New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-09
BAER TALKS TO MINERS.
Tells Superintendent of Factors IN
Coal Prices,

Pottsville, Penn, April Especial trains from
every part of schuylkiI County carried the super
intendents and employees of the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company to Pottsville to"
night to hear a lecture by President George F.
Baer Of the Reading company. Mr. Baer said. in
part:
Some problems Of the coal Industry are: The
public wants cheap fuel; the miners and workers
profit on their Investment
This simple statement at once diseloses an IRE;
company managers lot is not a happy one. 1t is
not materially improved by giving him the barren
The public has high appreciation either Of our
lncompetency or of the difficulties beSettlng us,
because it is forever advising US how to manage
In general, because coal is a necessity Of our
modern life the owners Of coal are under some
KIND OF obligation to DO all within their power %
and at fair price. The suggestion that, coal be-
this public obligation is higher than the duty in
VOWED IN the supply OF any other necessity or IIe
coal deep in the ground is of no more use until It
Is ie9 ana prepared tor fnan IS o te
to produce food. AS there is no obligation on the
farmer to cultivate his field and produce food to be
sold at loss because the public needs food.
there can be no obligation on owners OF coal mines
to operate them at loss because the public needs
Of course. no industry of any kind can be .Opsr-
hope that the future will reimburse the loss.
Ike oil and Ee cOa Should beong to the State
the benefit Of all the people Has it ever occurred
it would stiii have to be done in exactly the same
way as we are doing in, and at a greater cost?
How much more per ton would the public pay for
ana the accustomed graft" and notorious tnef-
66cteyS G f sSa oT S a re do yo
know equal TO its solution? Would It be an arith-
The economic rule Which viii Satisfy the public
demand for increase in wages. with resulting in
crease in cost Of production, and at the same
not been formulated with that exactness which is
essential to give II practical effect.
The interest Of the. wage Garner is undoubtedly
conditions Of the business would justify. Every
management Is necessarily LIMITED IN H6lng sehed
price obtainable for the thing produced. The
investment
I have stated these simple fundamental things
with view more clearly to present few thoughts
We are not the owners Of the mines ana plants
which called upon to manage. The owners
are many, scattered all over the country. They
the highest to the humblest workers among us, we
are servants: we are stewards; You recall IN the
with talents, they who wisely used the talents and
ed; but the fellow who hid his and made in
creased return TO his master was condemned
bility is upon manage this coal industry hon
esty and fairly SO as TO make 1T profitable TO our
to pay reasonable wages to insure good work We
cannot fix wages on any sentimental basis We can
only pay such wages as the conditions Of the busi-
profitable to masters. We cannot sell coal to
the public on any Charitable basis. We must sell
it at reasonable profit. If manage so un-
wisely as to bring loss. instead of gain, to our
masters we will be discharged as unworthy
stewards.
Now. my solicitudo is greater in degree
than yours. because your chief I will
be the first person to receive condemnation
for failure. Your shortcomings will be Just
" imputed to me, because ii is my business
TO see that only competent men are employed, and
passes down the whole line. involving each Of
you in like responsibility. But every man who fails
to do his duty is injuring his coworkers. The
captains Of become responsible for the
under them the captains Of hundreds for the cap
tains of tens; the captains Of thousands for the
captains Of hundreds, and so in like measure until
il reaches the chief. The coworkers number
assigned Unless work in harmony we cannot
accomplish good results We must learn in the be-
ginning the great law Of all organized efforts
of the many-respect for and obedience to the
mands of our superior officers.
All coworkers must be treated kindly. Reason
ence among men. Wherever it is possible by kind
words or actions to help a worried. awkward and
dull coworker 1t ought to be done
Whenever il is possible to aid in improving the
physical surroundings of our coWorkerS. TO help
Them to better and purer ideals of life and living
LET us do IT. I was proud of the record you made
in the coal investigation. With all the powers
reason being directed against us. serious OF
wrongdoing to the many thousands Of our fellow
laborers disclosed 80
7 believe to-day that have the good will OF our
coworkers and that we will continue TO have II
until unfair demands, supported by appeals to pas
sion and prejudice, shall cause many or them 10
forget our kindness and friendship