The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-04

statement of his position and of his IN
tentions in asking them to meet.
The Presidents statement follows:
Presidents Appeal.
Il wish to call your attention to the
fact that there are three parties at
fected by the situation in the anthra-
cite trade, the operators, the miners
and the general public. l speak for
neither the operators nor the miners,
but for the general public. The ques-
lions at issue which led to the situa-
ton affect Immediately the parties
concerned, the operators and the min
ers; but the situation itself vitality af-
fects the public. AS long as there
seemed TO be a reasonable hope that
these matters could be adjusted be-
tween the parties it did not seem prop
er TO me to intervene in any way. l
disclaim any right or duty to intervene
in this way upon legal grounds, or
upon any official relation that 1 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 a winter fuel
famine impel me after much anxious
thought to believe that my duty re-
quires me to use whatever influence
personally l can bring to end a situa-
ton which has become literally intol-
cradle. I wish to emphasize the char
acter of the situation, and to say that
its gravity is such that
am constrained to urgently
insist that each one of you realize the
heavy burden of responsibility upon
him. We are upon the threshold of
winter with an already existing coal
famine, the future terrors of which we
can hardly yet appreciate. The evil
possibilities are so far reaching, so APP
palling, that it seems to me that you
are not only justified in sinking, but re-
CURED 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 imperative
ly requires that you meet upon the
common plane of the necessities of the
public. With all the earnestnesS there
is in me, I ask that there be an imme-
date resumption of operations in the
coal mines in some such way as will
without days unnecessary delay meet
the crying needs of the people.
Il do not invite a discussion of your
respective claims and positions. l APP
peal to your patriotism, to the spirit
that sinks personal considerations and
makes individual sacrifices for the gen.
eral good
Upon tho completion of the Presi-
dents remarks Mr.. Mitchell made
statement as follows:
Mr.. President, ] am much impressed
with what you say. I am much i'm
pressed with the gravity of the situa
ton. We feel that we are not respon-
sible for this terrible state of affairs.
We are willing to meet the gentlemen
representing the coal operators to try
to adjust our differences among our
selves. If we cannot adjust them that
way, Mr. President, we are willing
that you shall name a tribunal who
shall determine the issues that have
resulted in the strike. and if the gec-
tlemen representing the operators win
accept the award or decision of such
tribunal, the miners will willingly ac-
cept it, even if it is against their
claims
The. observation-disclosures considering
what ought to be done l 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 to the reasons for my
getting you together, and | shall tres
pass so far upon your good 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
/ have stated. not to decide now, but
give it careful thought and return at
8 o'clock"
The conference then adjourned until
3 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."
Mr.. President-'It will be a pleas
ure to me to hear any answer that you
are willing to make"
Mr.. Baer-"I have prepared an an
swer."
The statement by George F. Baer,
president of the Reading Railway,
saws:
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- irreIe-
want. We represent the owners of coal
mines in Pennsylvania. There are from
fifteen to twenty thousand 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 de-
tered from working by the intimida-
by the United Mine Workers, over
whom John Mitchell, whom you in
yited to meet you, is chief. / need
not picture the daily crimes commit
ted by the members of this oPganiza-
ton. The domestic tranquility, which
every constitution declares is the chief
object of government. does not exist
in the coal regions. There is a terri
BILE reign of lawlessness and crime
there. The constitution of Pennsyl-
vania guarantees protection to life
and property. In express terms it
ing, possessing and defending proper
ty to be inalieAable. When riot and
anarchy too great to be appeased by
Pennsylvania is bound to call out the
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. If the power of Penn
sylvania is insufficient to re-establish
the reign of law, the constitution of
the United States requires the Pres-
dent, when requested by the legisla-
ture and the Governor, to suppress
domestic violence You see, there is
lawful way to secure coal for the
public.
THE duty of the hour is not to waste
time negotiating with the fomenters of
this anarchy and insolent defiance of
law, but to do as was done in the
Civil War, restore the majesty of the
- - g.