The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-10
TEE STRIKE SITUATION.

Il
When the coal operators insultingiy re-
jected the overtures of President Roose
Welt it was a waste of time and effort for
any organization or any public meeting to
attempt to influence those autocrats. The
President spoke for the American people,
consequently no organization or meeting
will have any effect Therefore, no one is
surprised that not one of the operators
appeared before the committee of the Man
ufacturers' Association on Wednesday, aft
er It had gone to Philadelphia to meet
them. The meeting at Detroit can accom-
plish nothing. 1t will make known it's in
dignation in speech and state it's desires
and remedies in resolutions, but it will
not influence the half dozen anthracite
operators. They are beyond the reach of
any influence. unless some power In Wall
street shall be led to order the mine oper-
ators to settle the trouble at once.
1t is a season of rumors. Every move
on both sides is watched with eager in
terest, and any report of the most mag
NATIVE person as to meetings and confer
ences attracts attention. The one hope
is In the presence Of the troops. The oper-
ators declare they can mine coal If they
have adequate protection for those who
desire to work. The miners officials are
Indifferent as to the presence of troops, be-
cause they are confident that not enough
men will return to start the mining of coal.
The latest reports of President Mitchell
lead to the conclusion that the strikers
will not be affected by the presence of the
troops. If the strikers do not go back the
mine operators are beaten, because the
strikers are the only skilled workmen hold
ing the certificates which make the en-
ployment of miners possible. Heretofore
the operators could import new men to
work the mines. Now the law requiring
| that each miner have a certificate of two
years experience shuts out inexperienced
men. If the miners do not go back very
soon after the appearance of the troops,
what will the operators do? They prom
| Used to mine coal If given protection; If,
| when protection is given, they cannot keep
| their word to the President and the coun-
| try, will they continue to defy public senti-
ment? The general opinion is that they
will yield.
If the operators yield under such condi-
tions. all the satisfaction they can have
is that they fought the battle to the bit
| ter end That will be small satisfaction
when they contemplate the hostile atti-
| tude of the American people toward them
Months ago the slightest concession would
those who are familiar with the situation
| declare that they were willing that there
should be temporary strike that the stock
of coal on hand might be disposed of. Even
when the price of fuel had been doubled
the half dozen autocrats persisted. They
turned a deaf ear to every appeal. 1t was
a dispute of easy adjustment, but these few
individuals scorned every effort to secure
arbitration, almost rudely rebufflng the at
tempt of the President to bring about an
| adjustment.
During the past week the tide Of public
sentiment has turned against the operators
as IT has never before set against any set
of men in this country. Even their de-
tenders in New York and PHILADELPHIA
have been silenced. When the trouble
shall be over the American people will
remember that the coal operators jeopar-
died the unexampled prosperity with which
the country has been blessed for the past
few years. They will recall that during a
period of almost universal contentment a
half dozen men convulsed the public peace
bred discomfort and brought anxiety and
suffering to hundreds of thousands. The
conservative element of the country will
hold those individuals responsible for a
combination of circumstances which unset
tied the minds Of thousands and led them
to consider theories which are menace
to government.