Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1902-10-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
President Roosevelt Takes Hand in
the Great Coal Strike.
The striking diversity of interests
aud economical conditions as we'll as
variety in physical conditions OF our
great country were never more en-.
emphasized than to-day In the
west a couple weeks AGO we saw no
immedia te want ahead Of us on ac-.
count OF the coal strike, but in the
east at the same time the fuel situa-
tion Was rapidly reaching an acute
stage. The short supply Of coal in
this section of the United States was
regarded, aud justly 50, as menac-
ing calamity. 1t would mean united
suffering among those who have only
liked incomes, and among ten ement
classes, because the high prices Incl
dent to the scarsity of supply, OF
this commodity, are simple prohibi-
tive to these classes. A prolonga-
tion OF the causes creating these con-
ditions would involve the nation in
a disaster the awful ends and conse-
quences OF which no one could possi-
bly, predict. Indeed the outlook for
the poor is already black and forbid
ding. 1t was therefore, not at all
surprising, that President Roose-
velt, anxious for the welfare of poor
and rich alike, called a conference OF
the contending parties at the tempo
rary White House. According to
two OF the best lawyers in America,
Secretary OF War Root nd Attorney
General Knox, the President pos.
sessed no legal or official power by.
which he could force the solution OF
this grave problem. All he could do
was to exert a moral suasion and the
influence of his great Office to the end
that the difference between the part
les might be adjusted.
The first OF this series OF confer
ences was held last Friday at IL a.
N. and the second on the same day.
at 3 O'Clock. The three Interested
parties were present-the public,
with President Roosevelt as their
proxy; the miners represented by Mr..
Mitchell and the mine owners in the
persons of the six railroad presidents
and mine operators.
The statement of the peoples case
was admirably and most fercibly
stated by the president. He did not
mince the words in the least but de-
clared that the situation had be-
come 'intolerable,' and asked both
parties to the strike that personal
disIikes and ambitions be laid aside
to save the people from a fuel fam
inc. As soon as the President had
concluded his appeal, brief, pointed
aud eloquent, MIR. Mitchell, Presi-
dent of the United Mail Workers OF
America announced his Willingness
to submit the case for arbitration,
either to the president or to trib-
unal appointed by the president, and
that his organization would abide by
che terms Of that award whether for
or against them, and that the miners
would return to work while waiting
the findings of that arbitration
board. The president thereupon
turned to the capitalists and asked
if that proposition was acceptable to
them. Their answer was a scornful
mo"
At this stage the president indi-
Gated his desire to meet the gentle
men in the afternoon, and that he
then would hear formal answers.
The conference met at 3:15 D. m.
and each one of the COME rees read
a reply. 1t was noticeable that the
capitalists entertained cordial
hatred for all that is called organ
lied labor, as their answers we're
little more than a series OF TRADES of
abuse both OF Mr.. Mitchell person.
ally and the organization he repre-
sents.
In contradistinction to the silly
and arrogant stuff these capitalists
delivered themselves OF was the dig
nified and conservative statement of
Mr.. Mitchell. He seemed to be seri-
ously impressed with the consequent