The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-14
uR. KErsER on THE STRIKE.
He approve. An Article by Bishop
Talbot. of Pennsylvania.
CBal,imor SUM-

(Baltimors SUM-
Messrs Editor: The accompanying
letter OF Bishop Talbot. OF Central
Pennsylvania. to my mind so clearly
and fairly states the issues involved In
the d~eplorable strike prevailing In the
anthracite pal region. which has al
ready caused so much loss throughout
the length and breadth % the land, and
which now threatens. unles promptly
settled to infiict untold suffering upon
helpless communities. that / venture to
send IL TO you with the hope you Will
Insert il in the columns OF your valua-
bic paper h facts as stated. and the
views expressed by the Bishop are. /
am convinced. correct. Aay othsr set
Element OF this controversy ether than
that determined upon b. the owners OF
The mines can. in my iadSmeat. have
but one result. the total subversica OF
all ~ell-recognized business principles
and the cowardIy surrender OF inai:ea-
able rights, 10 mainta in which no sac
rance can be too great and NJ financial
loss worthy OF Consids ratioa- II CCr-
= the demands OF those protesting
10 represent the miner 5 can nave but
one result. Discord ana anarchy. UndI
the matter in dispute is settled upon
correct business princtI les IL Is futile
TO expect peace and Ia rmony in this
distracted region l thin * the letter /
inclose presents the issus so fairly and
comes from a source so c. pable OF FORM
ing q correct opinion, free from political
Or extraneous bias, hat 1T will be OF
WM KEYsEK.
BISHOP TALBOT'S L. ETTER.
The letter Of Bishop Ia hot referred
TO by Mr.. keyser is too loa g TO be pub
ished in FULL but the follos ing are ex-
tracts from it.-Eds. SUM-
"lnasmuch as the entire anthracite
region is comprised Within the limits
OF my own Diocese of Csntrs Il Pennsyl-
vania. 1 have necessarily hes N more or
less familiar with the condlG ions which
have obtained from b beginning.
Many OF my clergy are loc2 ted in the
mining towns, and We, are fee ling keen
~ the anxiety and d. stress VI hich pre-
vail on every hand
My sympathies. theref, Ore, are
strongly enlisted in bt half OF the thou
sands of miners who, with tn, eir fami-
lies, inevitably suffer as n result of
months passed without age aud any
means Of 81 pport. Whether
the miner is right or ! wrong. he would
be strangely lacking In the instincts
of common humanity who coulc see
what 1 have seen and no. be touched
with a feeling of tende 'rness and con-
passion for those who II iust endure such
hardships. But in c. Onsidering me
whole situation justice { Is we'll as mercy
demands that we bear in mind certain
facts. In the first plat e. the striking
miners precipitated the crisis and went
out at a time when no real grievances
existed which could not have been adj.
justed peaceably. 1t Is I low we'll known
and even expressed by tn cir leaders that
the crux in the whole m after is the re-
cognition OF an orgaufZ ton known as
the Miners Union
No one familiar with the situation
can deny that the great T 1atority of the
men would return to wor k today IL the
fear and intimidation cou Id be removed.
But someone will say, Why not refer
all these questions tn & | ,oard of arbi-
tration chosen by both 81 des? Why do
he operators refuse a re 'asonable and
fair solution of the diffic ulty? In re-
ply it cannot be too plai My said that
the operators are ready and have al
way been ready tn. arbitr ate questions
of wages and condition 4 labor with
their own men, but how { an the ques-
ton of whether a man h Is a right to
conduct his own business be submitted
to arbitration? For Il mi lst be borne
in mind hat the main issu 2 Is not as 20
the method of conducting the business.
nor as to wages and hour s, but as to
whether the management shall be In
the hands Of those who o wn the bust
ness. For the operators TO surrender
this inherent right would be not only
a calamity to all the indust rial interests
of our country. but an inf ringement OF
personal liberty ~repugnant to the genius
and spirit of Am~ericanism.
When will the strike end? Just as
soon as in this free and In he
~monwe of Penns ylvania men
who desire to work and supper their
families can be protected In the exercise
of that right. 1t is devoutly to be mop
ed that this right may be fnatIy estab-
I;chad without the sacrifice of more
lives and property. But vigorous meas
ures are necessary.