Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-09-24
COAL OPERATORS STATE
OBJECTIONS TO PLAN

Denver, Sept. Willingness TO
obey the mining statutes of Colorado
and 10 re-employ such striking coal
miners az they think desirable. and
for whom there Is work at the mines,
but refusai to enter into Il three
year truce with the United Mine
Workers of America. To re-emploB all
strikers not convicted of crime or to
submit to a final arbitrament OF all
grievances ~ Il federal commission,
were expressed In letter sent TO
President Wilson tonight by operators
claiming to produce 20 per cent OF
the coal mined In Colorado.
The letter was reply 10 the COM
munication In which the president
urged the operators TO adopt the plan
suggested by Hywel Davies and VIII
liam X. Farley. federal mediators. for
ending the coal miners strike. IL was
signed by the Vietor-Ameriean Fuel
company, the Rocky Mountain Fuel
company--tw0 of the so-called "big
three''--and by f0rty-one smaller con-
Germs. The Colorado Fuel a. Iron
company gave its views TO the presi-
dent In separate letter. made public
last night.
The Impartiality of The federal media
tors.
Commission Partisan.
1T is TO be regretted" the letter
ran, that the character Of the inves-
tigation and the previous records Of
the representatives selected by seere-
tary OF Labor Wilson justify the belief
that they are partisans Of the men
who have made necessary the pres
ence Of federal troops in the strike
district. One of the representatives..
William Farley. was 4 member Of the
national executive committee Of the
United Nine Workers Of America, for
Alabama, and. recording 20 their
treasufer's report. was on their pay
roll during the year ending November
80, 1913. and was actively engaged as
an organizer and agitat0f III The Col
orado strike in 1904
Referring TO the proposed three
year truce, the operators said
THE governor Of this state, some
years since. entered into an agreement
or truce with the leaders OF this or
ganizafion, and. in utter disregard of
their obligations. the striking miners
under the direction Of these identical
leaders, continued with renewed rigoi
to destroy our properties and Kill our
workmen. II would be imprudent q
again place any reliance upon the
good faith Of these men.
The letter stated further:
Cannot Employ All.
We are and have been willing te
employ as many Of the strikers al
possible. wit thout discrimination be-
cause Of the fact that they laid dowr
their tools. and believe that we ear
give work to a very large majority oi
those remaining in the state. But j
is quite impossible for us 10 agree tC
employ all striking miners who have
not been found guilty Of violence"
The operators objected both t.
grievance committees and to the pro
posed federal grievance commission
/ OF the latter proposal, the letter said.
The unlimited authority Of this
proposed commission Of three persons
Z to be appointed by the president OF
the United States practically puts the
lentire control Of the most important
department Of our business in its
hands. Its power TO control the con-
duet Of our business far exceeds any
Of the demands of the United Mine
Workers of America A commission
with such powers has never before.
to cur knowledge. existed or been sug-
Eested The Interstate Commerce
commission, with all its extensive
powers for the regulation Of railroads
and railroad business. has no such va
riety or scope Of authority as TINS
! proposed commission. while the deci-
siOns Of the Interstate Commeret
commission are Subject TO review b.
the courts under established rules Of
llaw"