The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-11
ANSWER OF OPERATORS
tContinued from Page one.)


 collieries before receiving any reply to their demands, but men attempting to work have already been actrAlly wounded, and others in many places have been intimidated by threats, beat ings or similar display of force. The firemen and men running the pumps that are necessary to prevent the flood ing of the mines are so frequently and consistently threatened that many of them say they must quit work.
 If this be a fair sample of a Repub- lican form of government. all good citizens may well pray for a despot- ism.
 In view of these will known facts we contend that 1t would be better that our mines shall lay idle for years than that we shall submit to the highway manlike methods of an organization that lacks either the wish or the abii- ity to restrain its members from acts of violence that would disgrace the much despised Russia.
 Should Demand Protection.
 There Is another important question that may as we'll be settled now as hereafter. which is. Has our govern ment itself the power and the dispo- sition to protect life and property? They never forget to collect numerous taxes from anthracite properties. Let us de- mand from them the protection that is our due and see if we receive it.
 But if your committee shall decide that in deference to public opinion some offer of arbitration must be made we submit that 1t should be only to the same body that met in 1902 and 1903 or to at least five members there of. They became thoroughly familiar with all the foundation conditions. None of the members are especially identified with either side of the con- troversy.
 A reference to the conciliation board (and an umpire), would be reference to the umpire alone. These matters are certainly too important to be placed in the control of any one man. no matter how fair or competent In the event of submission to the origi- nal strike commission of course pro- test against any submission of ques- tions already adjudicated, like the closed shops, collection of dues or the suggestion of any terms less than five years, during which the award shall be binding.
 We further suggest that if the sub mission he made and the result be an increase in the cost of production then the amount of such increased cost should be added at once to the mar ket price of the product. Notwith-
 
 and general impression that the profits of the business are enormous, some of us are unfortunately aware of the fact that many collieries have been opera ted at a loss even during the past three years. It is surely bad enough to sac rifice hundreds of thousands of tons of coal that cannot be replaced with out being obliged to pay for the priv ileges. If consumers (naturally. per t- hE, Nr,nr AnIN of venience and comfort). are so indif- ferent to the demands of law and or der as to compel us to abandon a con test for right and decent government that we are ready If necessary to un- dertake, they should pay the cost or the surrender that they compel.
 However, we wish to reaffirm our belief and strong desire that until m organization shall arise that shall nave both the desire and the ability to com pei obedience to law and order there shall be no submission to arbitration
 The Anthracite Coal Operators Asso- ciation. by H. H. Ashley. President : H. w. Kingsberry. Secretary