New-York tribune., 1902-10-17
TIE SETTLEMENT.

NO oOubI remains Ihat the strike l. ABOUT ~
he officially declared at an end, and that the
mining of coal on large scale will he resumed
within few days. 1t is announced that the
formal resolution to effect that object must he
adopted by a convention of miners, but this
does not signify policy of delay, with posi-
bility that the terms TO which Mr. Mitchell con
sented on Wednesday night may be rejected
He has consistently refrained from assuming
final authority. and the course which he has
now taken to put the question TO A vote is the
one which he has always said was necessary
under the rules of the union. But al the same
time the fact is clear that. if any dissatisfac
ton with the final scheme Of arbitration still
exists among the strikers il is of no practical
consequence. Most of them are apparently con
tented, as they have ample reason TO be, and
in any case their leaders advice will be fol-
lowed 10 the letter II is not too soon 10 say.
therefore, that a great calamity has been
averted. Al imperious public need will he sup
piled with the least possible delay. and it is
probable that within a few weeks coal will he
selling at price little above the normal
For this immense relief the country will just
ly render thanks and praise TO the President
Unselhshly disregarding q possible loss of per
sonal prestige he undertook the supremely diff
cult task of persuading determined antagonists
10 submit their controversy 10 arbitration in tho
interest of the whole people. 1t will be agree
able 10 all right minded citizens 10 feel that
disinterestad effort has resulted not in lower
ing. but in raising. the plblc estimate of Mr..
Roosevelt. 1t is a far more important fact that.
judged by the Issue. the dignity and authority
Of his great office have not been diminished. II
is also due to the operators 10 say that in the
end they evinced 4 deep sense of their re
sponsibilities keen solictude for the general
welfare and, when a fortunate settlement
seemed suddenly TO be endangered. magnani-
nous willingness 10 modify the fair conditions
which they had proposed. The terms OF arbi-
tratiOn which they submitted TO the President
on Monday night had undoubtedly impressed
the country as being reasonable and propitous
II they had been adhered TO and rejected Mr.
Mitchell and his followers would have been al
most unanimously condemned. and that for
feiture Of public goodwill would have ulti-
mately led 10 their defeat. But in the mean
time public distress would have been prolonged
and immeasurably, intensified The operators
generously chose 10 avert that catastrophe by
a concession 20 the suscepnbilities Of the strk-
ers rather than TO the moral requirements of
the situation, and their decision should he
cordially recognized. The statement of their po-
sition, accompanying their offer of an arbitra
non, was admirable In form, temper and sub
stance and they have no need to withdraw or
revise line of IL.
The tribunal OF six members constituted by
the President is well fitted TO ascertain the eaui-
ties Of the case submitted TO it, and the diSin-
terestedness Of its conclusions will never be dis
puted. That they will also be just, on the
whole satisfactory. TO all concerned and pro
ductive Of permanently improved relations in
the mining region may not be so certain. but
there is reason TO hope that lasting benefits will
result from this bitter controversy. The pow
ers of the board are complete and final under
the agreement. 1t is TO investigate and settle
all the questions at issue II would be imperti-
nent TO attempt 10 forecast its findings in re
spect TO wages. hours Of labor and methods of
measuring the product. which We're originally
the chief subjects Of contention; but we do not
hesitate 10 say just this-that il IS inconcevabe
that the arbtrators should tolerate the thought
of prescribing the faithful men who have
braved manifold perils and endured outrageous
persecution in defence OF the fundamental and
immutable principle that a man has right 10
sell his labor AZ a price satisfactory 10 himself