Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-11
ODELL is INDIGNANT
HE Is DRIVEN ny PRESIDENT
BAER To EXPRESS I1IMsELF
STRONGLY.
SAYS OPERATORS ARE UNFAIR.
That They Arc Not Dealing Candid
Iy With the People.
s.MITCHELL EMINEyTLY FAIR,
"He Shows Every Disposition to Adj
just the Serious Situntion"-Gov-
crnor Proposes Five Cents n Ton
Increase for Miners, and Believe
They VIII Accept It-Operators
May Answer Next Tuesday.
May Answer Next Tuesday.

all other operators to understand that
am the Governor of New York. the chos-
en- representative of 100000 people. and
that / am here in this matter solely in
that capacity. and to relieve. if possible,
an intolerable situation. And what is
more l intend to use every power at my
command TO do it,
Governor. Odell made this statement to-
day to President Baer Of the Reading
railroad, in the presence Of United States
Senators Platt, Of New York, and Quay
and Penrose, of Pennsylvania It was
the elimination of a rather heated inter
view in the Office of Senator Platt, ana
the result of the first meeting between
Governor Odell and President Baer.
Baer In Bad Humor.
Mr.. Baer was not in the best humor,
when, accompanied by E. B. Thomas,
chairman of the Board Of Directors of the
Erie, he entered Senator Platt's office.
The conference was begun by state
ment made by Senator Penrose, that the
situation was becoming so serious that
some solution must be found at once. He
suggested that the operators should in
cline to some concessions toward a Set
tlenent.
IF you mean by that said President
Baer, that we are to recognize the eN-
istence of a labor union, tell you right
now that the operators will consider no
such proposition
OdeII Excited.
Governor Odell was on his feet in an
instant. Holding half-burnt cigar in his
hand and white with excitement, he said:
Are we to understand that no kind OF
conciliatory proposition will receive con-
sideration al the hands OF the operators?
II did not say that answered Mr..
Baer, but I do say, and l reiterate it.
that we will not accept political advice,
nor allow the interference Of politicians
in this our affair.
Then it was that the Governor made the
statement attributed to him at the begin
ming Of this article.
Baer More Cautious.
President Baer, evidently appreciating
that he had gone too far. bowed to
Governor Odell, and said:
Governor, beg your pardon. No per-
sonal affront was intended, and we Will
listen to any suggestion You may have to
make; but again 1 repeat that we must
refuse to recognize the union. as repre-
sented by Mr.. Mitchell"
Il believe" said the Governor, that
your position from a public viewpoint is
absolutely untenabie. If coal operators,
railroad men, and otner businessmen can
combine for mutual profit and protection.
there is no reason why laboring men
should not
Governors Proposition.
What is the proposition?" asked Mr..
Baer coldly.
Just this" said Governor Odell. "I
am sure that the labor organization of
which Mr.. Mitchell is head, desires him
to be fair with the general public. If the
operators will consent to give the men
cents a ton increase, I will personally
present it to the miners, and l believe
they will accept it. 1t is a, fair PROPOSE
ton
Does this mean. Governor Odel, that
we are to recognize the miners union?"
Mr.. Baer asked.
1T certainly does answered Governor
Odell, quickly, and there is no reason
why YOU should not
Early Answer Promised.
Mr.. Baer and Mr.. Thomas rose to so.
Mr.. Thomas renlarking that the matter
would be presented to the other operators
and that an early answer would be forth
coming, Mr.. Baer said: I'VE are to meet
d
citation on Tuesday, and we may have an
answer then
The conference broke up, Mr.. Baer and
Mr.. Thomas withdrawing. Senat tors Platt
Penrose, and Quay talked over the mat
ter for a short time, and then they, too,
separated. the Pennsylvaniars announc-
ing that they would go back to Harris
brug and discuss the situation with Gov
ernor Stone.
Governor to Act at Once.
Governor Odell was not in a talking
mood when he left the conference. He
went directly to the Fifth-Avenue Hotel
and during most of the afternoon received
callers. Mayor Low, Arson G. McCook
Edward Lauterbach, Congressman Less
les and Littauer, and Senator Platt, were
among his callers To one of these the
Governor said: The coal operators may
postpone this matter until Tuesday, but
I do not propose to postpone it. They are
not acting fairly towards the people. I
believe / shall find some remedy
About O'Clock. John Mitchell accom-
panied by L. n. Hamnerling, of Wilkes
barre, called and had a long conference
While this was going on, dispatch an
nouncing that the operators refused to
consider the terms suggested by the
Governor. was received.
Mitchell and odeIHs plan.
When the conference was over. Cover
nor Odell refused to say what had oc-
CURED. and Mr.. Mitchell was equally reti-
cent. 1t is believed. however that Gov
ernor Odell presented his proposition of
settlement TO the leader Of the miners
union. and that Mr.. Mitchell said he
would present it to the district presidents,
in the hope that it would be accepted
Governor odell said: "Mr Mitchell was
eninently fair. and showed every DISPOSE
ton to adjust the serious situation"
Settlement Far or as Ever.
After two days of conference between
the anthracite coal mine operators, on one
side. and the Governor and senior Sena-
tor of New York and the two Senators
from Pennsylvania on the other. the
strike of the miners is apparently as
far from settlement as the day it was
declared. Governor Odell laid before the
operators the proposition that il they
would concede TO the miners an advance
of 5 cents a ton in the Price paid for
mining coal he would y,rorni tlia the