The Indianapolis journal., 1903-01-22
INVITATION To MITCHELL
GOVERNOR ASKS HIM TO MEET
WITH GET-COAL COMMISSION.
Mine Workers President Accepts
Through Senator Hendee and VIII
Attend Meeting This Afternoon.

Governor Durbin yesterday invited John
Mitchell, president of the United Mine
Workers of America, now i'm convention
here, to appear before the joint legislative
committee and himself to make a state
ment from the viewpoint of the miners on
the shortage of the coal supply and the
stringency in the available amount of coal
for consumption in Indiana. Mr. Mitchell
accepted the invitation and promised to at
tend the conference at 4:SO o'clock this aft
ernoon.
Senator Z. Z. Hendee, one of the members
of the Senate committee. called on Presi-
dent Mitchell at the Occidental Hotel last
night, bearing with him the following note
from Charles Z. Wilson, secretary to the
Governor:
Governor Durbin directs me to present
to you his compliments, and to invite you
to meet with him and the legislative COM
mittee having under consideration the coal
situation, at his office in the State Capitol
22d inst
President Mitchell, after receiving the
note. expressed to Senator Hendee his ac-
ceptance of the invitation. He said that.
although he knew nothing specific about
the coal situation in Indiana, he had be-
come aware of the shortage and might be
or some assistance to the committee. He
said that to meet the committee and to
explain TO them that the shortage is par
tally caused by the lack of production
from the anthracite mines during: the sum-
mer might assist the committee to a bet
ter understanding of the situation.
Mr.. Mitchell said that he had not much
knowledge of the situation in Indiana. He
said he understood that more coal was
turned out of the mines during the past
year than during the year before and ne
thought it. likely. He said he knew of
several good reasons why greater demand
for coal existed in Indiana now than for
merly and ascribed it to the necessity for
coal for use in districts where gas had
formerly been used.
VIEWPOINT OF MINERS.
Senator Hendee on behalf of the Gov,
ernor and legislative committee stated to
Mr.. Mitchell that the committee was doing
everything in its power to ascertain the
truth. He said that the talk of collusion
and connivance between the transportation
companies and the operators caused much
gossip as to the honesty of the motives of
the parties to the combination. He said
the commission has investigated the situa-
ton to the best of its ability and has found
nothing on which to base a criticism of the
coal men or the railroads Conferences and
examination of miners, railroad managers
and dealers have not unearthed even like
lihood of collusion and nothing more re-
mained than to seek information from
miner. He said that he hoped Mr. Mitchell
would appear before the commission and
say if he knew of such a collusion
That Mr.. Mitchelfs statement to the COM
mission will be important is certain. The
commission has made every effort to get
at the operators and managers of the coal
carrying roads and the Governor has
caused to be examined the leading coal men
of the State. Nothing in the nature of COL
fusion has been found The production of
coal has been as much, If not more than
year ago, and the only reason for the short
age has been found to be the greater de-
mand for coal and the inferior means of
transportation of the railroads.
The railroads without exception, the COM
mission has discovered, are unable to trans
port all the coal mined in Indiana.
The coal mined, much of il contracted for
many months ago, has either lain at the
mines awaiting the railroads ability to haul
il or ii has been shipped TO points other
than those for which il intended and
sold i'm the open market. This has had the
effect of leading the people and many of
coal has been diverted TO Chicago and other
points. The members of the commission
and the Governor found that although some
coal had been diverted the divergence was
not because of a desire to sell il at a
greater price, but because of the absolute
impossibility of being able to ship il to In
dianapolis and the other Indiana towns in
which it had been sold on contracts.
Senator Hendee said last night that If Mr.
| Mitchell would tell the committee what he
| thinks of the coal situation the majority
| of the people will be better assured of the
honesty of the coal dealers i'm Indiana If
| Mr.. Mitchell, who perfectly understands
| the difficulties of transportation after the
! coal is mined, will explain the situation
| from the standpoint of the miner. Senator
| Hendee believes that the work of the com
mission will be nearly ended and it will be
| able 10 submit a report of its deliberation
| TO the respective houses of the Legislature
| which the members represent in the inves-
| tigation.