Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-11-18
WILL THEY FLY THE TRACK?

The papers yesterday were t>he-
mently denying the reports Of those OF
the day before TO the effect that the
mine owners contemplate refusal to
abide by the decision of the arbitra-
tors, In case 1t shall involve any recog-
milton of the union.
The searching cross-examinatlon
which Mr.. Mitchell has been under
going for some days past, ut the hands
OF the operators lawyers, seems to
Indicate an extreme bitterness of spirit,
and some purpose not apparent when
applied simply to a redress of the al
legged grievances Of the miners.
The most significant intimation, how
ever IN. the direction of the reported
disposition on the part OF the mine
owners not to accept honorably the
award Of a tribunal to which they
have ostensibiy submitted the mat
ters Of differences between themselves
and their employees, and to take
possible advantage Of u technicality,
is found In leading editorial of the
New York Sun in It's issue of Sunday.
The Sun Is not only the thick-and-
thin defender of trusts, but all through
the weary coal strike 1t insisted that
the operators were quite right in refus-
ing to enter into any treaty whatever
with the miners; that they had nothing
to- arbltrate, that the only consti-
tutional function the President had
to perform In the matter was to COM
ply with the demand of Mr.. Baer by
calling out the federal troops, and
that the simple duty Of the latter was
to shoot down disorderly strikers, like
20 many wolves. The editorial In ques-
tion deals with Mr.. Roosevelt very
slightingly, to say the least, and there
is in II, apparently, studied purpose
to belittle and disparage his efforts to
compose the unhappy differences be.
tween the mlne-owners and their work
men; in fact 1t is an ill-concealed sneer
at the Presidents good offices in the
matter, when 1t compares these with
the work of game warden"
In the article referred to the Sur
used this very suggestive language;
THE plain truth Is that th'
Anthracite Strike Commission has NJ
legal status nt all. Theodore Roose
welt, as President of the United States
had no authority to appoint 1t. II
making the appointments he acted a
an individual and not as President
These appointments mighs just as wei
have been made, SO far as ofiicia
character is concerned, by persol
holding the Office of Coroner or gam
warden. Nor do the members of tn
Commission act officially In passin
upon the matters submitted for thei
determination They have no powe
to enforce the attendance Of witnesses
or TO examine witnesses under oatl
and their decision, whntever II ma
he, must depend upon the acqulescenc
OF the parties for It's enforcement
When that decision Ia rendered, eithe
party Is entirely at liberty, so far a
the law Is concerned, to disregard Il
Neither the President nor any othe
officer of the nation or OF any Stat
can compel obedience to the determins
tion OF the Commission. The Who'll
scheme, in origin, administration an
effect, Is outside the law; and tn
United Nine Workers OF America, n
we'll ms the coal operators, are q
liberty to Ignore any recommendatlo
or so-called Judgment OF the Con
lpissioners, IL they sec at so to DO.
There are many people who dout
the propriety of such action as NJ
Roosevelt has taken In this matt,
because they feel that the lnfiuen,
Of the Presidential office ought M
10 be exercised In proposing or promo
Ing method of adjusting grei
public controversy by n proceedin
which cannot result In an adjustmeI
capable Of being legally enforced"
And then. as II getting ready