The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-04
OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
What Actually Occurred at the White
House Conference.


eiaI statement was given out concerning
tOdaYs coal conferences; ..-.Il g..
The conference ODened at II O'Clock.
The operators and representatives of the
miners were presented to the president.
Those in attendance were: George +.
Baer. president of the Reading railway
system; W. II. Truesdale president of
tSe Delaware. LackaWanna a. Western
comDanYs Z, b. Thomas, Chairman Of
board. Erie Railroad company; Thomas
Z Fowler OF the New York. Ontario <
Western Railroad company: David VIII
cox vice president and general counsel,
Delaware & Hudson company; John Mar
kle, representing independent operators;
John Mitchell, president of United Nine
Workers of America. Thomas d. Nichols
Thomas Duffy. Joseph Fahey. district
presidents United Mine Workers of
America: Attorney General Knox, Secre-
tary Cortelyou and Carroll ID. Wright.
commissioner of labor.
Outlined His Views.
The president at the outset expressed
his hearty thanks for their attendance
and stated that. owing TO his peculiar
he should make TO them a very careful
statement of his position and of his IN
tentions in asking them to meet. tState-
ment given above1
Upon the completion of the presidents
remarks. Mr.. Mitchell made a statement,
as follows;
''Mr. President. I am much IMPRESSED
with what YOU say. / am much i'm
pressed with the gravity of the situa-
iontion- We feel that we are not re-
sponsibie for this terrible state Of affairs.
] We are willing to meet the gentlemen
representing the coal operators 10 try
TO adjust our differences among our
SELVES. If we cannot adjust them that
waS. Mr.. President. We are willing that
YOU shall name a tribunal who shall de-
ternine the issues that have resulted in
the strike. aud If the gentlemen repre-
senting the operators will accept the
award or decision of such tribunal the
! miners will willingly accept it, even If 1t
Is against their claims"
Time For Consideration.
The president: Before considering what
ought 10 be done | think il only Just TO
both of you-both sides-and desirable
/ from my standpoint. that you should
| have time TO consider what l have stated
as TO the reasons for my getting you to-
/ gether. and | shall trespass so far upon
I your good nature as 20 ask that this in.
] tarvieW cease now and that you come
/ back at 8 o'clock. ! should Ike you to
! think over what ! have stated, not 10
| decide now. but give IL careful thought
/ ana return at O'Clock
The. conference then adjourned until 3
o'clock UDon reassembling, Mr.. Bear
spoke as follows:
Mr. President. do we understand you
correctly that we will be expected to
| answer the proposition submitted by Mr.
Mitchell this morning.
The president: IL will be a pleasure to
me to hear any answer that you are Will
| ing 10 make,
Mr.. Baer: have prepared an answer.
Mitchell Answers Charges.
The president asked Mr.. Mitchell if he
had anything further 10 say.
Mr. Mitchell said: THE charge made
by the gentlemen that twenty murders
have been committed IN the anthracite
coal regions during the strike is untrue
| If they will name the men and VIII snow
that they have committed the murders
| will resign my position. This IS "A far
proposition. Mr.. President, that Is a far
example OF how our Organization ana our 9,
people are maligned. The truth OF the
matter is. as far as | know. there have
been seven deaths, unfortunately. No
one regrets them more than | do. Three
| of them were committed by the coal and
| iron police, and no one else has been
ers DO not escape being charged with ev-
l erything done there. They speak about
! burnings. There was a reward offered
for burnings. 1 can bring affidavits OF
hundred people. IL necessary, that the
lightning caused one burning that they
| charged to the United Mine Workers
| Mr.. President, l have admitted on more
than one occasion that there has been
/
large portion Of such lawiessness has been
proyoked by criminals who have been
| brought into the anthracite region 70 re-
| cruit the coal and Iron police. / want TO
say, Mr. President. that feel very keen
| ~ the attacks made upon me and my
people. but / came here with the inten-.
uon OF doing nothing and saying nothing
that would affect reconciliation
The president then asked the represent
atiyes OF the anthracite companies wheth-
or they would accept Mr.. Mitchelis prop
osition. They answered NO" In re-
Spouse 20 a further question from the
president they replied that they would
| have no dealings whatever with Mr..
Mitchell looking toward settlement OF
| the question at issue, and that they had
no further proposition TO make. save
what was contained in the statement of
Mr.. Baer, which In effect was that il any
man chose 10 resume work and had a
difficulty with his employer both should
leave the settlement of the question 70
| the Judge of the court OF the common
pleas OF the district IN which the mine
was located
At about 5 o'clock the conference was
| brought 10 a close. without agreement.