Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-01-14
MITCHELL ASKS
MINERS HELP
Calls Upon Them to Aid in
Relieving Famine.
Should Cooperate With
Mine Managers in lncreas-
ing the Production of An
thracite Coal.

liiI oCitC SOdl.
John Mitchell calls upon every miner
in the anthracite coal fields to work now
as he never worked before in order to
alleviate the misery of the thousands
crying for fuel
President Mitchell has prepared let
ter, signed also by District Presidents
Nichols. Duffy and Fahy, officially con-
veying to all local unions a statement of
the conditions now existing and asking
them to do all In their own power to aid
the sufferers. This letter reads:
ITO the officers and members of local
unions of the U. NJ. w. OF A. in the
anthracite region:
you are, no doubt, aware that a
serious coal famine exists in all the
Eastern and seaboard cities, due to the
shortage Of the anthracite coal supply.
The situation has reached an acute
stage and has resulted in great suffering
and hardship to the poor of the cities,
whose earnings are insufficient to enable
them to pay the excessive prices now
being charged for fuel, and it is subject
ing the general public to get inconve-
nience..
"ro relieve the situation and alleviate.
as far as possible, the suffering now
being endured, is the duty of every one
connected with the production of coal
With this end in view we are prompted
to address this communication to all
members of our union and request that
they cooperate with the management
of the mines in an effort to increase the
situation is such as to require that every
mine worker shall exert himself and
use every means at his command to this
end.
Upon reading this communication in
the columns OF the newspapers local
unions should hold meetings and devise
means whereby the daily output of the
mines may be Increased. These efforts
should be continued until the weather
moderates and the great necessity for
fuel shall have passed"
COAL CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK.
Representatives of all the anthracite
| coal railroads except the Delaware and
hudson, met with Mayor Low, of New
York, to consider how to relieve the fuel
famine in New York city by extending
the system of selling coal to the poor at
10 cents Il bucket.
With one accord all the railroad men
present-George f. Baer, E. b. Thomas,
f. ID. Underwood, e. E. Loomls, L. p.
Fowler and S. M. Prevost-unequivo
cally pledged themselves aud their com
panies to do everything possible not only
to assist in the bucket distribution of
coal, but also to do what they can to
hold retail prices down by selling their
coal at S5 ton at New York tidewater
John Markle was the only independ-
ent operator present. Having heard
| carefully prepared statement by Mr.
Baer and also what other companies
would do, Mayor Low, with smile on
mis- face, turned to Mr.. Markle and
asked.
"Well, Mr.. Markle, do you want to
tell us what tho independent operators
are willing to do toward relieving this
,ituation?"
81 am only one of the independents
replied Mr.. Markle, land can speak
ouly for q. B. Markle e Co. We shall
be glad to bear our share in this effort
We are selling our coal above the $5
price,
You say you are selling above $5
on?" put in Mayor Low.
Yes, but not as high as some of the
other independents. Ordinarily our coal
goes mostly to New England"
well" said Mayor Low, "how much
coal will you send to New York?"
81 can't say. The Lehigh Valley sells
our coal"
Let it be clearly understood" spoke
up President Thomas, of the Lehigh