The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-29
COAL RATE WAR IMPENDS;
CONFERENCE REJECTED
Two Developments in the Strike Stuation---Haui
man and Gould Are at Outs
Utah Fuel Company Declines to Meet Any Men Belonging to the
Union.
A FREIGHT rate war between the
~ Hartman and Gould roads is in

A FREIGHT rate war between the
- Hartman and Gould roads is in
prospect.
Vice President George w. Kramer Of
the Utah Fuel company replied TO the
message Of Governor Heber NJ. Wells
and Co1oneI T.. +. Holmes. president
of the Commercial club, declining TO
treat with Representatives Of the min
ers n they were members of a union.
These were the two principal local
developments yesterday of the strike
situation.
Up to late hour last night the Union
Pacific had net met the cut of the
Rio GrandC i'm coal and freight rates,
but il was expected that at any time
the situation might take decidedly
interesting turn After the price had
been raised I5 cents retail and 80 cents
wholesale. r. r. Hartman ordered a
cut in the price of Union Pacific coal
Of 30 cents "a ton. The Rio Grande
came back Friday with a cut Of 25
cents on coal and p cents on the
freight rates. 1t is understood this
order came from Gould himself. With
Hartman and Gould cutting rates
against each other, railroad men are
wondering where 1t all will end. Many
of them are predicting a bitter rate
war and the closing of the ogden gate
NAY.
How Coal Price Was Raised.
Some time ago there was a meet
ing in Denver at which ii was agreed
eChe price OF coal should be raised,
said a man familiar with the sitUa-
tiOn. yesterday. There was no time
set for this. The Union Pacific Coal
company "a short time ago raised the
M %
company. The latter organization had
strike on its hands. and there was
question as to the advisability of
raising the price at that time Never
Cheless the Utah Fuel company fol-
lowed the lead, although against their
interests.
"Then Hartman suddenly cut the
price Of coal without consulting any
outside persons. Gould came back with
cut on coal and. fin addition. a cut
in the freight rate on the Hartman
roads are several independent coal
mines. III the rate is cut, the coal
; from these mines also viii have to be
handled at the reduced rate. The Rio
k5Laude has no independent coal mines
elong it's line. There it has the ad-
Vantage. and the Union Pacific will
probably be slow to cut the rate
ION the other hand. IL may cut the
rate on some other lines and start a
genuine rate war. ] would not be sur
pTised TO see the Ogden gateway closed.
, which would mean the shutting out
Of the Rio Grande from Montana. Ida
40 ana all points on the Southern Pa
cifiC i'm Nevada"
. Union Pacific coal was being sold
yesterday az $3.50 a ton, with the un-
? derstanding that there would be a re-
bate If the producers made the expect
I'd reduction. Utah Fuel company coal
was on the market at s. a ton
Kramer Rejected Proposition.
AS a sequel to the efforts Of Governor
Wells and Colonel Holmes TO mediate
Tor a settlement Of the strike. the fol-
lowing telegram was received yester-
day afternoon:
Helper Nov. q.
Hon. HcbCr IT. Wells. Governor. salt
Lake city. Utah: Colonel p. Il. Holmes.
President Commercial Club. salt Lake:
Your message Of the 18th received this
morning in which YOU state that repre-
Eeutatives Of the United Mine Workers
,Aate that striking coal miners Of Carbon
county have grievances other than rec0g-
milton of the union. and which you say IS
UorrobOrated by a telegram received from
John Mitchell. and which have not been
~adiusted by me. / desire to call your at
teuton TO the circular issued under du
th0Fity Of the United Mine Workers OF
? America. dated Trinidad, Colo, oct. D.
1913. ITO all miners whether members OF
every miner in the so-called district Is 10
} lay down their tools on the 9th day OF
November and Quit work" This circular
has been given wide prominence and pub
alished by the press of the district IN
addition the notice I'm circular form print
cd in English and Italian, was mailed cor
handed personally TO each employe Of
Tho circular instructs that all work
shall cease until the coal companies con-
sent 10 operate by and under scale
agreed unon in Joint conference of repre-
eontatfvpg OF both sides. and then goes on
and instructs what the demands viii be,
as follows;
your demand viii be for an eigllt-hou~
Idav and 90 per cent raise I'm wages Iu
{ t0uEaEe and DAYS work; better conditions
of airing the mine and all other matters
annertaining TO safety OF life and limb,
1t calls the coal companies enemies ana
saws that the union is prepared to furnish
employment and transportation 20 union
ized miners where all employees are work
ing under a fixed scale.
EMPLOYEES Of the Utah Fuel company
were not members of this union. There
was not at the time Of the Issuance OF
This circular any lodge of this union with
fn this state. and so far as I am advised
there IS not at this time any employees of
this company members OF this union
> while this order is dated oct. 29th. TO
strike on Nov. 9Th. every emplOye OF the
N-tah Fuel company had been working mp
10 that time and while IL is true that
Fince Nov. 9Th the camps Of the Utah Fuel
roroanv have been ovcrrun with foreign
= -fLEefa anu ttEAtAADlo t'flltAttt.tflf0.l
urgfng employees of the Utah Fuel COM
ranv 10 comply with the order referred 20,
fhoy have not succeeded I'M organizing and
shutting down our properties. but have
Ercceeded By intimidation and coercion
IN Keeping ont Of the mines "a large num-
Der of this company's employees.
VIII Not Meet Union Men.
we positively decline to meet and dis
russ with the representatives of the
United Mine Workers OF America the
situation which they themselves have
crcated in this state for the sole purpose
or aiding their organizers iu installing
their union I'm it's supremacy 70 The law.
order dignity and peace OF the state. ana
+ tho absolute exclusion from work Of an
4rmpioves Of the Utah Fuel company wno
tnoi1ld not join their union. TO would be
I EMPLOYEES Of this company who resisted
as well as 70 a large number OF citizens
OF this state who wanted work and have
since been given work in place OF the
rtrflyere. and who would be thrown out Z
eruplovment and their homes should o.
, .~ecorrfzo bv conference or otherwise the
representatives OF this union.
You fully recognized and very f'ttlngly
stated as a reason for calling odt the
national guard Of Utah when YOU said
that YOU would resist any attempt 10
slrevent satisfied men who wished TO
work from doing so. and that they would
-navo protection against violence to them
roivcs and families; that the state OF
Utah was the foremost 20 Iegal lie The
efghl-hOur day. which is the contention
fn the neighboriug state OF Colorado.
observed the laws Of This state governing
~~.nru ffnr Of fits mines In arnrv mar