The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-10
FAILURE OF THE STRIKE con-
FERENCE.

AS&@~
on Thursday between the president and
| the parties to the labor contest in tee
hard coal fields OF Pennsylvania re-
suited in a complete failure on tn part
of the former TO even open a way 10
eventual settlement Of the dispute. The
ing the presidents proposals and the
| offer Of the strike leaders lacked little
OF being very diScourteous to the presI-
dent. and certainly were rude and in
sulting to Mr.. Mitchell and the other
! representatives Of the Miners present.
The ooal operators did not even have
the grace to give the President credit
for taking an interest in the deplorabIe
condition Of affairs the long strike has
brought about. Their conduct was a
rebuke to the president as wouid-ne
peacemaker, a defiance Of the American.
people and an exhibition of utter dis
regard of their rights and privileges,
as well as of the suffering which a
continuance of present conditions Will
bring to thousands of people. They
oil uIlSOIIdltlOIdl SURRENDER
or the strikers Is a union body. No
matter what grievances there might
be they would not agree to treat with
them or any body else in their behalf.
They went further md, by implication.
charged h president with dereliction
of duty in not using the military forces
OF the federal in protect
ing them in the working of their
miners.
The fact that the president has taken
up the matter with the view of settling
n labor war seems to have angered
the coal barons and railroad presidents
President Baer evidently let his tempe,
get the better of him and forgot the
respect due to the president of this
great nation when in his. answer to the
latter's proposal he said:
They can only work under the pro-
lection of armed guards. Thousands of
other are deferred from work
ing by the intimidation, violence. and
crime inaugurated by the United Mine
workers, over whom John Mitchell.
whom you invited to meet you is chief.
Inc government is a contemplate
failure if it can only protect the lives
and property, and secure the comfort
of the people by compromising with the
violators of laws and the intigators Of
violence and crime"
John Markle, representing the indie
pendent GAL operators, was
in demanding of the president that ne
violate the constitution by sending
federal troops to the scene and thus
"quelch the anarchistic condition of
affairs existing in THE anthracite coal
itary at your command" His uues-
ton: Are you asking us to deal with
a set of outIaws?" was almost as in
sulting to the president and to Mr..
Mitchell, present at the invitation OF
Mr.. Roosevelt. as was the language of
Mr. Baer
Such was the treatment of the presi-
dent at the hands of these representa-
tives of the coal combination, because
he had, in the interest of the people,.
undertaken ito do what he considered
his duty in an effort to prevent a great
disaster. Their conduct was overbear-
ing and the language insolent. III
great contrast to this were the words
and manne of President Mitchell. In
the face of abuse and charges of being
the leader of anarchists and murder
ers. he was dignified and courteous. He
made no threats. demanded nothing,
but simply proposed to leave the quea
tions at issue to a tribunal
of President Roosevelt and such other
men as the latter should select. and to
abide by their decision.
This attempt of President Roosevelt
to bring about a settlement of the
strike seems to be the last resort for
an amicable agreement. and as it has
selves: What Next? Now are they
brought face to face with the appalling
fact that it must be a fight to the
death. The situation is indeed des-
perate. The coal operators are deter
mined not to yield an inch. The strik-
ers are equally as determined and are
growing more desperate and. conse-
quently more lawlesS every day. The
utter failure of the president to accom-
plish anything through this conference
with the operators and the attitude
assumed by the latter at that inter
view will d fue to the flames al
ready burning SO fiercely in the an
thracite district and they will some
day burst suddenly into a great on
flagration-just what the coal barons
seem to want 1t seems To be their de-
sire to drive the strikers to such law
less action that the strong arm OF the
military will have to interfere TO such
an extent as to utterly crush the union
laborerS.
The dispute has passed beyond the
question whether the strikers have any
grievances or not. 1t is now one of
life and death Of the miners union.
That is the only point at issue and the