Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-10-11
Operators and Mine Workers Officials
Outline Their Positions.

OINl hAiOlAo III TIC tOdI IlllGS III some
way as will, without a days unneces-
sary delay, meet the crying needs of
the people"
We infer that you desired US to con-
slider the offer OF Mr.. Mitchell, verbally
made this morning, expressing and
speaking for the United Mine Workers,
to go back to work, if you would APP
point a commission TO determine the
questions at issue.
You distinctly say that you edo not
invite q discussion of your respective
claims and positions" But we assume
that a statement of what is going on
in the coal regions will not be irrele-
want. We represent the owners of coal
mines in Pennsylvania. There are
from $4,000 To 10000 men at work min
ing and preparing coal. They are
abused, assaulted, injured and NAL
treated by the United Mine Workers.
They can only work under the protec-
ton of armed guards. Thousands Of
other Workmen are deferred from
working by the intimidation, violence
and crimes inaugurated by the United
Mine Workers, over whom John Mitch
ell, whom you invited to meet you, is
chief.
l need not picture the daily crimes
committed by the members of this Or
ganization. The domestic tranquility"
which every constitution declares is the
chief object of government does not
exist in the coal regions. There is a
terrible reign of lawlessness and crime
there. Only he lives and property of
the members Of the secret, %oathbound
order which declared that the locals
should have full power to suspend OPP
at Collieries' until the nom
union men Joined their order are safe.
Every effort is made to prevent the
mining of coal, and when mined Nit
chelI's men dynamite bridges and
tracks, mob trainmen, and, by all man
ner of violence, try to prevent its ship
ments TO relieve the public.
The constitution OF Pennsylvania
guarantees protection to life and prop
erty. In express terms 1t declares the
right of acquiring, possessing and de-
Tending property Ito be ~inalienable."
When riot and anarchy too great to be
appcased by the civil power occur, the
governor of Pennsylvania is bound to
call out he state troops to suppress it..
lie must fearlessly use the whole power
Of the state to protect life and property
and TO establish peace, not an armed
truce, but the peace of the law which
protects every man at work and going
to and from work. He has sent troops
to the coal regions. Gradually the
power Of the law is asserting itself. I'M
less encouraged by false hopes order
will soon be restored and then we can.
mine coal to meet the public wants.
If the power of Pennsylvania Is insult!
fCient to re-establish the reign of law
the constitution Of the United States,
requires the president, when requested,
by the legislature and the governor, to.
suppress domestic violence. You see
there is a lawful way to secure coal
for the public.
The duty of the hour is not to waste.
time with the fomentors Of this an
archy and insolent defiance Of law
but to do as was done in the wal of
the rebelliOn-restore the majesty of
law, the only guardian Of a free people,
and 20 re-establish order and peace at,
any cost.
The government is n contemplate,
If it can only protect the lives
and property and secure the comfort Of
the people by compromising with the
vIolators Of law and the instigators Of.
violence and crime.
Just now it is more important to
teach ignorant men, dwelling among
misled and used as tools by citi-
zens of other states, that, at whatever
cost and Inconvenience to the public,
Pennsylvania will use the whole power
OF government to protect not only the
man who want to work, but his wife
and children while he is at work, and
to punish every man who, by instiga-
tlon or by overt acts, attempts to de-
prive any man Of his liberty to work.
Under these conditions we decline to
accept Mr.. MitChells COnslderate offer
to let our men work on terms he
names. He has no right to come from
Illinois to dictate terms on the accept
ance Of which anarchy and crime shall
cease in Pennsylvania. He must stop
his people from killing, manning and
abusing Pennsylvania citizens n from
destroying property. He must stop 1t
because It is unlawful, and not because
OF any bargain with US.
We will add TO our offer "to continue
the wages existing at the time Of the
strike and to take up at each colliery and
adjust II grievances" this further con-
dition: III the employers and employees
at any particular colliery cannot reach
a satisfactory adjustment OF any alleged
grievance 1t shall be referred to the
judges Of the court Of common pleas Of
the district in which the colliery is stu
ated for final determination"
George f. Baer.
The Miners Statement.
The following is tEo text Of the state
ment made to the president by the off,
cIal representatives of the miners union:
Mr.. President: At the conference this
morning we, the accredited representa-
tives Of the anthracite coal mine workers,
were much impressed with the views you
expressed and the dangers TO the welfare
Of our country from a ~prolongation Of
the coal strike that YOU so clearly pointed
out. Conscious Of the responsibility rest
ing upon us, conscious Of our duty to So
Ciety. conscious Of our obligations to the
$50, go mine workers whom We have the
honor 10 represent, we have, after most
careful consideration and with the hope
Of relieving the situation and averting
the suherlngs and hardships which would
inevitably follow In the wake Of a coal
famine, decided to propose a resumption
Of coal mining upon the lines hereinafter
suggested:
Before doing so, Mr.. President, we de-
sire to say hat we are not prompted to
suggest this course because of any doubts
Of the Justice Of our claims. In deferring
TO your wishes we are prompted by no
fear on our part Of our ability to con-
tlnue the contest to a successful issue,
thanks to the generous assistance rem
dered US by our fellow workers In this
and other lands; thanks to a justice lov-
ing American public, whose ~sympathies
are always on the side Of right, we are
able 10 continue the struggle indefinitely,
But, confident Of our ability to demon
stratc to II impartial tribunal the equity
Of our demands for higher wages and i'm
proved environment, we propose that the
issues eliminating in this strike shall be
referred TO you and a tribunal Of your
own selection, and agree to accept your
award upon all or any Of the questions
involved. II you VIII accept this respon.
sibility and the representatives of the Goa.
operators will signify their willingness
to have your decision incorporated in al
agreement for not less han one year mol
more than five years, as may be mutual,
~ determined between ourselves and the
anthracite coal mine workers, and will
pay the scale Of wages which you anC
your tribunal appointed by you shall
award, we will Immediately call a con,
vention and recommend n resumption Of
work upon the understanding that the