Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-04
Drastic Measures Must Back JUS

| The president of the United States,
as the highest representative of the
people, has heard both sides of the
anthracite coal controversy. He has
seen the high officials of the contend
ing forces, and has had them before
him, obedient to his reasonable re-
quest. with view to amicably adj
justing the long impending difficult
ties. He has earnestly urged both
sides alike to sink all feelings in the
matter i'm the interests of the people.
who are to be the real sufferers from
the prolonged struggle.
In substance this is what happened
at yesterdays conference at the
White House:
I. President Roosevelt read to the
conferees his appeal for peace in be-
half of the public.
>. President Mitchell on behalf of
the miners responded with proposal
that the men would go back to work
at once and leave the question of new
wages to President Roosevelt and a
commission to be appointed by him.
asking only that the representatives
of the mining corporations also bind
themselves to accept the verdict.
;. This was scOrnfully rejected by
all the corporation managers, each
of whom declared that he would
have nothing TO do with any PROPOSE
ton emanating from John Mitchell
or the miners union.
!. The only semblance of propo-
sition made by the railway presidents
was that the miners first return to
| han ind l.
an organization. present their griev-
ances to- the mine bosses. If the
mine bosses could not adjust them
the companies would agree to have
them referred to the judges of the
common pleas courts. But in no
case was there to be any business
dealings with the union.
). Then the railway presidents
made a violent personal attack upon
President Mitchell and the Mine
| Workers union. charging them with
completely in disorder and murder in
the coal region.
g. The railway presidents also
turned on President Roosevelt and
demanded of him that he send fed
eral troops to the anthracite field,
COUGHING their demand in language
which President Roosevelt himself re-
scented as impertinent and offensive.
The president found the humble.
unassuming representative of the
miners, youthful but inspired with
the true spirit of manhood, glad of
the opportunity to treat with his op-
ponents, respectful in his demeanor
toward them and conciliatory in
every respect, willing to end the
strife then and there by ordering his
men back to work and leaving the
righteousness of the issue-and abide
by the result-to be determined by
the president of the United States or
any authority in whom he might vest
the right to weigh the merits of the
case. The president on the other
hand found the coal representatives
uncompromising. intollerant, abusive
of their opponent and dictatorial to
the bounds of impotence to the presi-
dent himself.
He soon found in the attitude of
the coal barons that such thing as
peace Impossible where but one
side will consent to moderation, even
in response to the appeal of the pres
ident of the United States. The APP
peals to patriotism having thus
failed, there can be but one position
of the people of this country should
the president in their interest adopt
more practical as well as more dras-
tic measures.
If President Roosevelt undertakes
TO teach the coal barons, including
the divinely anointed Baer, that they
do not own the earth or the deposits
placed in it by the Creator for the
uses and comforts of all mankind, he
will find the people with one accord