The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-10-09
TWO STATEMENTS GIVEN OUT.
Both Sides to the Disagreement Are
Still Firm.

washington, SpeCldl.-lne Stdle-
ments to the President were made in
the following order: President Baer,
of the Reading Railroad; President
Mitchell, Of the United Mine Workers;
President Thomas, of the Erie road;
Mr.. Markley, an Independent oper-
ator; President Trusdale, OF the Lack
awanna road; Mr.. Wilcox. vice presi-
dent and general counsel CT the Della
ware Q: Hudson road; Mr.. Fowler. of
the New York, Ontario & Western
road. The statement by George n.
Baer. president Of the Reading road
says:
You distinctly say that you do not
invite the discussion of your respec-
tive claims and Positions But we as.
sumo that a statement of what is go
Ing on in the coal regions will not be
irrelevant. We represent the owners
of coal mines in Pennsylvania. There
are from $4,000 to 10000 men at work
mining and preparing coal. They r
abused, assaulted, injured and NAL
treated by the United Mine Workers.
They can only work under the protec-
tion OF armsd guards. Thousands OF
other workmen are deferred from
working by the intimidation. violence
and crimes inaugurated by the United
Mine Workers, over whom John
Mitchell, whom you invired to meet
you. Is chief. l need not picture the
daily crimes committed by the do
nestle tranquility which every con
s%titution declares is the chief object
of government does not exist in the
coal regions. There is a terrible region
Of lawlessness and crime there. The
constitution Of Pennsylvania guaran.
tees protection to our property. In ex-
press terms it declares the right OF
acquiring. possessing aud defending
property to be i~nalieLable. When riot
and anarchy. to great to be appease.l
by the civil power, occur, the govern
ment Of Pennsylvania is bound to call
out the State troops to suppress it. He
has sent troops to the coal regions.
Gradually the power Of the law is as
sorting itself. Unless encouraged By
false hopes, order will soon be re-
stored, and then We can mine coal TO
meet the public wants. If the power
of Pennsylvania is insufficient to re-
establish the region Of law. the con-
s%titution OF the United States re-
CURES the President. when requested
by the legislature and Governor to
suppress domestic violence You see
there is a lawful way to secure coal
for the pubic.
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 wal of the rebellion, restore the
majesty of the law. the only guardian
order and peace at any cost.
I'VE decline to accept Mr.. Mitchells
offer to let our men work on the terms
he names. He has no right to come
from Illinois to dictate terms on the
acceptance Of which anarchy and
strife shall cease in Pennsylvania. We
shall stop his people from killing,
manning and abusing Pennsylvania
citizens and from destroying property.
He must stop it. because it Is unlaw-
full and not because Of any bargain
with US.
I'VE will add to our offer to con-
tinue the wages existing at the time
Of the strike and to take up at each
collieSy and adjust any grievance
this further condition-if the employ
ers and employees at any particular
c~olliery cannot reach a satisfactory
os,to,nnt ~ ,ry al1aral orinronnac
it shall be referred to the judges %
the Court Of Common Pleas Of the dis
trict in which the colliery is situated
for final determination"
The Miners Side.
Washington, Specialize follow.
ing is the text of the statement made
to the President by the official repre-
sentatives OF the miners unions:
Washington, D. c. Oct. 8.
"Mr. President: At the conference
this morning we, the accredited repre-
sentatives of the anthracite coal mine
workers were much impressed with
the views you expressed and the dan
gers to the welfare OF our country from
a prolcngation Of tie coal strike that
you so clearly pointed out. Conscious
Of the responsibility resting upon us,
conscious of our duty to society, con-
scious Of our obligations to the 100000
mine workers whom we have the hon.
or to represent, We have after mot
careful consideration and with the
hope Of relieving the situation and
averting the sufferings and hardships
which would inevitably follow in the
wake of a coal famine. decided to pro-
pose a resumption of coal mining upon
the lines hereinafter suggested.
Before doing so, Mr.. President. we
desire to say we are not prompted to
suggest this urse bcause Of any
doubts of the justice Of our claims. In
Geferr!ng to your wishes. We are
prompted by nc fear on our part Of OIL:
ability to continue the contest to a sue
cessful issue. Thanks to the generous
assistance rendered US by u fellow
workers In this and other lands,
thanks to a justice-loving American
public, whose sympathies are always
on the side of right, we are able to con-
49, - III s-loG-.k~1,, DIT nnN-