Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-01
TELEPHONES.
PENNSYLVANIA SHOULD ACT

PENNSYLVANIA ShObLD ASA-
,rha co,,trv over the coal question is
the vital and absorbing question to the
virtual exclusion of all others. 1t mas
become a momentous public issue Win
all classes and all interests. Every Gay
there develops some new e1ect OIL 'iie
situation which shows that the people
are growing desperate, and emphasizes
the demand that some way be found LOT
bringing about resumption OF MINING
The Dispatch has from time to time SET
forth how the strike was paralyzlnS lnous-
tries dependent upon the anthracite sur
ply was threatening the closing OF schoo's
and churches anGs public institutions IN
some sections. was disorganizing the DO
nestle regime, and held in it the dire
rromise OF terrible suffering from cold
This last named was recognized as one
of the worst features OF the case. Bul
now it is learned that among the poor OIL
New York. to the prospect Oh 1reeZinS Is
added the prospect of suffering for bread,
which constitutes the chief, if not the
only. subsistence of many of that class.
a
standing that severe weather has not
come, that great city is already in fear
full plight as the result OF the coal
situation Suffering among the poor OF
the East Side, has already begun. The
charity societies report that hundreds OF
washerwomen have been compelled to
give up their vocations as they cannot
h1,S
are deprived of the means of buying
bread. But. as increasing the seriousness
Of the situation and the outlook, the bak-
ers threaten to raise the price of bread
before the end of the week. They are
having four times as much for coal as
They were year ago. and say that as a
consequence bread is being sold at loss.
This is not only a deplorable but 4 can
generous condition of affairs, for as the
world knows by experience, 1t may
open the way for the demon of rioting to
assert himself.
However, the fruits Of the strike present
and prospective are not confined to the
evils we have enumerated. They are also
in evidence in propositions Tor relief,
which are repugnant to the fundamental
principles Of our form of government.
For instance a movement has been start
ed in Boston to elect a Congress on <
platform demanding that the Federal
Government own the coal mines and ad-
minister them in the interest of the whole
people" The carrying out Of that policy
would be the rankest sort Of paternalism.
and would set precedent that wouio
menace the very foundations of the Re-
public. 1t is not to be thought of, and,
The movement will command any
Rppreciable support. But the mere
fact that the step in question
has been gravely suggested proves what
a desperate mood the public is in, affords
another illustration of the pernicious.
and far-reaching effects OF the strike, and
as we see it. makes it palmer than ever
that it is the duty Of Pennsylvania to
herself and Inc rest of the country to
find means Of inducing or in default Of
that forcing the immediate general re-
sumption of mining and the distribution
of the product. Humanity. economic. and
educational considerations, industrial ne
cessities. to say nothing of propositions
that the Federal Government interfere
demand this of her. The emergency is
one in which she should exercise her SOW
ereign power and rights ''in the interest
Of the whole people through some such
legal proceeding as that started in Massa-
ct,,scttS and which looks To the aonoint-
ment Of receivers, summarily, IL it be
necessary. The latter recourse should be
last resort save in extreme cases, but
this is an extreme case in which the going
to extreme lengths would be justified by
various phases OF the situation.