The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-10-09


I'm my judgment the situation imperatively
requires that you meet upon the common plane
OF the necessities of the public. With all the
earnestness there is in me ask that there bean
immediate resumption of operations in the coal
mines in some such way as will without days
unnecessary delay meet the CRYING needs of the
people. -: .' ..
II do not invite discussion Of your respect
i've claims and positions. appeal to your pa
triotism, to the spirit that sinks personal con-
siderations and makes individual sacrifices for
the general good.'
He gave the miners and the oper-
ators until o'clock of the same day of
the conference to think the matter
over, hoping that they would in some
manner, in view of the seriousness of
the situation, be able to surrender all
pride and personal considerations in
the matter and come together on a
common basis. After the president
had concluded his remarks at the
morning conference Mr.. Mitchell ad-
dressed the president as follows:
''Mr. President, I am much impressed with
| what you say. Il am much impressed with the
| gravity of the situation. We feel that we are
not responsible for this terrible state of affairs.
We are willing to meet the gentlemen repre-
senting the coal operators to try to adjust our
differences among ourselves. If we cannot ad-
just them that way, Mr. President, we are will
| ing that you shall name tribunal who shall
determine the issues that have resulted in the
| strike, and if the gentlemen representing the
operators will accept the award or decision of
such tribunal the miners will willingly &C
cept it, even if it is against their claims
But defiant and unyielding the oper-
ators positively refused in any manner
to treat with Mr.. Mitchell, and some
OF the remarks made to the president
by the railroad officials we're undigni-
fed, insolent and betrayed a revenge
full spirit. President Baer of the Read
ing road, in addressing the. president
SAID: 1881. E. =; RisceI 4 +, IT,. s5ofs :
''The duty Of the hour is not to waste. tim
negotiating with the fomentors Of this anarchy
aud insolent defiance of law, but to do as was
done in the war of the rebellion-restore the
majesty of law, the only guardian of a free peo-
pie, and to re-establish order and peace at any
cost. =
THE government is a contemplate failure if
the comfort of the people only by compromis-
of violence and crime.'' =.
This is the gentleman ~ who said a
short time ago that God in his infinite
wisdom had placed the coal mines in
the keeping of such angels as Baer for
the good OF the people, etc.
John Markle, an independent coal
miner, in league with the corpulent
combine that controls the output of
hard coal, had the audacity to ask the
president to perform his duty and sat
once squelch the anarchistic condition
of .affairs.'
Mr.. Truesdale of the Delaware, Lack
wanna & Western road, wanted the
government to institute immediate pro-
ceedings against the illegal organiza-
ton of mine workers. Mr.. Truesdale
did not allude to the possible fact that
the combine of which the road he rep
resented was part, was illegal and in
direct violation of the law. >s
p President Wilcox of the Delaware &
Hudson road, presented a long brief,
evidently prepared by the attorney for
his road, relating reasons why the
mine workers combine should not be
''injunctioned" and bayoneted to death.
He incidentally remarked that Presi-
dent Roosevelt ought to send out the
federal troops and help the railroad
and mining despots control matters.
Presidents Baer and Wilcox said that
they would be willing to have all diff
ferences between miners and operators
settled by the courts of common pleas
in districts where the trouble origin.
ated.:< All the railway and mining in
terests made statements quite similar
in their nature and, demands. They
did not relish theidea Of being called
into a conference withathe president
and no doubt they are daily expecting
an apology from the president for hav-
ing put them to SO much trouble and Of
having stakenssamuch oHtheir valuable
tina E,tIt - -, III. ID s..l /;
+ had been hoped. that this confer
ence in which ; the president had, ten
dered his good offices, would result in
some kind Of asettlement 50 that the
mines could be operated at once, and
had the represe ntatilxF4A|ys Of the coal
carrying roads en.fair to themselves,
fair to the miners and fair to the pub