The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-07
THE COAL STRIKE SITUATION.

THE COAL STRIKE SITUATION.
The failure of the President to
bring about settlement of the coal
strike at the Washington conference
has not. it seems. entirely disheart-
ened him. The advices are that he
intends to make another trial. though
there is nothing definite as to what he
intends to do. 1t is thought probable
that he will ask Gov. Stone of Penn
sylvania TO call an extra session of
the Legislature, if he has not already
done 50. with the hope that a way
wiz be found by that body for OPP
Grating the coal mines, and that he
will also promise to the strikers to
use all his influence to have Congress
consider their grievances as soon as
it meets in December
OF course there is nothing certain
in these surmises mentioned in the
dispatches. A conference of members
of the cabinet was held on Sunday.
but no word has been given out as to
what was done. Judging from the
Presidents character one thing is quite
certain, and that is that he will not
cease trying as long as there is hope
of accomplishing something. He be-
lieves that the country is in the pres
ence of great calamity, and there
is ground for this belief. It seems
that in England there is talk that this
coal strike is going to be a pretty
severe test of republican institutions.
OF course there is no such feeling in
this country. Still the fact cannot
be hidden that the situation is very
serious.
If only the anthracite coal region
were involved there would be no &C
casion for uneasiness, but the near
approach Of winter means that the
lack of fuel is going to breed dlscon-
tent among the toiling masses. Be
sides, to add to the discomfort the
price of bread will be advanced. and
on account of the lack of fuel factories
will be stopped and tens of thousands
of people thrown out of employment.
What would be the situation in New
York, for instance. if the prices of
fuel and bread We're such as TO bring
actual want into the homes of the
toiling masses, and it, in addition.
thousands of the city's population
should be thrown out of employment
because of the impossibility of the
factories continuing in operation
And there are other cities Which are
wifi oe
almost as bad as that of New York
If the President should make an
appeal to the strikers to resume work
on the promise that the Pennsylvania
Legislature and Congress will give
their grievances the earliest POSSIBLE
attention. it is far from certain that
the response of the strikers would be
favorable. Indeed. the indications are
that it would not be. Believing T.
are masters Of the situation ana ne
only 10 remain firm to win a sub
stantial victory. the strikers would
doubtless reject anything but actual
concessions.
1t may be that if all the forces are put
to work it will be possible to get coal
from Wales, Canada and soft coal from
the West and South to prevent actual
suffering and to keep factories run
ming. but the difficulties in getting
along with soft coal in stoves and fur
naces made for hard coal will be pro-
ductive of spirit OF bitterness and
discomfort that will show itself in de-
mands foI legislation placing severe
restrictions on trusts.
A great meeting is to be held IN Ney
York City next Thursday night M
that meeting something Of the feeling
against trusts will show itself. Tnis
coal strike has done more to create.
sentiment in behalf of legislation fer
the ccnlrol OF trusts than years OF
agitation could do.