The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-04
George F. Baer.


Statement by Mr.. George F. Baer, presi-
dent of the Reading Railroad:
ITO the President of the United States
We understand your anxiety, as forcibly ex-
pressed in the statement you read to US this
morning, to bring about an immediate re-
sumption of operations in the coal mines in
some such way as will without day un-
necessary delay meet the crying needs OF
the people We infer that you desired us
to consider the offer of Mr.. Mitchell, YER
speaking for the United Mine Workers, TO
go back to work IL you would appoint a
commission to determine the questions at
issue.
a discussion of your respective claims and
positions But We assume that state
ment of what is going on In the coal re-
gions will not be irrelevant. We represent
the owners of coal mines in Pennsylvania.
There are from fifteen TO twenty thou
sand men at work mining and preparing
coal. They are abused, assaulted, injured
and maltreated by the United Mine Work
ers. They can work only under the protec-
ton of armed guards. Thousands OF other
workmen are deferred from working by
the intimidation, violence and crimes in
augurated by the United Mine Workers,
over whom John Mitchell, whom you in
vited to meet you, is chief.
II need not picture the daily crimes COM
mitted by the members of this organization.
The domestic tranquility which every con-
stitutiOn declares is the chief object or gov
sions. There is a terrible reign Of lawless-
ness and crime there. Only the lives ana
property of the members of the secret, OATH
bound order which declared that the locals
should have full power to suspend opera
tions at collieries until the nonunion men
Joined their order: are safe: Every effort
when mined Mitchell's men dynamite
bridges and tracks, mob trainmen, and by
all manner of violence try to prevent its
shipment to relieve the public.
H. To- - L.
antees protection to life and property. In
express terms it declares the right of ac-
quiring. possessing and defending property
to be inalienable.'
FEDERAL AID WANTED.
when riot and anarchy too great to
be appeased by the civil power occur, the
Governor Of Pennsylvania is bound to call
out the State troops to suppress it. He
must fearlessly use the whole power of
the State to protect life and property and
to establish peace-not an armed truce,
but the peace of the law which protects
every man at work and going to and from
work. He has sent troops to the coal re-
gions Gradually the power of the law is
asserting itself. Unless encouraged by
false hopes order will soon be restored, and
then we can mine coal to meet the public
wants. If the power of Pennsylvania is in
sufficient to re-establish the reign of law,
the Constitution of the United States re-
quires the President, when requested by
the Legislature and the Governor, to sup
press domestic violence You see there is
a lawful way to secure coal for the pub
lic
"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 done in the war of the rebel
lion, restore the majesty Of law the only
guardian OF a free people. and to re-estab-
lish order and peace at any cost.
Tine government Is contemplate fail
ure II 1t can protect the lives and property
and secure the comfort of the people only
by compromising with the violators of law
and the instigators of violence and crime
Just now 1t is more important to teach
ignorant men, dwelling among US, misled
and used as tools by citizens of other
States, that at whatever cost and incon-
venience to the public, Pennsylvania will
use the whole power of government to pro-
tect, 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 in
stigation or by overt acts. attempts to de-
prive any man of his liberty to work
Under these conditions we decline to ac-
cept Mr.. Mitchells considerate offer to let
our men work on terms he names. He has
no right to come from Illinois to dictate
| terms on the acceptance of which anarchy
and crime shall cease in Pennsylvania. He
must stop his people from killing, manning
and abusing Pennsylvania citizens and
| from destroying property. He must stop it
because 1t is unlawful and not because of
| any bargain with rs.
I'VE will add to our offer to continue 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 employers and employees at any particu-
/ lar colliery cannot reach satisfactory ad-
justment Of any alleged grievances ii Shall
| be referred to the judges of the Court of
Common Pleas of the district in which the
| colliery is situated for final DETERMINATION
GEORGE f. BAER,
| President Philadelphia & Reading Coal
and Iron Company, Lehigh & Wilkes
| barre Coal and Iron Company and Tenn
pie Iron Company"