Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-07

mine workers whom We have the hon
or to represent, we have, after a most
careful consideration and with the
hope OF relieving the situation and
averting suffering and hardships which
would inevitably follow in the wake of
the coal famine, decided to propose a
resumption of coal mining upon lines
hereinafter suggested
Before doing so, Mr.. President, we
desire to say We are not prompted 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 the, contest to
a successful ISSUE thanks to the gen.
erous assistance rendered us by our
fellow workers in this and other lands;
thanks to the justice-loving American
public whose sympathies are always
on the side of right, we are able to
continue the struggle indefinitely.
But, confident of our ability to DEM
onstrate to any impartial tribunal the
equity of our demand for higher wages
and improved environment, we pro-
pose that the issues eliminating in
this strike shall be referred to you and
tribunal of your own selection, and
agree to accept your award upon all
or any of the questions involved
IF you will accept this responsible
ity and the representatives of the
coal operators will signify their will
lngness to have your decision incor-
porated in an agreement for not less
than one year OF more than five years,
as may be mutually determined be-
tween themselves and the anthracite
coal mine workers, and will pay the
scale of wages which you and the
tribunal appointed by you shall award.
we will Immediately call convention
and recommend the resumption Of
work upon the understanding that the
wages which shall be paid are to go
in effect from the day upon which
work is resumed"
President Baer Vehement.
President Baer, after quoting por--
tons of President Roosevelt's address,
said there are $4,000 to 10000 men at
work in the mines, and that they
are abused, assaulted, injured and mall
treated by the United Mine Workers.
They can only work under the protec--
ton of armed guards. Thousands of
other workmen are deferred by intim-
idation, violence and crimes inaugur--
ated by the United Mine Workers, over
whom, John Mitchell, whom you in
vited to meet you is chief"
Baer then says: "A terrible reign
of lawlessness and crime exists in the
coal regions" which he charges to the
United Mine Workers, alleging
"Mitchelfs men dynamite bridges and
tracks, mob trains of men and by all
manner of violence try to prevent it's
shipments to relieve the public"
Quoting the provisions of the consti-
tuition of Pennsylvania guaranteeing
the safety of life and property and the
duty of state officials and the action of
the governor in calling out troops, Baer
says the power of the law is asserting
itself and, unless encouraged by
false hopes, order will soon be restor--
ed"
He then called attention to the fact
that the constitutionrequir the Presi-
dent, in the event of the power of the
state being insufficient to do so, to re-
establish the law when requested by
the legislature and governor, ito sup
press domestic violence"
You see there is a lawful way to
procure coal for the public"
Baer Says peace at Any Cost"
Continuing, Baer said: THE duty
of the hour is not to waste time nego--
tiating with the fomenters of this an
archy and insolent defiance of law,
but to do as was done in the war OF
the rebellion, restore the majesty OF
the law, the only guardian of a free
people, and re-establish order and
peace at any cost Government is a
contemplate failure if it can only pro-
tect the lives and property and secure
the comfort OF people by compromis-
ing with the violators of the law and
the instisators OF violence and crime.