The Saint Paul globe., 1902-09-04
AGAINST ARBITRATION
LONG STATEMENT FROM PREsI-
DENT OF READING COMPANY
He Holds a Conference With the
Pennsylvania Senator'S and Then
Gives His Reasons for Withholding
Consent to an Arbitration of the Coal
Strike,

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Sept g.
President George F. Baer. of the Read
ing company, and United States Sena-
tors Quay and Penrose, held a long
conference today in the executive Of
fees of the Reading company in this
city, at which the anthracite coal min
ers' strike was thoroughly discussed.
At the conclusion of the conference,
President Baer issued a reply to the
two senators. Among other things, he
said
IF we yield to the extravagant de-
mands of the miners we will lose mon
ey. If we attempt to increase the price
of coal we will destroy the industries
depending upon anthracite fuel If we
increase the price on the domestic
sizes, we will be called robber barons,
oppressors Of the poor, monopolists
and enemies Of mankind. We have
concluded, therefore, that our duty to
ourselves and to the public will best
be served by standing firmly on these
propositions:
"One-That the wages paid in the
anthracite coal regions are, compared
with the wages paid in like employ
ment, fair and just, and that men will
ing to work honestly can earn more
on the present basis Of wages than in
any other industry engaged in produc-
ing common articles Of necessity in
the United States.
Would Increase Coal Prices.
'Two-That wages cannot be in
creased without increasing the price
of coal, and to increase the price of
coal will restrict the market and drive
the public to use bituminous coal, a
cheaper and more abundant fuel, and
that a restricted market will curtail
production and result in depriving the
miners of regular employment.
"Three-That we are not fighting Ia
Dor organizations. We fully recognize
the right Of men to organize to protect
themselves from oppression and to
benefit themselves in any legitimate
way. But we do oppose their unrea-
sonable interference with the discipline
and ordinary management Of our busi-
ness. We will not permit them to Sc
lect our employees. We are fighting
the battle of freedom for the individ-
ual and his right to labor on his own
terms.
'Fourth-That 1t Is, by reason of
varying conditions of each man, i'm
practicable to adopt a uniform scale Of
wages for the whole region. But that
at each colliery every complaint and
grievance will be taken UP and investi-
gated by the superintendents and ad-
justed whenever it is just. l personally
offered to Mitchell and his district
presidents to go with them and inves-
tigate any grievance.
No Arbitration Here.
''You see, senators, none Of these
things can eb the subject of arbitra-
ton. You cannot arbitrate question
of wages when an increase will destroy
the business and a decrease will be
unacceptable to the workmen. We
cannot arbitrate a question as to
whether mining operation and business
generally shall be managed under the
common sense rule of law and equity,
by the owners and the servants they
have selected, or by labor organiza-
ton. You cannot arbitrate the right
to protect your property and your
workmen from the mob rule of labor
organizations who boldly proclaim a
purpose to destroy property and en-
deavor to make their proclamation ef-
fective by killing and injuring their
fellow workmen, who refuse to join in
their lawlessneSs.'