The Lamar register., 1902-10-08
PRESIDENTS COAL CONFERENCE
RESULTS in UTTER FAILURE


ingly accept it. even if it is against
their claims"
The president said:
Before considering what ought to
be done, think it only just to both
of you-both sides-and desirable from
my standpoint. that you should have
time to consider what | have stated
, as the reasons for my getting you to-
gether and | shall trespass SO far
upon your good nature as to ask that
this interview 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 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 Presidcnt-It will be a pleasure
to me to hear any answer that you are
willing to make.
Mr.. Baer-I have prepared an an
swer.
Statement. in part. of George w.
Baer, president of the Reading rail-
louh. i-NHiSn N = >'hi >"fA'
pany and Temple Iron Company:
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 unneces-
sary delay, meet the crying needs or
the people. We infer that you desired
us to consider the offer of Mr.. Mitchell,
verbally made this morning, express
ing and speaking for the United Mine
Workers. to go back to work II you
would appoint a commission to deter
mine the questions at issue.
"You distinctly say that you do not
invite n discussion of your respective
claims and positions But we assume
that statement of what is goins on
in the coal regions will not be irrele-
want. We represent the owners OF coal
mines in Pennsylvania. There are
from Is 900 to 10000 men at work in
mining and preparing coal. They are
abused. assaulted. injured and mall
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 yon invite to meet you, Is
chief
"The duty of the hour Is not to waste
time negotiating with the fomenters
of this anarchy and insolent tefance
of law, but to do as was done In the
war of the rebellion, restore the ma les
ty of the only guardian of free peo-
pie and to re-establish order and peace
at any cost. The government is con-
temptible failure II 1t can only project
the lives and property and secure the
comfort of the people by compromising
with the violators of law and the IN
sti gators of violence and crime.
Just now 1t is more important to
teach ignorant men dwelling among us,
misled and used as tools by citizens of
other states, that. at whatever cost and
inconvenience to the public, Pennsylva-
mia will use the whole power or the
government to protect not only the
man who wants to work. but his wife
and children while he is at work, and
to punish every man who by instiga-
tion or by overt acts attempts to de-
priye any man of his liberty to work
Under these conditions we decline
to accept Mr.. Mitchells considerate Of
fer to let our men work on terms ne
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 and from
destroying property. He must stop 1t
because 1t is unlawful. and not because
of any bargain with us.
,,ttI 4 n
tinue the wages existing at the time of
the strike and to take up with each
coliery and adjust any grievance this
further condition: If the employers
and employees at any particular colliery
cannot reach a satisfactory adjustment
of any alleged grievance. 1t shall be re-
ferred to the Judges of the court or
common pleas of the district in which
the colliery is situated for final deter
mination.'"
Following is the offer made by the
representatives of the miners union:
MIR. President: Confident of our
ability to demonstrate to any impartial
tribunal the equity of our demands for
higher wages and improved environ
ment. we propose that the issues cul-
minating in this strike shall be referred
to you and tribunal of your own Sc
lection, and agree to accept your
award upon all or any of the questions
involved. II you will accept this re-
sponsibility, and the representatives OF
the coal operators will signify their
willingness to have your decision in
corporated in an agreement for not
less than five years, as may be mutually
determined between themselves and the
anthracite coal mine workers, and will
pay the scale of wages which you and
the tribunal appointed by you shall
award, we will Immediately call con-
vention and recommend a resumption
of work, upon the understanding that
the wages which shall be paid are to
go in effect from the day upon which
work is resumed"
Mr Mitchell made statements to