The Washington times., 1903-02-13
Attorney Darrow, for the
Miners, Arraigns Operators
and RailrOadS-Fail to Re-
alize That Men Are No
Longer Slaves.
Scathing Reply to President
Baer-Great Fight Before
Strike Commission at an
End-Decision Awaited.

PHILADELPHIA. Feb. 13-The be-
ginning Of the end is at hand in the
long-drawn-OCt hearings OF the anthra-
cite strike commission. All that will re-
main this afternoon after the last word
has been spoken on behalf of the miners
by Clarence s. Darrow viii be for the
commission to struggle with the great
mass OF testimony and render the de-
cision which, no matter what it may be.
VIII be binding upon both operators and
miners for three years.
Immediately roon the convening Of the
commission this morning. Attorney Dar-
row resumed the argument begun yes
terday afternoon.
Mr.. Darrow paid his respects 70 Mt.
Baer. He spoke in part as follows.
Last night before closing discussed
one OF the great delusions under which
the operators have suffered and made
the country suffer during all these
months. A good many OF our troubles
in this world are due TO. mental con-
dition. and some OF the operators
troubles, and possibly some OF the
miners troubles, have been due TO the
same causes
Mr.. Baer informed this eounni ssioa,
in the same attitude that the operators
have used since the beginning OF this
strike. that we, III. 600 irresponsible
ners-irresponsible. as Mr. Baer says.
because We have not any property ana
therefore cannot be held responsible by
the laws OF the land: that we. a parcel
OF Huns and GOths and Vandais. men
who cannot speak the English language
and boys who do not love discipline
that we are responsible FOR the caaI fam
inc through which We have passed and
are passing today.
Responsibility for the Famine.
'Bdr Baer had a right 70 give his
views, and let the country have the bene-
ht Of them. but the responsibility for ths
coal famine rests upon those people who
were really responsible for this strike
If the cause or the miners was iTl-ad-
vised or wrong. or II they struck without
any Just grievance. they are responsible
IF. on the other hand. their griev-
ances were just. their demands were
reasonable. their attitude was that of ra-
tiOnal men considering not themselves
alone but their duties TO society-and
every man must consider that. regardless
OF what the dead letter OF the law may
and just and fair, and the operators.
through blind and stupid prejudice. re-
fused TO deal with them, and to accede
to their demands. and this strike re-
suited. then the blame is upon them, and
not upon US.
Operators Recoup; Men Suffer.
"Our clients have suffered through this
strike We did not have any coal 10
sell, and have not been able TO double
the price on one commodity which those
men disposed of TO the highest bidder.
They have used their winter months TO
recoup themselves for the losses they
have sustained on account Ga our just
demands. We have had no such chance
L want 70 say that this strike from
the first TO last was due 10 the blind.
autocratic. stupid spirit OF these opera
tors. that their men should not organize
nothing else. II was not because they
thought they should have no more
money. for I am inclined 20 think that
these gentlemen would have raised the
wages by this time, strike or no striks-
At least they came into this court. one
after the other. and practically conceded
that they should have raised them ana
should now raise them
Strike TO Determine Mastery.
1T was not then on the question q
wages that these gentlemen preeipitated
this greatest conflict between capital
and labor which the world has ever seen.
this most gigantic strike in history, be-
cause in their minds II was question Of
mastery-of nothing else. because they
felt and they believed that upon thiE
contest depended the question OF wheth-
or they should be the masters OF whether
the men should se the masters
Il believe the operators were induces
and urged by the railroad companies 70
believe that here in the coal region Waa
the fnal struggle TO determine wha
were the masters in this cOuntryG
whether the men were chsttels Or
whether they were men endowed With
the same right TO look the other con-
tracing party sQuRrely IN the face, the
same right 20 make their own terms
as TO the hours of labor, the days ot
labor, the price Of labor when they ara
selling their lives. as the master does
when he is buying the l8borer's life.
Slavery of the Mines.
This was the struggle, and this was
tho cause prove It from their ow1
mouths and place the responsibility
where it belongs-upon these men. whS
cannot understand that the human race.
through IT'S long, sore and bitter trR-
vail. has been moving onward and up
ward and forward toward the hnal de-
mocracy of man. 20 the time when each
human being shall Be n man, clothed
with the right TO live his life, not to
be governed and ruled by such rules an
the masters have ever imposed upor
them.