The Washington times., 1902-10-09
PRESIDENT WITHOUT
WORD FROM MITCHELL

WORD FROM MITCHELL
last night the letter which John Mitch
ell says he has written. according to
the dispatches from Wilkesbarre. de-
clining TO accede to the Presidents re-
quest TO orde- the striking miners in
the anthracite coal region to return to
work.
Mr. Mitchell's refusal seems to leave
the President no other advisory func-
tion TO perform in his efforts to stop
the strike. AS the Presidents legal adj
visers have declared themselves unable.
after the most exhaustive investigation.
to discover any executive authority that
may be exerted by the President to re-
lieve the situation. the status of the
strike has been practically unchanged
by the unofficial Intervention of the Ad-
ministration.
Though President Roosevelt appealed
in vain last week to the railroad man.
ayers and mine owners to grant con-
cossions to the strikers, it was thought.
or at least hoped, that when he made
a similar appeal to the strikers they
would make favorable response and
thus have the benefit of increased kind
ly personal feeling in high places at
Washington in any future action that
! may be proposed in Congress.
But the refusal of Mr. Mitchell, pres
ident of the Nine Workers Union. to
take President Roosevelt's advice places
the miners en- plane with the coal
magnates, so far as the element of good
feeling is concerned.
Little Faith in Congress.
Mr.. Mitchell realizes that President
Roosevelt, in proffering his good Offices,
has been actuated by no other motives
than those dictated by the pest inter-
ests of the country. At the same time
1t is believed that among the reasons
to continue the strike is his doubt that
the Chief Executive would be able TO
get through Congress any adequate form
of legislative relief suggested.
1t is said that President Roosevelt s
failure at the recent session of Con-
sidered by the strike leaders as evil
dence of lack of influence over the
lawmakers and as furnishing no suffi-
cient guarantee of the Presidents
power to make his promise good.
In this view of the question it is
ol,xio,c bof tho cfrilfa laada,c would
not be convinced of prospective favor
able Congressional action this Xinter
even should the Presidents promise be
accompanied by assurances from the
titular-leaders of both houses that they
would heartily support any measure of
relief recommended by him. it is re-
called that in his determined efforts for
Cuba at the last session the President
had the solid backing of the recognized
leaders of the Senate and House-or at
least they made the President believe
that they we're heartily supporting his
Cuban policy.
Presidents Efforts End.
1t therefore seems entirely probable
that President Roosevelt. if he is I'M
able to again exert his advisory pre-
negatives, can do nothing more toward
ending the strike. If an early settle
ment is effected or any other sort of
even temporarily of anthracite produc-
tion 1t Will be due most probably to
the intervention of the Pennsylvania au-
thorities
The entire available military force of
that State is now modified in the dis
turbed district for the protection of ev-
erybody who wants to work in the mines
and otherwise to preserve order and
protect property. There is a very Sc
rious doubt, however, SIS to the efficacy
of this action On the part of Governor
Stone.
Under the statutes of Pennsylvania no
unlicensed coal miner can work in that
State, and he must reside in the State
for license. Hence the railroads and
operators cannot import miners into the
State to take the places of the strikers.
When the railroad presidents and mine
operators attended the conference called
by President Roosevelt last week they
told him that between 1900 and 90, 600
men would pc ready and willing to work
If the necessary military protection was
afforded them. The strike leaders claim
they can prevent breaks from their
ranks, and that at most there are only a
few thousand qualified miners ready to
return.
Many Mines Flooded.
But they also say that even if the
operators actually had as many men as
they claim to have and these men should
go to work Immediately they could not
produce coal enough in many weeks TO
supply the demand. Many of the mines
are flooded and will have to be drained
or pumped out before they can be
worked. This will require considera-
bic time, and, of course, seriously in
terfere with the production of an ado