The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-14

AM tary Cortelyou by authority of KW those present at the white house, made public the following authorized statement concerning the conference.
 MT. J. P Morgan came to Washington with his partner, MT. Bacon, at the re- quest of the coal companies who desired that as matter of courtesy their state ment should be shown to the President before it was made public. Having been laid before the President by MT. Morgan. it is now given to the press.
 ITO the public:
 'The managers of the different coal properties, comprising the anthracite coal fields, wish their position in the present strike to be understood and, therefore, make the following statement of facts:
 There are in the anthracite regions about seventy-hve operating companies and firms and l47,ooo miners and work men (of which S00O0 are under age) com prising some twenty nationalities and dialects.
 'sOf these workmen possibly one half belong to the United Mine Workers union of which MT. John Mitchell is president. That organization was originally formed in the bituminous coal region and three fourths of its members are miners of bttuminous coal and bituminous coal is sold in active competition with anthracite coal. The remaining workmen in the an- thracite fields either belong to no union whatever, or do not belong to the mine workers union.
 .The present strike was declared by the mine workers union on the tenth day of May. 1902. Since that time many workmen not belonging to or not willing to follow that organization were working about the mines. From seven to ten thousand are now at work. Many more have wished to work, but have been pre- vented by a course of violence and in limitation towards those working and towards their families, accompaniend by the destruction of properties and the fear of death or bodily harm to every man who wishes to exercise his right to work.
 Reign of Terror.
 "A schedule Is annexed hereto showing some of the things done to create this reign of terror, and every instance stated can be verified by reference to the of fcers of the law-civil and military-in the anthracite region. This violence mas con tinued and steadily increased, notwith- standing repeated disavowals by Mir Mitchell, and it Is clear that he either cannot or will not prevent it, and that the rights of the other workmen cannot be protected under the supremacy of the mine workers union.
 "The coal companies believe that the and full. and all that the business in its normal condition has been able to stand if the capital invested is to have any reasonable return. The profits have been small, several of the companies have be- come bankrupt and been re-organized sey- eral times. Several have never paid divi dends. and the dividends of the others have been a small return for the capital invested. It is not, however, the purpose of this statement to discuss this ques- tion. The undersigned are not and never have been unwilling to submit all ques- lions between them and their workmen to any fair tribunal for decision.
 No Arbitration With Union.
 They are not willing to enter into ar- filtration with the mine workers union. an organization chiefly composed of men in A rival and competitive interest and they are not willing to make any arrange oent which will not secure to the men now working and all now or hereafter wishing to work whether they belong to the mine workers union or not, the right and opportunity to work Tn safety and without personal insult or bodily harul to themselves or their families For these reasons the arbitrations heretofore pro posed have been declined. 1t will be re- nembered at the conference in Washing