Evening journal., 1902-10-04

work to submit grievances at lndlyid-
ual collieries TO the decision of the
judges of the court Of common pleas
for the district of Pennsylvania in
which the colliery was located. There
the matter closed.
Last night both the miners and the
operators were still in the city, but
today they return to their several To-
calities, each saying at a late hour that
the struggle will continue.
The Presidents Appeal.
At the morning session President
Roosevelt addressing the conference
said:
81 wish to call your attention to the
fact that there are three parties affect |
ed by the situation in the anthracite
trade: The operators, the miners, and
the general public. 1 speak for neither
the operators nor the miners, but for
the general public. The questions at
issue which led to the situation affect
Immediately the parties concerned
the operators and the miners; but the
situation itself vitally affects the pub
lie. 1 disclaim any right or duty to
interfere in this way upon legal ground
or upon any official relation that bear
| to the situation; but the urgency and
the terrible nature of the catastrophe
impending over a large portion of our
people in the shape of winter fuel
| famine impel me, after much anxious
thought, to believe that my duty re-
/ uuires me to use whatever influence
1 personally can to bring to an end a
situation which has become literally
intolerable.
1--WE are upon the threshold of win
ter with an already existing coal fam
inc, the future terrors Of which we can
hardly yet appreciate. The evil possi-
bilities are so far-reaching, so appall-
ing. that It seems to me that you are
not only justified in sinking but re-
! ouired to sink, for the time being, any
tenacity as to your respective claims in
the matter at issue between you.
"In my judgment the situation i'm
. peratively requires that you meet upon
the common plane of the necessities
of the public. With all the earnestness
/ there is in me, 1 ask that there be an
. Immediate resumption of operations in
the coal mines in some such way as
will without a days unnecessary delay
meet the crying needs of the people.
Il do not invite a discussion Of your
: respective claims and positions. ap-
: peal to your patriotism, to the spirit
that sinks personal considerations and
makes individual sacrifices for the gen.
eral good"
: Mitchell Suggests Arbitration.
e Upon the completion of the presi.
l. dents remarks Mr.. Mitchell made
statement, as follows:
"BIr. President, am much impress
{ ed with what you say. l am much
impressed with the gravity Of the sit
# uation. We feel that we are not re
sponsible for this terrible state Of af
o fairs. We are willing to meet the
gentlemen representing the coal op
< orators to try to adjust our differ
ences among ourselves. II we car
not adjust them that way, Mr.. Presi
dent. we are willing that you shall
D. name a tribunal who shall determine
~ the issues that have resulted in tn
Is strike. and if the gentlemen repre-
p senting the operators will accept tn
lie award or decision Of such tribuna
III the miners will willingly accept il
Il, even if it is against their claims"
he President Roosevelt then asked tn
s. operators to consider the propositio
is and meet again at o'clock in the a
ternoon. Upon reassembling. Nj
be Baer spoke as follows:
ke "Mr. President, do we understan
or you correctly that we will be expecte
a to answer the proposition submitte
an by Mr. Mitchell?"
e. The President: "It will be a plea
e ure to me to hear any answer that yo
are willing to make"
IT. Mr.. Baer: 81 have prepared an a.
n swer."
he Mr.. Baer's Statement.
NJ The following is the text OF M
Us Baer's statement:
ITO the President of the Unite
ed States:
til I'VE understand your anxiety is fc
lte chilly expressed in the statement "
lst read to us this morning to bring abo
Ib- an immediate resumption of opeI
in tions in the coal mines in some SUI
way as will without days unnecC
sary delay meet the crying needs
oal the people We infer that you
md sired us to consider the offer Of n
md Mitchell, expressing and speaking
M the United Mine Workers, to go ba
t,o to work, if you would appoint CO
- mission to determine the questions
issue
e I'VE represent the owners of c,
lon mines in Pennsylvania. There Z
oil from $4,000 to 10000 men at work M
lad ing and preparing coal. They Z
the abused, assaulted, injured and n
,lic treated by the United Mine Worke
,si- They can only work under the prot
a ton of armed guards. Thousands
ar other workmen are deferred IN
70 working by the intimidation, violeI
- and crimes inaugurated by the Uni