The Somerset reporter., 1902-10-02
The Coal Situation.

1nS OOdl SlIudllOns
The situation in regard to supply OF
coal for use as fuel and power IN this
part of the country has long been a
serious problem and is now with the
coming of cold weather, fast approach
ing the alarming stage. Even If the
strike in the anthracite region can be
Immediately broken and normal produc.
ton begin, the supply of coal must be
short all through New England at least,
owing to the difficulty of getting the
coal transported fast enough to supply
the demand. If, however, the suspen-
sion of production is not broken very
soon the condition OF people in Boston
and New England cities generally will
be something fearful to contemplate.
1t is stated that an attempt Is to be
made to find solution of the coal prob
lem through a bill in equity in the
United States courts putting an iniunc-
ton upon mine owners, placing the
property In the hands of receivers to be
operated for the benefit of the public
as we'll as the owners. The trouble
with this method, 1t appears to US, is the
usual delay attending legal processes.
Unless these delays can be avoided re-
lief cannot come in time to meet the
emergency.
President Roosevelt on Tuesday, took
initiative steps to ascertain what, if
anything, could be done by federal au-
thorities to settle the coal strike. The
outcome of the discussion was that
there was a lack of the power in the
federal administration to take any action
at the present stage of the strike, al
though the seriousness of the coal
famine now, and the much greater evils
soon to follow were considered at length
and with wish to discover some meth
cd of ending the industrial deadlock.
President Baer was asked, Tuesday,
if there would be enough coal in that
city to supply the demand before winter
sets in, and replied that there would be
plenty of coal in New York before win
ter sets in. People would be very glad
to be certain of this.
If there is any legal remedy against
these arrogant coal operators and rail-
road magnates who will tolerate no
listen to no advice nor
submit to arbitration, and who have no
regard for the welfare of millions of
people, this remedy ought to be invoked
at the earliest possible time. The
miners may be at fault, probably are in
a measure, but they were willing to
submit their cause to arbitration at the
inception of the trouble, and, had the
operators agreed to this, the country
might have been saved the great calam-
ity that is now imminent
We trust Congress when it meets in
December will be able to enact a law
that will meet emergencies like this,
and rot allow the country to be held up
again by the obstinate action of labor
trust on one hand, and coal trust on
the other.
President Roosevelt after a meeting
with his cabinet officers, Tuesday and
Wednesday has addressed statement
in the form of letter to presidents of
coal carrying roads and John Mitchell,
president of the Miners Union invited
them to meet him on Friday of this week
for a conference. The president will
lay before his hearers the situation as it
appears to him with all the prospective
horrors that will follow a fuel famine,
and will urge them in the interests of
to open the mines and supply
the demand for coal.
The president has taken this action
because he feels it his duty as the chief
executive of the nation, to do so, but he
has no powers of compulsion to bring
into play against either side and must
rely upon his persuasive abilities. The
outcome of this meeting is awaited with
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