Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-10-04
JOHN MARKLE. INDEPENDENT
OPERATOR

have listened with deep interest to the
remarks that you made before us a lew
minutes after II O'Clock this morning. ana
do thoroughly appreciate the seriousness
of the situation in the anthracite coal
field of Pennsylvania. As you disclalm
any right or duty to intervene in your
official capacity, but are using your per-
sonaI influence and you admit this
matter is beyond the merits of the issue
between the coal presidents and operat-
ors on enc side and the miners on the
other. and YOU express the fact that the
.'situatio has become literally intoler-
able.
fully endorse there remarks with you
and as an American citizen and as citi-
zen of the commonwealth of Pennsyiva-
mia. | now ask you to perform the duties
vested in you as the President or these
| United States to at once squech the An
archist condition of affairs existing III
the anthracite coal regions by the strong
arm of the military at your command. A
| record oe u murders, a long list OF bril-
! taI assaults houses and bridges dyna-
mited. daily acts of violence now tax
! ing place and several washeres burned
down. are actual evidences of the condi-
tjons OF lawIessness existing there. Are
YOU asking us to deal with set OF out
laws? | can hardly conceive such a
+ thought The respectable citizens OF these
/ United States will insist upon the ofii-
GERS in power given to the citizens oi
, PENNSYLVANIA law and order and the righ'
to work if they so desire.
| Mr.. President | represent the individ
nal coal operators and in addition there
to we represent far better than Mr.
Mitchell does a majority of the anthracite
coal workers. including some 1a.ob mef
who are now working endeaN"fiis
against great odds to relieve the pubh'
of the possibilities of Il coal famine II
making this appeal to you. Mr.. Mltcneh
organization is small minority OF TN
total number of workers in the anthracite
coal fields and he is holding large ma
iority by intimidation. coercion and at
tempts at bodily harm. II you desire an
, thracite coal to be placed in the marke
. quickly, take the necessary steps al one
. and put the federal troops in the iiei
and give TO those desiring to work prope
protection. BY proper protection IS mean
, that the men desiring to work snail no
only be allowed to do so but shall
. protected while doing so; at tne,r homs'
while soinc to and from their work an
, | at the operations where they are einplo!
1 cd. and in addition to this, while the me
+ are absent from their homes at wor
their families in their homes must ais
Y | he protected. You do this tine citizen
: of the United States whom ! repfesef
0 seem 10 feel that they have a right I
n ask this Of yon and ] VIII assure yo
r that anthracite coal Will DC rapia'
: placed in the market to reheVe tne s.
. rioIsness of the situation.
Please remember. Mr.. PRESIDENT, tni
there is a large idle class OF men now
the anthracite coal fields. taking evei
kind of unlawful act to prevent those WI
desire To work to relieve the situate
in the anthracite coal market Plea
Z remember that in the field now are on
5000 National Guards. please rememb
} that the total National Guard OF the sta
Of Pennsylvania is only about "."".
Mr.. President. condition exists. not
: theory. in the anthracite coal fields. b
+ tween set OF professional agitators al
!, their co-workers on the one side CA
archistic in their acts) and the operate