Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-16
The End Of the Strike.

Millions of people are made happy today
by the announcement that the end of the
great coal strike has been practically
achieved through the efforts of President
Roosevelt and the acceptance by both sides
of the principle of arbitration. The end will
come only just in time to prevent acute
distress and possibly serious disorders.
Even now there may be suffering be-
fore the markets can be supplied with
fuel at prices which the poor can af-
ford to'pay The margin between warmth
and winters chill Is very slight at this sea-
son, with the coal bins empty and the mines
in questionable condition to be put at once
upon a full producing basis. But it may
not be doubted that extraordinary efforts
will be made to meet the emergency.
The acceptance of the slightly modified
terms offered by the operators through Mr..
Morgan does credit to the miners, repre-
scented by Mr.. Mitchell. The President has
justified faith in his fairness by naming
commission composed of men who COM
mand confidence. Both sides can rest as
sured of a full, fair investigation of the
Issues between the miners and the mine
owners The recommendations of the COM
mission for the remedy of the situation are
for future consideration. The sole point OF
public interest now is to the immediate
resumption of mining under this modus
vivendi
The country will thank President Roose-
Welt for his action, for his tact in handling
a delicate situation and for his final success
in bringing about a compromise. His was
an unusual move, but the occasion was I'M
usual There were no precedents for his
intervention. but there was none for the
emergency itself. There was no law to re-
inforce his arm, but public sentiment served
instead of law. Failing to persuade the
contending sides TO yield for the sake of
the people, and meeting with insolence from
the operators in reply, he did not desist-
He could not do so unless he was willing
to leave the people to the mercy of the WIN
ter and the stubbornness of the warning
parties. He tried new avenues of approach
and they led finally to success.
While the country rejoices that common
sense and fair play have at last triumphed
over obstinacy, the thought cannot be
avoided that there has been a great waste.
The miners union has at last gained
court of arbitration, but at tremendous
cost. not only to its members, but to the
whole community at large. The operators
have failed in their original contentious,
and at a cost which is to be reckoned In the
tens and perhaps hundreds of millions. The
state of Pennsylvania has suffered in many
ways. The strike has entailed very heavy
expense for military service, its industries
have been checked, It's citizens demoralized,
some of them injured, some killed. But the
heaviest cost of all falls upon the people of
the country, irrespective of their station in
life or their sympathies No man can to-
day accurately compute the cost Of this
strike to the public. 1t will go on paying
its share of the expense as the price Of
coal remains high. 1t will never be repaid
for the sufferhgs in body and mind which
have marked the past five months.
Had the controversy been viewed at the
outset in the proper spirit of compromise
and with proper respect for the para
mount rights of the people all this great
suffering all these heavy losses, would have
been prevented. VIII this lesson, which Is
directly related to the daily life Of millions,
be learned by those who have the welfare
of the country in their custody?