Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-10-06


for neither the miners nor the opera
tors, but for the general public The
questions at issue which led to the
situation affect Immediately the par
ties concerned, both the operators and
miners; but the situation itself vitality
affects the public. AS long as there
seemed to be reasonable hope that
these matters could be adjusted be-
tween the parties interested, it did
not seem proper for me to intervene
in any way. / disclaim any right or
duty to intervene in this way, upon
legal grounds, or upon any official
relation that l bear to the situation,
but the urgency and the terrible ma
ture of the catastrophe impending
over large portion of our people,
in the shape of winter fuel famine,
impel me. after much anxious thought,
to believe that my duty requires me
to use whatever influence personally
can bring to effect settlement of the
situation, which has become literally
intolerable.
II wish to emphasize the character
of the situation and to say that it's
gravity is such that l am constrained
urgently to insist that each one of you
realizes the heavy burden of RESPONSE
bility upon him. We are upon the
threshold of winter, with an already
existing coal famine, the terrors of
which we can hardly yet appreciate.
The evil possibilities are so far-reach-
ing, so appalling. that it 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 is
sue between you. In my Judgment
the situation imperatively demands
that you meet upon the common plane
of the necessities of the public. With
all the earnestness that there is in
me, l ask that there be an immediate
resumption OF operations in the coal
mines, in some such way as will with.
out days unnecessary delay meet
the crying needs of the people.
Il do not invite discussion of your
respective claims and positions. APP
peal to your patriotism, to the spirit
that sinks personal considerations and
makes individual sacrifice for the gen.
eral good"
Upon the completion of the >presi.
dents remarks, Mr.. Mitchell made
statement. as follows:
"Mr. President: / am much i'm
pressed with what you say. am
much impressed with the gravity Of
the situation. We feel that we are
not responsible for this terrible state
of affairs. We are willing to meet the
gentlemen representing the coal oper-
ators, to try to adjust our differences
among ourselves. If we cannot ad-
just them that way, Mr.. President, we
are willing that you shall name tri-
bunal who shall determine the issues
that have resulted in the strike. and
if the gentlemen representing the OPP
orators will accept the award or de-
cision of such tribunal, the miners
will willingly accept it, even if it is
against their claims"
what ought to be done, I think it is
it is only just to both of you-both
sides-and desirable from my stand
point, that you should have time to
consider what l have stated as to the
reasons for my getting you together,
and l shall trespass so fer upon your
good nature as to ask that this inter-
view cease now and that you come
back at o'clock. l should like you
to think over what have stated, not
to decide now, but give it careful
thought and return at 3 o'clock
The conference then adjourned until
o'clock. Upon reassembling, Mr.
Baer spoke.
Statement of George F. Baer, presi-
dent of the Reading railroad:
ITO the President of the United
States: We understand your anxiety.
as forcibly expressed in the statement
you read to us this morning. to bring
about an immediate resumption of op-
erations in the coal mines in some
such way as will, without days I'M
necessary delay. meet the crying needs
of the people,
I'VE infer that you desired us to
consider the offer of Mr.. Mitchell, YER
bally made this morning, expressing
and speaking for the United Mine
Workers, to 60 back to work If you
would appoint commission to deter
mine the question at issue.
You distinctly say that you do not
invite a discussion of our respective
claims and positions but we assume
that statement of what is going on
in the coal regions will not be irrel-
evant We represent the owners of
coal mines in Pennsylvania. There are
from $4,000 to 10000 men at work in
mining and preparing coal. They are
abused, assaulted, injured and NAL
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
| ord cripooc innucuratod nv the Tinted