The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-11-16
The Kentucky Mine Owners and
Operators in Convention Pc
titiOned Against 1t.
NOT A SINGLE DISSENTING VOTE.
The Move VIII Spread TO Every Other
Southern State, II the Plans
Are Carried Out.
Mine Owners Of Indiana, Illinois and
ohio Have sisnlhed Their VIII
llnoness To Join the Ken
lucky Coal Men.

Louisville, Ky. Nov ia petition
20 President Roosevelt and congress
against the Esch-TOwnsend or any
similar rate legislation designed to in
terfere with the fixing Of rates by the
roads themselves was the result OF a
meeting Of mine owners and operators
representing SO Of the biggest coal
mines IN Kentucky and 20 coal com
panies. held In this city. The meeting,
the members OF which represented
mines with an output Of over $500. 900
tons OF coal annually. adopted a resoiu-
ton In the form OF a petition against
the Esch-Townsend bill without a sin
gle dissenting vote.
The move TO take active steps
against railroad legislation will be
spread 70 every other southern state,
4 the plans Of those who attended are
carried out.
A committee was appointed 10 con-
fer with and enter into correspondents
with the mine owners and operators Of
every coal mine south Of the Ohio
river. in order that similar action may
be taken IN other states and make the
opposition OF the coal men one OF the
most important factors which congress
will have 90 consider IN determining
lts attitude on the railroad bill at the
coming session.
The mine owners Of Indiana, Illinois
and Ohio have slgnihed their willing
ness 10 Join the Kentucky coal men,
and take the matter 20 President
Roosevelt.
Railway Employees Protest.
Washington. Nov rs. - A large
delegation OF railroad Employee
headed by Mr.. Huntley. a conductor.
az spokesman. called on President
Roosevelt and presented p statement
on the proposed railroad rate legisla
ton. Mr. Huntley. In part. said:
The rhilroad employees and those
dependent upon them represent up
ward Of 6.00O.000 o. people in this coun-
try. and whose earnings Approximate
ly amount to one-half billion dollars
annually. and we believe that there Is
no, other class Of American worhmen
who present a higher general standard
Of citizenship than the railrOad EN-
pioyes. and we also claim that we are
entitled 10 fair and impartial consider
alton in the framing or adoption OF
any national legislation that threatens
our general prosperity. We take keen
and active interest IN all matters tla,
seem 10 conduoo TO a higher and
broader standard Of conditions for the
woriingmen OF this country, and
therefore. Il is not strange that since
tho inception ~ this movement for ma.
tional legislation upon railroad rates
that all railroad employees have. from
time 20 time and in various ways, ex-
pressed their convictions For exam
pie. the Brotherhood Of Railroad Train.
men with a membership of $4,000
members az their last annual meeting
In Buffalo last spring. adopted resolu-
lions OF the most emphatic nature
against any reductions and the Broth
erhood OF Locomotive Firemen have
expressed similar views by Official nj.
terances and the same can be said OF
the Switchmen's National association.
The Order Of Railway Conductors at
their biennial convention IN Portland.
Ore. last May. endorsed resolutions Of
the same nature. The membership Of
these organizations Is now little
more than a quarter OF a million and
there are still behind us another full
million OF laborers in the railroad
world who would be similarly affected
by any reductions In the earning ca
pacity Of the railroad lines of this
country"
Therefore, we believe that we take
a fair and just view OF the situation
when we claim that no national legis-
lstion should be adopted which shall
tend. in any degree. 10 interfere with
or interrupt the present or future pros.
perity OF the railroad employees IN this
country"