Middletown transcript., 1902-10-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, October 18th, 1902.


- coal strike, held in New York, which
was participated in by Governor Odell,
Senators Platt, Quay and Penrose and
Preside, Baer for the operators, came
to nauyht and the coal situation is dis
couraging, the President is still working
on the problem. He has incurred the
enmity of the operators because they be-
lieve that he sides with the miners and
he has incurred the enmity of some of
the labor organizations, who criticise his
last proposition to President Mitchell.
As matter of fact, Mr.. Roosevelt is not
concerned with the interests of either the
miners or their employers. He believes
that the prolongation of the strike will
mean suffering to great number of in
nocent people and, in the simple cause
of humanity, he is doing all in his power
to end the strike. Certain politicians say
that he would have done better to leave
the situation alone, that he will get little
thanks and much blame before he gets
through with it, but he saws he is not
working for himself but for the people
whose representative he is. 1t is at least
certain that the President will appoint
commission to investigate the situation in
the anthracite region, as he feels that he
must have light on the situation before
he communicates with Congress at the
opening of the session. In the meantime,
he is urging Attorney General Knox to
bend every energy to ascertain some
legal method for dissipating the ''intoler-
able situation" If Gov. Stone calls on
him for federal troops he will gladly re-
spond. He feels that order must be pre-
served although he believes the militia
will prove sufficient to accomplish that
end. Adiutant-General Stewart and Gen
eral Gorbin, of Pennsylvania, called at
the White House one evening recently
and explained the situation to the Presi-
dent. They assured him that the ae-
ports of disorder were greatly exaggerated
by sensational newspaper correspondents
and that their forces were amply able to
cope with the situation at present.
~
In the meantime, Secretary Shaw has
rendered a decision which is taken to
mean that Welsh coal is to be admitted
duty free. Arrangements will be made
at the ports to examine the coal as soon
as the vessels carrying it are docked and
admission will be promptly granted. OF
course it will be impossible to put whole
shiploads of coal through a chemical anal
ysis, but under the circumstances the
collectors will exercise reasonable discre-
ton and will admit all coal that seems to
be practically softer than that which the
law provides must pay duty. This will
save the importers 81 cents per long ton,
the tariff on coal containing less than 90
per cent. "fxed carbon"
~
The assumed arbitrary position Of
American naval officers together with
sensational newspaper reports have made
it necessary for Secretary Hay to the COL
ombian government that the United
States has no designs on the isthmus other
than the protection of American property
and the enforced neutrality of the Pan
anna railroad. Rear Admiral Casey issued
an order to the effect that Colombian
troops and supplies could not be trans
ported by the railroad when their pres
ence was likely to precipitate an attack
by the insurgents and this order was mis-
interpreted, in Bogota, to mean that the
Colombian government was denied all
use of the railroad. Secretary Hay has
called attention to this misinterpretation
and has renewed assurances of the impair
tiality of this government. 1t is hoped
that his explanation will allay all suspic
ion of the United States in Bogota.
~
The situation in Cuba is causing con-
siderable anxiety to the administration.
Evidences are multiplying that the Re-
public is drifting away from the United
States and is courting closer relations with
German and other European powers.
The treaty which was to embody the pro-
visions of the Platt amendment has been
completed by Secretary Hay and Minister
Quesada and has been forwarded to Ha-
vana but it receives no consideration by
the Cuban government. 1t is impossible
for the State Department to secure any
expression in regard to it. If the Cubans
would indicate any Objectionable provis-
ions in regard to it. If the Cubans
would indicate any Objectionable provis-
ions in the treaty they might be made
the basis for further negotiations but
they do not. Neither do they indicate
that they have any objection to accepting
the treaty as it stands, but they postpone
action and, meanwhile, in many minor
instances they have violated its provisions.
No pressure will be exerted on Cuba for
the present, however. 1t is believed that
Cuba is herself the greatest sufferer from
the continuation of the present anomo-
! lous condition of her relation with the
United States and it is hoped that inter-
nal pressure will soon force ratification.
With the convening of Congress the
subject will be revived apropos of Cuban
Reciprocity and then definite action will
probably be taken.