Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-04

IHE II " LIN lNG 81 "A L
stbflity the interstate commerce commission
might be able to take some steps with re-
| spect to carrying charges on the anthracite
| coal roads. Still, public sentiment, he add
| ed was the chief resource of the President
| as to both parties to the strike.
| Official Statement Issued.
| At the temporary White House last night
| the following official statement was given
out concerning yesterdays coal conference:
| The conference opened at II O. clock. The
| operators and representatives Of the miners
| were presented to the President. Those In
| attendance were: George F. Baer, president
| Reading railway system; w. H. Truesdale'
president Delaware, Lackawanna ana
| Western Railroad Company; E. B. Thomas,
| chairman board Erie Railroad Company
Thomas P. Fowler, president New York,
| Ontario and Western Railway Company
| David Wilcox, vice president and general
counsel Delaware and Hudson Company;
John Markle, representing independent OPP
| orators; John Mitchell, president United
| Mine Workers of America Thomas ID.
| Nichols, Thomas Duffy, John Fahy, district
| presidents United Mine Workers of Amer
| lea; Attorney General Knox, Secretary Cor
| telyou. Carroll D. Wright, commissioner OF
| labor.
The President at the outset expressed his
| hearty thanks for their attendance, and
| stated that owing to his peculiar relations
| to the situation he felt that he should make
to them very careful statement of his po-
| sition and of his intentions in asking them
| to meet.
Mr.. Mitchell's Statement.
| Upon the completion of the Presidents re-
| marks Mr.. Mitchell made statement, as
! follows:
| Mr.. President. am much impressed with
what you say. 1 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 gen.
| tlemen 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 tribunal who shall determine the
issues that have resulted in the strike, and
| II the gentlemen representing the operators
Will accept the award or decision of such a
tribunal the miners will willingly accept it,
| even If it is against their claims"
The President-"Before 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 l have stated as to the rea-
sons for my getting you together, and |
snail trespasS so far upon your good nature
| as to ask that this interview cease now and
tnat you come back at 3 o'clock. l should
I'M sOu ~ tHiilh over WHAT L nave stated,
| not to decide now, but give it careful
thought and return at 3 o'clock
me conference then adjourned until 3
| CLOCK Upon reassembling Mr.. Baer spoke
| as follows:
| M. President do We understand Won cor
| rectly that we will be expected to answer
| the proposition submitted by Mr. Mitchell
this mOrning?''
| The President-"It will he q nleos,ra ~
| to make
MT. baer-l have prepared an answer"
| President Baer's Statement.
| Statement by Mr.. George F. Baer, presi-
dent of the Reading railway:
| 10 the President of the United States:
| we understand your anxiety Is forcibly
| expressed in the statement you read to us
this morning to bring about an immedia + o
| resumption of opera tons In the coal mines
| IN some such way as will without a davis
| unnecessary delay meet the crying needs of
| the people We infer that you desired US
| 70 consider the offer Of Mr.. Mitchell verb
| ally made this morning, expressing and
| speaking for the United Mine Workers to
| go back to work If you would appoint a
commission to determine the questions at
1 issue.
| You distinctly say that you do not in
vite a discussion Of your respective claims
| and positions But we assume that a
statement of what is going on in the coal
|
| sent the owners of coal mines In Pennsyl-
| van1a. There are from fifteen to twenty
| thousand men at work mining and prenxa "
| ing coal. They are abused assaulted. in
2ured 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
| lnaugurated by the United Mine Workers
over whom John Mitchell, whom you in
| yited to meet you, is chief
| Il need not picture the daily crimes COM
mftted by the members of this organiza ton
The domestic tranquility which every con-
| st1tution declares is the chief object of
| government does not exist in the coal re-
| gions. There is a terrible reign of lawless-
| ness and crime there. Only the lives and
| property on the members of the secret oat tn
bound order which declared that the locals
should have full power to SUSPEND onera-
| tfons at collieries' until the non-union men
\ Joined their order are safe. Every effort Is
made to prevent the mining of coal, and
| when mined Mitchells men dynamite
| bridges and tracks mob trainmen and by
| all manner of violence try to prevent it's
| shipment to relieve the public
| The constitution Of Pennsylvania guar
| antees protection to life and property In
| express terms 1t declares the right OF ac-
| quiring, possessing and defending property
to be inalienable.' When riot and anarchy
too great to be appeased by the civil power
| occur the governor of PENNSYLVANIA is
| bound to call out the state troops to sup
| press 1t. He must fearlessly use the whole
| power OF the state to protect life and prop
! erty, and to establish peace-not an armed
| truce, but the peace of the law which pro-
| tects every man at work and going to and
from work. He has sent troops to the coal
regions. Gradually 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 Pennsylvania is insufficient
| to re-establsh the reign of law the Con-
| stitution of the United States requires the
! President, when requested by the legisla-
| ture and the governor, to suppress domes-
| tic Violence You see there Is a lawful
| way to secure coal for the public.
"Waste Time. Negotiating"
1.-THE duty Of the hour is not to waste
time negotiating with the formenters of
this anarchy and insolent defiance of law,
| but to do as was done in the war of the re-
bellion, restore the majesty of law, the only
! guardian of free people, and to re-estab-
lish order and peace at any cost.
| The government is contemplate fail
ure If 1t can only protect the lives and prop
| erty, and secure the comfort Of the people
| nv cornDrOmistng with the viola tprS of law