The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-06
QUESTION OF THE DAY.
What Should the President Do
in Strike Matter.

Chicago, Oct. 6-The question What
should the president do next in regard
to the coal strike; what is his duty? is
answered for the Chicago Tribune by
many of the foremost men in the coun-
try.
In order to set before its readers the
views of the best known men in the ma
ton, the Tribune telegraphed many of
the foremost among the country 5
statesmen, educators, lawyers, clergy
men. business men, and men in other
walks of life asking their ideas.
/ Some of the replies received follow:
DUTY is TO SUPPRESS VIOLENCE.
| Rhineclif, N. UT is, in my opinion,
clearly the duty of the president. when
called upon by the state authorities. to
suppress domestic violence and protect
| life and property. LEVI P. MORTON,
Former Vice President of the United
| States.
STATE OWNERSHIP IS BEST.
Boston. Mass.-I favor state owner
| ship OF the coal mines.
EDWARD EVERETT HALE,
Author and Minister
| PROBLEM A DIFFICULT ONE.
Dubuque lathe problem is difficult.
hope the president and his advisers,
who now have the facts, can find the
solution. They have studied the ques-
lions involved. and can be relied on to
do the best possible.
w B. ALLISON,
United States Senator from Iowa.
STRAINED TO DANGER LIMIT.
Atkinson, Wis.-In my opinion the
president should do all within his legal
power and to the full extent of his great
influence to settle the coal strike. The
temper of the people is strained to the
danger limit. The obstinacy of the coal
barons has opened the eyes of the coun-
try to the selfish inhumanity. and indif-
ference to public interest which may be
said to have characterized their course
in this srilxe from the beginning. If I'M
der the present limited power of national
government we have no authority to
deal with a situation like this it is time
a remedy was provided. The present
condition sounds a clear note of warn
ing to the people as to what they may
expect from the trusts in general when
once they have accomplished their pur-
pose in the establishment of commercial
slavery. 1 deem it almost providential
that at this critical period we have
president whose ssympathies. marked
ability and splendid courage is so
strongly enlisted on the side of the peo-
pie. w. D. HOARD,
Ex-Governor of Wisconsin.
COAL A PUBLIC NECESSITY.
Champaign Il.-In my opinion the
president has well served the public by
calling the miners and operators into
conference with him and so making
claer to them the great interests of the
country in their controversy. l think
he may properly see whether the state
of Pennsylvania is adequately protect
ing property and the natural right of
the individual man to work at whatever
wage he pleases without mOlestatiOn.
If the state is not doing this l think the
president should use his federal power
to do it. / also think the president may
well inquire whether the operators are
not making unreasonable profits upon
their capital invested and so depressing
the miner and unduly taxing the pub
lie In a word, coal is a common neces-
city and coal mining has come to be a
national question, and the president
may well exercise his strenuosity in SO
regarding it A. S. DRAPER,
President University of Illinois.
STONE MUST DO HIS DUTY.
New York-Covernor Stone should do
his simple duty-Drotect life and prop
erty and the right to- labor. If he can
not do it alone he should ask the pres
ident to kelp him with the full power
of the United States
MINOT J. SAVAGE,
Unitarian Clergyman and Author
SUGGESTS SEPARTE ACTION.
Detroit Mich.-Et is evident from the
outcome of the conference at the White
mine owners and officials of the labor
ORE nizations arc not possible. Nor do
[ believe legislation will be practicable
on account Of the time it would take to
enact and put into force laws to meet
the emergency, with the probability that
any law enacted would go to the courts
and thus corsuEne time and keep the
country in suspense as to the final out
come
Today the .aborer and the consumer
are suffering, which suffering must in
crease as time goes on and cold weather
finds the consumer with his little supply
of coal gone and knowing not where to
replenish it. I offer this suggestion, and
this without personal acquaintance
with the PARTIES on either side Let the