal. They are
abused, assaulted. injured and mall
treated by the United Mine Workers.
They can only work under the pro-
lection of armed guards. Thousands
of other workmen are deferred from
working by the intimidation. violence
and crimes iEaugurated by the United
Mine Workers, over whom John Mitch
ell, whom you invited to meet you, is
chief
Il 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 exist in the coal regions. There
is terrible reign of lawlessness and
crime there. Only the lives and prop
erty of the members of the secret oath
bound order which declared that the
locals should have full power to sus-'
pend operations at cOllieries' until the
non-union men joined their order are
safe. Every effort is made to prevent
the mining of coal, and when mined
Mitchell's men dynamite bridges and
tracks, mob train men, and by all man.
ner of violence try to prevent its ship
ment to relieve the public"
Baer then summarized the laws of
Pennsylvania relating to the holding
and defending of property; how the
governor must protect life and prop
erty and establish peace; and how, If
Pennsylvania cannot do so. the nation
al constitution requires the president.
when properly requested, to suppress
domestic violence.
''You see there is a lawful way to
secure coal for the public" said Baer.
1.-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 Tebellion-restore the ma
jesty of law, the only guardian of
free people, and to re-establish order
and peace at any cost.
Under these conditions we decline
to accept MIR. MitehelFs considerable
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,
manning and abusing Pennsylvania
citizens, and from destroying property.
He must stop it because it is unlaw-
full. and not because of any bargain
with us.
I'VE Will add to our offer to con-
tinue the wages existing at the time
of strike and TO take up at each col
liery and adjust any grievance this
further condition - if the employers
and employees at any particular col
liery cannot reach satisfactory adj
justment of any alleged grievances it
shall be referred to the judges of the
court of common pleas of the district
in which the colliery is situated for
final determination"
n,1~rps, oFrIcIAL STATEMENT