The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-26

ference between the coal operators and
the Miners union
Al meeting between the presidents OF
the coal roads and large number OF In
dependent operators a strong protest
was entered by the latter against treat
ing directly with the miners
None OF the reasons advanced by the In
dependent operators is that such n set
tlement upon the basis suggested would
forever establish the power and per-
petuate the Injustice perpetrated by the
United Mine Workers"
The following statement was given out
sea sentnr 'ernoon the BY smps9n repre-
Scranton. Nov. o. 1909
To Messrs. Baer Thomas. Truesdale.
olyphant. Fowler and Walter. Presi-
dents:
Conference.-The undersigned individual
coal operators. whose product Is carried
over one or the other OF your respective
being made to effect settlement OF the
questions now before the anthracite coal
strike commission. OF which the individ-
Ial coal operators have been made
party at the request OF the commssIon
and number OF your corporations. beg
leave respectfully TO enter their vigorous
made at this time, and set forth the fol.
lowing among many reasons:
AGAINST THE UNION.
l. We believe that such a settlement at
this time and upon the basis suggested
would forever establish the power ana
perpetuate the injustice perpetrated by
the United Mine Workers
3 That such a settlement would be, In
the eyes OF the public. a confession that
we have heretofore been guilty Of all the
OFFENCES charged against us by the said
mine workers.
3. That we have and believe that you
have such a perfect and completes defence
to the allegations made by the complain
ants before the commission that any
money award the commission would rem
der would be far less than tho amount
we understand that IL Is proposed TO con-
cede. especially to miners and their Ia
4 That. aside from any money consid-
erations. this commission, composed as
we believe Of men that are absolutely
fair. unbiased and OF unusual experience
and good judgment. In their findings will
make such declaration as will for many
years put ban upon unlawful practices
OF oppression OF non-union men, unJus-
tiiable demands and other grievances
that we have been suffering under since
1900 when the union first took possession
OF our property. II. on the other hand.
this settlement he made now. when not
single witness has been called on our
part or on your behalf. II will oe an alb
solute and distinct surrender 10 the Min
ers union. and the troubles above refer
red to will not only be continued but so
magnifed as 10 he absolutely unbears BILE.
OPERATORS SIDE.
The hearings before the Anthracite coal
strike commission present the frst oppor-
tunity that the coal operators have ever
had OF presenting their case before the
general public, who are really an impor-
tant third party. since abstracts at least
Of these proceedings are published all
over the United States, and ~ Is n duty
that We owe 20 ourselves az we'll 40 70
them to prove that the continued and re-
peated charges Of Injustice. barbarity
and extortion are absolutely unfounded
all OF which the individual operators at
least propose ~ 10
The case as presented. already shows
such weakness that We believe they were
almost disheariened when these sugger-
tions for compromise were made We
believe that any surrender on our part.
which would be- practically what this
compromise would amount TO, would he
by FAR the most serious mistake ever
made IN the anthracite coal business
The protcs, bears the signatures of q
firms
The meeting Of the independent opera
tors and railroad officials lasted about