The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-29
MR.. 4AnNA AND THE COAL STRIKE.

After posing for many months the only in the
United states with the power and the ability settle
labor strikes Hanna has "sorrowflly' admitted
his total inability to do anything tangible bring
iae end the serious differences which long
existed between the anthracite coal operators and the
mine workmen
q have exhausted all my efforts" Senator Hanna is
quoted saying. 81 have done all in my power and
do win make no further attempt, for it
would be useless"
The truth of an assertion that was generally made
time when the strike commenced, is thus ad.
mitted by the Ohio When it first became ap.
parent that the struggle would be prolonged and that
not only the miners, but the whole people would suffer
result of the eup. certain hysercal newspapers
paraded Mr. Hanna the great and only labor trouble
mediator and predicted that his efforts would
suit in satisfactory settlement OF the annoying con.
ditions precipated by the strike. The conserva
tive press, however pointed that no one man could
produce such far reaching results and Mr.. Hanna
himself has confessed mis- inability to cope with the
situation This fact does not necessarily imply either
lack of effort sincerity his part means simply
that has power sufficient control such mat
tiers, and that long the laws of the country are
allowed to remain in condition which it possible
for great combinations of capital Cypress the people
strikes and labor disturbances of various kinds may
expected.
j. Pierpont Morgan is the who could probably do
more than any other human being toward bringing
the strike to end, but at least one or two oc.
easions since his return from abroad fatty declined
to have anything to do with the matter. Mr. Morgan
exalted position in the world of has caused all
the lesser lights to look to him. He doubt has
interests more less extensive in the coal properties
the employees of which out and could he but he
brought to the point of demanding of the operators
they arbitrate with the miners solution the problem
might be made much easier than II now appears. In
fact Mr.. Morgan Is probably in position order the
operators TO aecede to the of the strikers
of course, he will not do this, Birds of flock
together In financial circles elsewhere and Mr. Nor
gan will stand by the other money kings
Altogether the situation is anything but encouraging
Mr.. Hanna In the interview from which the statements
quoted above taken, frank enough to say that
the struggle would be prolonged that the longer con.
tinued the higher would the price of and that
before the end the people of the country would be
made to suffer great hardships He did hesitate TO
say that there absolutely chance arbitration
long the operators refused to entertain all over
t,res looking in that direction. Under such circnm.
stances It is difficult to place the blame for the
present condition of affairs.
n Here the South of course. the high price of coal
VIII seriously felt for the oil wells OF Texas
and louisiana capable of producing unlimited
quantity of cheap fuel But in the North it Will diff
ferent 1t be that the situation will be productive
good in that the people, having been made see the