Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-10-09

50 insufficient to re-establish the reign
of law, the constitution of the United
States requires the president. when
requested by the legislature and the
governor TO suppress domestic VOL
ence.' 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 fo-
mentors of this anarchy and insolent
defiance OF law, but to do as was done
In the war of the rebellion, restore
the majesty of law, the only guardian
of free people, and to re-establisb
order and peace at any cost
THE government is a contemplate
failure IL 1t can only protect the lives
and property. and secure the comfort
of the people by compromising With
the violators of law and instigators o.,
violence and crime.
Just now IL Is more important t6
teach ignorant men, dwelling among
us. misled and used as tools by cit
gems OF other states, that at what
ever cost and Inconvenience to the
public Pennsylvania will use the
power of government to protect not
only the man who wants to work. but
his wife and children while he Is AT
work. and to punish every man who
by instigation or by overt act attempts
to deprive any man of his liberty to
work.
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
colliery and adjust any grievance.
this further condition--if the EN-
ployers and employees at any partic,l
lar coiliery cannot reach satisfac
tory adjustment of any alleged griev
ance 1t shall be referred to the judges
OF the court of common pleas of the
district in which the colliery is sitIat
ed for final determination
(Signed) George f. Baer."
The following Is the text of the
statement made to the president BY
the official representative of the
miners union:
MIR. 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 prolongation of the coal strike
that you so clearly pointed out.
Conscious of the responsibility resting
upon us, conscious of our duty to So
ciety, conscious of our obligations to
the one hundred and fifty thousand
mine workers whom we have the
honor to represent. we have after most
careful consideration, and with the
hope Of relieving the situation and
averting the sufferings and hardshtps
which would inevitably follow in the
wake of coal famine. decide to pro-
pose a resumption of coal mining upon
the lines hereinafter suggested:
Before doing so. Mr.. President, We
desire to say that we are not prompt
ed to suggest this course because OF
any doubts of the justice OF our claims.
In deferring to your wishes we are
prompted by no fear on our part of
our ability to continue to contest to
successful issue. thanks to the gen.
erous assistance rendered us by our
fellow workers in this and other lands;
to a justice-loving American public
whose sympathies are always on the
side Of right. we are able to continue
the struggle indefinitely. But, con-
fident of our ability to demonstrate to
any impartial tribunal, the equity OF
our demands for higher wages and
improved environments, We propose
that the issues eliminating in this
strike shall be referred to you and a
tribunal of your own selection. and
agree to accept your award upon all
or any of the questions involved. IL
you will accept this responsibility
and the representatives Of the coal
operators will signify their willingness
to have your decision incorporated in
an agreement, for not less than one
year or more than FIVE years, as may
be mutually determined between
themselves and the anthracite coal
mine workers, and will pay the scale
OF wages which you and your tribunal
appointed by you shall award, we will
Immediately call convention and
recommend resumption Of work.
upon the understanding that the wages
which shall be fixed are to go into
effect from the day upon which work
is resumed"
Then followed statements OF the
other operators--Mr. Thomas. presi-
dent of the Erie railroad; John Mar
kle. the independent operator; w. h.
Truesdale, president Of the Delaware.
Lackawanna and Western railroad:
David Wilcox, vice president OF the
Delaware and Hudson railroad, and
Mr.. Fowler. president OF the New
York, Ontario and Western road.
They all agreed with Mr.. Baer and
were willing to make no concessions
to the miners
The president then asked Mr..
Mitchell II he had anything further to
say. Mr.. Mitchell said:
THE charge made by the gentlemen
that twenty murders have been com
mitted in the anthracite coal regions
during the present strike is untrue.
Al they will name the men, and will
show that they have committed the
murders. l will resign my position.
That is fair proposition. Mr.. Presi-
dent, that is a fair example of how
our organization and our people are
maligned. The truth of the matter is.
as far as | know, there have been
seven deaths, unfortunately. No one
regrets them more than | do. Three
of them were committed by the coal
and iron police, and no one else has
been charged with them. God knows
the miners do not escape being charg-
eu Wlth everything uOne tHele. iHSy
speak about Durnings. There was a
reward offered for burnings. | can
bring affidayits of hundred people
II necessary that the lightning caused
one burning that they charged to the
United Mine Workers. Mr.. President.
| have admitted on more than one
occasion that there has been some
lawlessness, but will say that large
portion of such lawlessness has been
provoked by criminals who have been
brought into the anthracite regions to
recruit the coal and iron police. I
want to say. Mr.. President. that !
feel very keenly the attacks made
upon me and my people. but | came
here with the intention of doing moth
ing and saying nothing that would af
feet reconciliation
The nrpsident then asked the rem