The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-29

pecting the immediate forcing of the is- sue. Then a great wave of humor and good feeling seemed to pass over the en- tire convention, and the miners grinned at the operators and the operators smiled at the miners, and everybody seemed to be happy. In fact, right then, as if in contradiction of the words of defiance of the speaker, it resembieG meeting something akin to a love feast. In the meantime MT. Aldrich was hastily con versing with different members of the operators association. The reporters present thought he was going to speak and hurriedly wrote their leads. But MT. Aldrich only spoke in low tones.
 Pearson's Speech.
 Col. R. H. Pearson arose and spoke: T do not krow whether anything said now will do any good or rot. I do know, however. that great responsibility Is going to rest on somebody. l believe that that responsibility will rest upon the shoulders of the United Mine Workers of this district.
 We have met here from day to day, and I am repeating what am instructed to say by the united operators of this district. You have present ed us a scale. In that scale you have presented demands that you yourselves did not believe would
 
 knew they could not be accepted under the existing circumstances. That was not right; that was not fair. After delibera- ton the operators decided that they would not make any proposition, that they expected to recede from or to trade with, but make one as honest, square, fair-minded men having the interest of the miners at heart as well as theirs, as both interests are identical.
 lya ry,,a vcf xxytfh deufra peace and with determination on our rart to do what was right. We met your proposition. notwithstanding 1t was made with knowledge cn your part that they would not be accepted. After considering all the circumstances; after knowing that the commercial coal men in this dis trict had no iron to sell; notwithstanding that for three years they had been crushed down and allowed to make noth- ing out of their mines on account of this iron scale, we decided to offer to renew the present scale. The commercial men wanted a reduction because they believed they were entitled to 1t. and not because they didn't want to pay higher wages; hut on account of the competition that came from Illinois and Pennsylvania. I say the commercial men thought they were entitled to and demanded a reduc- tion, but they considered tnat they con- sidered the extraordinary condition of the country; they considered the fact flat your expenses were increasing on account of the high prices for the differ ent pr oducts which you have to use, and they thought that the condition of things would not justify 6emand for reduc- ton. They care to you with propisi- tion that your friends and your order in ether states and other sections have ac- cepted.
 You are doing well under the present contract. You arc prosrering under 1t. The commercial men are not prospering under it, and TO man who is selling coal Is making money under 1t. There are some people. you know, who would not be satisfied in heaven. But I believe the are satisfied with their prosperity for the last twelve months. We made our proposition because we could go not fur ther; because it. wes a gocd proposition and from Be fact that all of your friends in other states have signed con tract for another year, as I understand, with possibly some little changes, but as they had 1t this year. Their condition was not as good as yours. The miners were not receiving as much as you are. They were not making as much money, understand. as the miners in this district could under the present scale. I say that they were satisfied to let we'll enough alone. Mark Hanna, in the United States today, in addressing a lot of working people and commercial people. made use of the remarkable state- ment, You had better let well enough alone and keep on letting well enough alone It Is a statement that will apply in this case and in every mans case.
 '.Now, I will say in conclusion, the res