The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-01
BLAME
TO GOVERNMENT
Reading Road Charges 1t With
Responsibility for Present
Conditions.

PHILAD ELPHIA, PA, August ST.
Making general denials OF the charges
contained in the United States gov
ernment's suit against the members Of
the so-called coal combine, begun on
June 18th last. the answers of the
three Reading companies named as de-
PENDANTS in the suit, which were filed
In the United States Circuit Court to-
day. put the responsibility for the
agreement entered into by the coal
operators sruarely upon the shoulders
of the government
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 strils-
ing mine workers, by the failure of the
United States government and State
OF Pennsylvania to enforce the law
and protect the coal companies. and the
opportunities of the late Marcus a.
to end the strike of the miners on &C.
count of the Impending presidential
election.
1t is asserted that as n 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 it has not been re-
duced.
Separate answers iarc made to the
charges In the governments suit to
the effect that tho three Reading COM
tpanies entered into a conspiracy with
the other coal-carrylng roads to re-
strain trade in anthracite coal for each
hn in inc no n :
delpha and Reading Railway Company,
the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
| Iron Company and the Reading Com
pany-- proper 4
General denials are made of the.
conspiracy 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 sensational defense, putting
the responsibility on the government,
| Is made.
prior to the first day Of October, lvoo.
ators in the region in which their ,lr
mines are located commonly called the 2! {,
Schuylkil region, We're peacefully
prosecuting their operations in amity
| with their workmen, but at or about
that time n voluntary association or,
ganized under the name of the United
Mine Workers of America and haHlnG
| Its headquarters at InulanapOlIs, III the
State Of Indiana, of which one JONI
| ffitchnll Was named as pr6sft
| w 3, Wilson as secretary-tre asurer
| inaugurated q strike OF the mine WORK.
men in some portions of the antiraclte
coal regions of the state, Whereunuei
"f'stp't Ally all the wnrit,7
said regions abandoned their work,
under the force and effect of violence
turbulence and inttmidation, and the
/ employees and workmen of this defend-
ant and others in the same neighbor'
hood We're induced or compelled by like
i violence, turbulence and intlmluatloI
to abandon their employment
! The answer goes on to say ina
/ shortly afterward 1t was Represented
Il in substance to the officials or ms de'
I PENDANT and tile representative. Q.
other mining companies, by one MAR,
Gus A. Hanna, acting as chairman g
i the Republican National Committee u
! the then pending political cnmpaissi
/ for the election Of candidates ro
President and President of th'
| United States that III the said strik'
/ should not beNspeelily. settled, by al
advance in the wages of the Workmei
/ in and about the mines IN the entlr'
! anthracite region. the strike woult
/ extend to the States Of ono, lnulant
] and Illinois, and that the election o
i Mr., Mckinley and Mr.. ,RooseVelt Woul1
be thereby endangered
The answer Declares that MT. liann'
4 represented to the officials or the com
i pany that he was authorized 70 settl'
4 the strike through Mr.. Mitchell ~ W.
4 opera tors would agree 70 give lnell
workbench a ten per cent. lncfeass a!