Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-09-29
BAER ANSWERED
BY MITCHELL
National President Issues
a Lengthy Statement.
Denies the Charge That the
Union Seeks to Control the
Coal Companies Business.
Repeats the Demands.

In a 3,OOO-word statement prepared
by John Mitchell, president Of the
United Mine Workers OF America, the
strike leader answers In detail the state
ments and arguments OF George F..
Baer In his recent letter to Senators
Quay and Penrose. The document was
given to the press last evening at strike
headquarters in Wilkesbarre by Mr..
Mitchel's secretary.
Correspondence and other pressing
matters requiring his personal attention
prevented Mr.. Mitchell from answering
President Baer sooner. Mr.. Mitchell
took his time In preparing the state
ment, carefully investigated and cor
roborated all the points he wished to
make, and with great deliberation
placed his statements and arguments
together with all the force a calm dis
cnssion OF the subject would permit.
Aside from the technical informat tion
concerning conditions, which he OBJ
taIned from the district presidents, Mr.
Mitchell prepared his statement without
aid or advice.
In his statement the national presi-
dent OF the union takes the opportunity
to repeat specifically that the union does
not seek to interfere with the manage
ment OF the coal properties or with the
proper discipline OF the working force,
but do demands:
"First-An increase In wages for men
employed on piecework.
"Second-A reduction In the hours of
labor for men employed by the day.
"Third-Payment for legal ton OF
coal.
"Fourth-That the coal mined shall
be honestly weighed and correctly re-
corded.
"Fifth-We favor Incorporating in the
form OF an agreement the wages that
shall be paid and the conditions OF en-
ployment that shall obtain for specifi-
ed period"
One OF the most significant parts Of
the statement is the paragraph recount
Ing the miners demands. The fifth and
concluding section of the paragraph, In
place OF 1--WE demand" says 1--WE favor"
an agreement on the wages and condi-
tions of employment that shall obtain
for specified period.
This is tantamount to a declaration
that the union will not stand out for
formal recognition but will be satisfied
with the wages and conditions asked for.
The opinion is expressed by those who
have read the statement that even an
astute lawyer and fnancler like Presi-
dent Baer will have some trouble in
answering Mr.. Mitchell's arguments to
the satisfaction OF the public.
RUMoRs OF CONCESSIONS.
One Of the most prominent individual
coal operators in the Schuylklll coal
regions, who will not allow his name to
be used, made a statement last night to
the effect that the independent opera
tors will make concessions to the strik-
ing miners this week and 1t Is expected
that such collieries will be allowed to
resume work at once by the union.
The individual operators have been
contemplating making concessions for
some time past, as they are not able to
stand the great financial losses occasion
ed by the long shut down and the loss of
their former customers.
NO TRAINS WERE HELD UP.
The officials of the Reading Company,
says the Philadelphia Press, deny the
reports that the passenger trains are
being held up by the striking miners
and searched for non-union men. Gem
era uperintendent Garrett, OF the
Philadelphia and Reading Railway Com
pany, who was In Philadelphia yester-
terday, said: II have Investigated the
reports that some of our trains have
been held up by the strikers and have
not found anything to base the reports
on. They must have been put out by
some one who saw a number of men
enter o trein at some OF the small sta
tions in the coal regions"
EXTRACT FROM MITCHELL's SPEECH.
Every striker should carefully read
the speech delivered by President
Mitchell at Dickson City. The follow
ing is an extract:
II want to repeat the advice have
given you before. l know that going
through more than four months Of strike
is likely to cause some to become rest
less and irritated, and make them feel