The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-09-04
CANNOT ARBITRATE.
President Baer Answers the
Pennsylvania Senators.
THE STRIKE SITUATION REVIEWED.
Management of Mines belongs to
Owners, Whose Duty to the Pub
lie Ii to Conduct Them For
the Common Welfare.

management OF Mines belongs 10
Owners, Whose Duty to the Pub
lie Is to Conduct Them For
the Common Welfare.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. A -Presi-
dent George +. Baer of the Reading
company and United States Senators
Quay and PenrOse held long confer
ence in the executive offices of the
Reading company in this city at which
the anthracite coal miners strike was
thoroughly discussed. At the conclu
sion of the conference President Baer
issued Il lengthy reply to the two SEN
ators. Among other things he said: $
81 recognize that it is your right and
duty as senators representing the great
state Of Pennsylvania to do whatever
can legitimately be done to end a strike
that so seriously affects business and
brings so much suffering to the women
and children of the coal regions. The
newspapers story that l said. "rhe
strike was private affair which did
not concern the public is Il reckless
fabrication.
"Now, what l have said is that the
management of business belongs to the
owners. In the case of the coal COM
panies the law casts the management
and control on the directors and off
GERS, whose responsibility is to their
stockholders, to the state and to the
public. The right of the stocks olders
is to have good management and fair
return on their investment. The obl-
CATION to the state is to conduct the
business in strict conformity to the
laws it has established. The duty to
the public is so far as practicable to
conducS the business SO as to add to
the common welfare. We have con-
cluded therefore that our duty to our
selves and to the public will best be
served by standing firmly on these
propositions.
"First.-That the wages paid in the
anthracite coal regions are, compared
with the wages paid in like employ
ment, fa!r~aId just and that men will
ing to work honestly Gan earn more
money on the present basis Of wages
than in any other industry engaged in
lxoducing common articles of neces-
sity in the United States.
Second. THAT wages cannot he ia
creased without increasing the price
Of coal. and to increase the price OF
coal will restrict the market and drive
the public to use hitumnous coal, a
cheaper and more abundant fuel ana
that Il restricted market will curtail
production and result in deprivins min
ers of regular employment.
Third. That we are not fighting
labor organizations. We fully recog
nize the right of men 10 organize to
protect the mselves from oppression and
to benefit Themselves in any legitimate
way. But we do oppose their unreal
sonahn Interference With the disc-
pline and ordinary management of our
business. We will not permit them TO
select our employees. Neither politics,
religion. nationality nor membership, in
labor organizations shall d"har any
competent man from working for us.
We are fighting the battle of freedom
lor lNe lliHN llual anu his llshL W
labor on his own terms.
Fourth. That it is hy reason of
varying conditions at each mine i'm
practicable to adopt uniform scale
of wages for the whole region. but
at each collcry every complaint
and grievance will be taken up and in
vc%tigatcd by the superintendent and
! adjusted whenever it is just. per-
sonaHy offered to Mitchell and his
district presidents to 60 with them and
Investigate any grievance"