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Show UTAH COAL MINERS ASKED TO ARBITRATE The state board of arbitration has expressed a willingness to arbitrate the troubles between the coal miners at Sunnyside and their employers. A telegram to that effect was sent to the leaders of the strikers late yesterday afternoon. The dispatch was not forwarded for-warded until after the members of the board had thoroughly discussed the situation. . During the progress of the meeting ; Governor Wells read two letters. One i was received from the strikers, setting ; forth their- side of the case and asking for protection. The other was the governor's gov-ernor's reply, urging the men to main- i tain order at any cost and making the ! suggestion that the miners and their employers agree to let the board arbitrate arbi-trate the matter. At the conclusion of the meeting Councilman J. S. Daveler, who is secretary sec-retary of the board, sent the following telegram to the strike leaders: Board Agrees to Arbitrate. Salt Lake City. Nov. 19. 1903. Messrs. Crawford and Lee, Sunnyside, Utah: The board of arbitration, after conference confer-ence with Governor WpIIs, tenders its services to settle dispute between the Utah Fuel co.npany and its employes. Come at once to Salt Lake to confer with us. Will you arbitrate? c J. S. DAVELER. Secretary. The letter which Governor Wells received re-ceived from the strike leaders relative to the situation, at Sunnside, reads as follows: Sunnyside, Utah. Nov. 15. 1903. Hebnr M. Wells. Governor of Ctah: Dear Sir: I think it my duty to inform you of the events taking place in Sunnyside. Sunny-side. We. the coal miners of Sunnyside. have decided to ciuit work until such times as the operators decide to recognize recog-nize the United Mine Workers of America. Amer-ica. I wish to bring to your notice an outrage out-rage committed on county road between Sunnnyside and Price. We received telegram tele-gram this morning stating that the organizers or-ganizers would arrive at Sunnyside to- day, wishing to give them a reception, six men were chosen to meet them on the road between Sunnyside and Price. So proceeding with conveyance down the county road about ten miles were met nv armed men (supposed to be employed by Utah Fuel company) and stopped at point of rifles. One of our party was ordered from wagon, and ordered to state our destination and business, and after stating our business was maltreated by these armed men. and ordered to enter wagon; the whole party then being or-dred or-dred back to Sunnyside. We were denied de-nied the right to proceed on our business. I may also state that organizers and two citizens were denied right of county road to proceed any further, and compelled to return to Price. I will further state that everybody here Is obeving the law. There has not been anv unlawful act on part of miners, but we consider that Sheriff Wilcox is taking tak-ing the law in his own hands, matter, as we are Hoping that you will consider this matter, as we are prepared to verify our statements, we remain, yours most truly. ff)l. CRAWFORD. JOSEPH PI PATRICK. ROBERT LEE. D. WILSON, Governor Sanctions Plea. The answer of Governor Wells, which was read at the meeting of the board j yesterday, is as follows: Salt Lake City. Utah. Nov. 17. 1903. Messrs. William Crawford. Joseph L. Patrick. D. Wilson and Robert Lee, Sunnvside, Carbon County, Utah: Gentlemen I have the honor to acknowledge ac-knowledge receipt of your letter, dated Sunnvside, Nov. 15. 1903. informing me that you. as coal 'miners of Sunnyside, had decided to quit work until such time as the Utah Fuel company would recognize recog-nize the association known as the I nitect Mine Workers of America; also complaining complain-ing of an alleged outrage against certain cer-tain coal miners committed on the county road between Sunnyside and Price: and further stating that while everybody at Sunnyside was obeying the law. you consider con-sider that the sheriff is taking the law into his own hand. etc. Replying to these statements. T desire to say that ' I have communicated with tho.shpriff of Carbon county as to your allegations, requiirng full and immediate investigation of the unlawful conduct charged against certain armed men supposed sup-posed to be in the employ of the Utah Fuel company, the facts to be reported to me at once. You may feel entirely assured as-sured that- as far'a lies in my power anv injury or , menace from which the law-abiding people of your vicinity maybe may-be suffering will be. promptly corrected and removed. ' Desiring that this pledge be considered universal in its application, I am compelled com-pelled to inform you tnat complaints have been made to me as to unlawful and threatening conduct on the part of some of the striking coal miners toward the said Utah Fuel company. These complaints com-plaints are in effect that armed bodies of striking miners have been guilty ot disturbing dis-turbing the peace in seeking to coerce non-strikers into leaving their employment, employ-ment, joining the mine workers society, or doing something which seems to be repugnant re-pugnant to them. You will recognize the propriety of my action in referring these charges" to the sheriff for immediate investigation in-vestigation and report. In this connection I will be permittert to say that it is a matter of very great regret to me that the coal miners of Sunnyside are not able to adjust their differences with their employers witnout recourse to-the very doubtful expedient of striking, with the evil consequences that inevitably ensue to both employer and employed from such a course I call your attention to the fact that the state of Utah has dor.e everything in its power to dlsrnify the laboring man and protect him in his lawful rights. The legislature has provided that eight hours shall constitute con-stitute a dav's labor for men who work in underground mines, and this law is rigidly enforced throughout the state. The legislature., in further recognition of the rights, especially of coal miners, and tor their better protection and health and safety has provided for frequent inspections inspec-tions of coal mines by an adequate force of comoetent inspectors, together with a thorough and efficient law patterened after the most approved methods of modern mod-ern times, compelling mine operators to take everv possible precaution for safe-iruarding- the interests of the coal miners. Strikers Owe State Consideration. -"In view of . these facts. I submit that the coal miner's of the state for this protection pro-tection extended to them by the state, owe the state something in return. They-owe They-owe it the duty of being good citizens and conforming to Its laws. Before going out upon a strike, therefore, and precipitating the evil consequences which must be obvious, ob-vious, I submit that if your greivanccs have become Intolerable and your employers em-ployers have refused or failed to redress them, you should have appealed to the authority provided by law for such redress re-dress This authority is the state board of labor, conciliation and arbitration, whose duty it is to adjudicate and. if possible, settle all differences that may arise between employer and employe. Said, board ia at present composed of three well known citizens of the state, especially selected by the governor and confirmed bv thestate senate for their broad-mindedness and experience in such matters. They are John Nicholson, chairman, chair-man, who is neither an employer or em- i ploye of manual labor; Colonel K. A. I Wall, who is an employer of labor, an.l I J. S. Daveler. who is an employe and belongs be-longs to a labor organization. If. you will make proper application i.o I this board and your employer will con- 1 sent to do the same land 1 shall be no less pleased to request them to do to that 1 now am in suggesting it to yoiu. I have no doubt your differences may oe adjusted peaceably and amicably and without the necessity of recourse to the emergency methods you have already undertaken un-dertaken and which it is alleged you ate j insisting your fellow workmen shall ai.-o undertake. "1 am not fully advised as to whether or not your list of grievances have all been adjusted, with the exception "f your insistance that the I'nited -Mine Workers' society shall be recognized (which is the only grievance you hav" seen fit to mention in your letter), but surely this board is competent to arbitrate arbi-trate your difficulties whatever they are. ! and render a just and impartial verui t to which both parties concerned must i--pledged in advance to faithfully abide. your appeal to me suggests this advice, and 1 shall be sinc'rely pleased to hear from you as to the willingness of yourself your-self and the other striking coal niin.-rs to submit their cause to the arbitration ot this board, and await an answer from you upon this proposition, meantime forwarding forward-ing to you. under separate cover, a copy oj the laws of I'tah. l!nl. in which. o page OS. will be found the statute referring refer-ring to this board and its power and operation. op-eration. In conclusion I assure you that the state authority will use every effort to maintain, main-tain, and feels itself entirely competent to maintain, law and order in and about the coal mines at Sunny-side, and to fully protect the rights of the citizens of that part of the state: and as governor, charged with the enforcement of the laws and the maintenance of the public peace. 1 call upon you and your fellow workmen to refrain from every act of violence or disturbance of the peace and good order of the community in which you reside, until such time as your differences maybe may-be adjusted. J have the honor to b very respectfully, HKHKR M. WELLS. Governor of I'tah. . |