The Tucson citizen., 1902-08-29
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
PLUTOCRATlG lMPERTINENCE.

The reply of President Baer of the
Philadelphia & Reading railroad, to
correspondent who urged him to settle
the coal strike in a Christian spirit is
an extraordinary blending of political
economy and theology. Mr.. Baers
correspondent modestly suggested that
the controversy between the miners
and the operators could be adjusted if
the fundamental principles of. the
Christian religion were applied to the
settlement The railroad president,
in his reply, practically asserts the
divine right of the coal magnates to
control their property as they see' fit.
In fact, according to Mr.. Baer's theory,
they were selected specially by Provi-
dence to own the coal mines, inasmuch
as they belong to that class of Chris
tian men to whom God, in His infinite
wisdom, has given control of the prop
erty interests of the country" Believ-
ing that the present management of
the coal mines was decreed by Provi-
dence, Mr.. Baer exhorts his corre-
spondent to pray earnestly that right
may triumph is, that the divine
ly appointed custodians of the mines
nay win in their contest with the
miners.
There is not the slightest reason to
believe that Mr.. Baer was joking. His
;y, aar Ia
evidently has the courage of his con-
victions. While according him all
credit for his frankness and sincerity,
it is impossible to lose sight of the fact
that humility does not seem to be one
of his virtues. Blessed are the
meek" said the Master, 'for they shall
inherit the earth" The president of the
Philadelphia & Reading railroad will
never be distinguished for meekness,
judging by the confidence with which
he asserts the exclusive title of him
self and those who are identified with
him to the ownership of the Pennsyl-
vania mines and other good things on
this earth. He seems to have no
doubt whatever as to his worthiness
ard that of his fellow operators to act
as trustees for Providence. Indeed
the prevailing note in his letter is one
of self-satisfaction. He has a pro-
found conviction apparently that the
poor are not especially entitled to the
favor of Providence, otherwise they
would have larger share in the prop
erty interests of the country. In fine,
Mr.. Baer would fasten upon the Ruler
of the Universe the responsibility for
conditions which people who do not
mix theology with political economy
account for on very different grounds.
There are many earnest and faithful
believers in the Christian religion who
wll not find it possible to agree with
President Baer. They see that his
logic inevitably leads to the conclusion
that the all-wise Creator is identified
with those economic principles and
practices which men like Mr.. Baer
have utilized so skillfully in amassing
great fortunes and obtaining special
privileges. They do not find in the
great chart of Christianity any war
rant for the Indifference to public needs
which the coal operators have mani
tested. When Mr. Baer assumes that
he and his fellow operators control
the Pennsylvania mines by the favor
OF Providence, one can not help WON
dering whether the president of the
Philadelphia & Reading railroad COM
pany is the victim of delusion. Per-
haps if he would investigate the mat
ter more closely, Mr.. Baer would find
that there is a flaw in his title and
that the trusteeship which he regards
as the work of Providence has no exist
ence except in his imagination What
ever the facts may be, it is hoped that
President Baer and those Christian
men ho control the property inter
ests Of the country" do not claim a
monopoly of religion as well as prop
eTty. The poor, the Scriptures tell us,
will always be with us. They have
found compensation for their poverty
in the promise of happiness in the
world to come. Let us hope that our
pious plutocrats will not monopolize
all the piety in the universe and deny
to the poor the solace of religion.
There is nothing in President Baer's
letter to indicate that such a calamity
is threatened, but gentlemen who
claim all the material things on the
globe by reason of their surprising
Christian virtues are fully equal to
establishing a community of interest
in spiritual affairs.