Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-31
| BLAME SHIFTED
TO AUTHORITIES
BY READING ROAD
Answer Made to Government
Trust Allegations.
DENIES CONSPIRACY CHARGE
Says Responsibility Is on the Federal
Officials.
DENIES CONSPIRACY CHARGE
HANNA'S NAME ALSO INVOLVED
Advanced Wages Under Protest on
Pressure From Republican
National Committee

The Reading Company, the Phil
adelphia and Reading Railway
Company and the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company
today filed answers to the suit of
the federal government to break up
the alleged monopoly in the anthra-
cite coal regions. The answers
make general denial OF the gov
ernment's allegations. They de-
clare the agreements to advance the
price of coal were brought about in
1900 by the violence of the strikers,
by the failure of the United States
and the state of Pennsylvania to
protect the coal companies, and the
opportunities of the late Marcus A.
Hanna, who was anxious to end the
strike on account OF the impending
presidential election.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, August 31.-Mak-
ing general denials of the charges con-
tanned in the United States governments
suit against the members of the so-called
coal combine, begun on June II last, the
answers of the three Reading companies
named as defendants in the suit, which
We're filed in the United States circuit court
today put the responsibility for the agree
ment entered into by the coal operators
squarely upon the shoulders of the gov
eminent
1t is declared that the agreements to
advance the price of coal were wholly
brought about in 1900 by the violence and
intimidation of the striking mine workers,
by the failure of the United States gov
eminent and state of Pennsylvania to en-
force the law and protect the coal com
panies and the opportunities OF the late
Marcus A. Hanna, who, 1t is alleged, was
anxious to end the strike OF the miners
on account OF the impending pres Dental
election.
1t is asserted that as result of these
conditions the Philadelphia and Reading
Coal and Iron Company was forced to
make contracts with the operators, but
nothing is said in the answer about any
subsequent reduction in the price of coal
nor is any reason given to show why II
has not been reduced.
Separate answers made to the
charges in the governments suit to the
effect that the three Reading companies
entered into a conspiracy with the other
coal-carryiig roads to restrain trade in
anthracite coal for each of the Read
ing companies-the Philadelphia and Read
Il,iJ- fha ad.aln a nd
Reading Coal and Iron Company and the
Reading Company proper.
Story Of the Strike.
General denals are made of the con-
spracy charges IN the answers of the
reading Coal and Iron Company and that
of the railway. 1t is in the reply Of the
coal and iron company that the sensa-
tional defense putting the responsibility
on the government Is made.
1t is declared that for long time prior
to the lst day of October, 1900, this de-
PENDANT and other mine operators in the
region in which their mines are located,
commonly called the Schuykill region,
were peacefully prosecuting their opera
tons in amity with their workmen, but at
or about that time a voluntary association
organized under the name of the United
Mine Workers of America and having its
headquarters at Indianapolis, in the state
of Indiana of which one John Mitchell
was namsd as president and w. B. Wilson
as secretary treasurer, inaugurated a
strike of the mine workmen in some por-
tions of the anthracite coal regions OF the
state whereunder substantially all the
workmen In the said regions abandoned
their work, under the force and effect OF
violence turbulence and intimidation, and
the employees and workmen OF this defend
ant and others in the same neighborhood
were induced compelled by like vio-
lence. turbulence and ,intimidat on to aban-
don their employment
Enter Mark Hanna.
The answer goes on to say that shortly
afterward it was represented in substance
TO the officials of this defendant, and the rep
resentativas of other mining companies by
one Marcus A. Hanna, acting as chairman
of the republican national committee, in
the then pending political campaign for the
election of candidates for President and
Vice President of the United States, that
if the said strike should not be speedily set
tied by an advance in the wages OF the
workmen in and about the mines in the en-
tire anthracite region, the strike would ex-
tend TO the states of Ohio, Indiana and ILL
nois, and that the election of Mir. Mckinley
and MI Roosevelt would be thereby endan-
gered."
The answer declares that Mr.. II inna repre-
scented to the officials of the company that
he was authorized to settle the strike
through Mr.. Mitchell if the operators would
agree TO give their workmen 10 per cent
increase N wages.
1t is set forth that the company did agree
to advance the wages of its mine and col
liery workmen 10 per cent, ana that the
other principal mine owners who mad been
in conference with Mr.. Hanna had agreed
70 the same concession 1t is set forth, how
ever that the officials of the United Mine
Workers refused to permit the resumption
OF mining operations In any part Of the
anthracite regions until the uniform ad-
yanca of 10 Der cent In wages should