Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-04

nature as to ask that this Interview cease
now and that you come back at 3 o'clock.
] should like you to think over what l have
stated. not to decide now, but give It care
full thought and return at 3 o'clock.
Tho conference then adjourned until 3
o'clock.
Afternoon Proceedings.
Upon r~eaesembling, Mr.. Bser spoke as
follows: Mr.. President, do we understand
you correctly, that We will be expected 10
answer the proposition submitted by Mr..
Mitchell this morning."
The President: 1T will be a pleasure
to me to hear any answer you are willing
to make
Mr., Baer: Il have prepared an answer"
The statements to the president we're
made in the following order: President
Baer Of the Reading railroad, President
Mitchell OF the Mine Workers, President
Thomas OF the Erie railroad. Mr.. Markle,
an Independent operator; President Tues
dale Of the Lacka wanna railroad, Mr.. VIII
cox, vice president and general manager Of
the Delaware G. Hudson railroad and Mr..
Fowler OF the New York, Ontario & West
ern railroad.
The following is the text Of the several
statements.
President Baer's Statement.
Statement Of Mr.. George F. Baer Of the
Reading railroad:
To 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 imme-
date 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, We infer that you
Mitchell. verbally made this morning, ex-
pressing and speaking for the United Mine
appoint a commission to determine the ques-
lions at issue. You distinctly say that
you do not invite a 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
1000 to 10000 men at work mining and
preparing coal. They are abused, assaulted,
Injured and maltreated by the United Mine
Workers. They can only work under the
protection of armed guards. Thousands OF
other workmen are deferred from working
by the intimidation, violence and crimes
oyer whom John Mitchell, whom you in
yited to meet you, Is chief. | need not
members Of this organization.
w AEhh1uilhAy mere
III domestic tranquility" which the
constitution declares is the chief object Of
government does not exist in the coal re-
gion. There is a terrible reign of lawless-
ness and crime there. Only the lives and
which declared that locals should have
full power to suspend operations at col
lieries until the %nonunion men Joined their
order. are safe. Every effort is made to
prevent the mining Of coal. and when mined,
MitChelfs men dynamite bridges and tracks
mob trainmen and by all manner OF means
try to prevent its coming to relieve the
public.
The constitution of Pennsylvania guar
antees protection to life and property. In
express terms 1t declares the right OF ac-
curing, possessing and defending property
to be 'inalienable." When riot and an
archy become too great to be appeased
by the civil power, the governor of Penn
sylvania is bound to call out the state
troops to suppress 1t. He must fearlessly
use the whole power OF the state to pro-
tect 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. Grad
ually the power of the law is asserting
itself. Unless encouraged by false hopes,
order will soon be restored, and then we
can mine coal to meet the public wants.
Calls for Regular Troops.
If the power of Pennsylvania is INSULT
Client to establish the reign of law, the
constitution of the United States requires
NAC BANolAACiNt nlkCh lCQuCSltu pN lit lCklS-
lature and the governor, to suppress do
nestle violence" You see, there Is a law
full way to secure coal for the public. The
duty OF the hour is not to waste time ne
~gotiating with the fomenters of this an
srchy and insolent defiance of law, but to
30 as was done IN the war OF the rebel
guardian of a free people. and to re-estab-
fish order and peace at any cost.
The government is a contemplate failure
II 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 1t is of more Importance to teach
ignorant men dwelling among us, misled
and used as tools by citizens Of other
states, that at whatever cost and incon-
y%enience to the public. Pennsylvania will
use the whole power of government to
work, but his wife and children, while he
Is at work. ard to punish every man who
by instigation or by overt acts attempts
to deprive any man OF his liberty to work.
Declines MitcheII's Oner.
Under these conditions we decline to ac-
cept Mr.. Mitchells considerable offer TO let
our men go to work on terms he names.
He has no right to come from Illinois TO
dictate terms on the acceptance of which
anarchy and crime shall cease I'm Pennsyl-
vania. He must stop his people from kill
Ing, manning and abusing Pennsylvania
citizens and from destroying property. He
must stop II because IL is unlawful. and not
because OF any bargain with US.
We will add to our ofer to "eontinue
me wages existing at the time Of strike
any grievance" This further condition:
II the employers and employees at any par
ticular colliery cannot reach a satisfactory
adjustment OF alleged grievances it shall
be referred to the judges OF the court OF
common pleas of the district in which the
collery Is situated for final determine
ton. o + RAER
President Philadelphia & Reading Coal
and Iron Company, Wilkesbarre Coal and
Iron Company and Temple Iron Company.
President MitcheII's Statement. p
Following is the text OF the statement
made to the president by John Mitchell
the oficial representative of the miners
union:
Mr.. President: At the conference this
morning we, the accredited representative
OF the anthracite coal miners, were much
impressed with the views you expressed