Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-10-17
The Coal Strike Settled.

the coal strike was settled and work
months of idieness had brought upon
the country the stupendous crisis of
fuel famine. And promptly upon this
feeling followed one of deepest graft
tude to President Roosevelt whose
tact and energy had accomplished
what no other man or body of men
had been able to do in months OF ei-
fort His work in this matter en-
shrines him more closely in the hearts
of our people. and helps to make more
certain his place in history as one OF
the greatest Of the worlds great lead
ers.
The terms uDon which the operators
finally agreed to arbitration We're
practically those proposed by MI.
Mitchell at the White House confer
ence. 10 days earlier, with some minor
notifications. They desired that the
decision of the commission shall be
binding for at least three years, and
indicated in a general way the char
acter of the men on the commission.
The men whom President Roosevelt
has appointed cannot fail to be salts
factory to both sides. They are broad,
intelligent, practical men, and they
have the full confidence of the coun-
t,v that they Will deal with the ques-
ton at issue in a spirit of perfect fair
ness.
The contest has been bitterly waSed,
and long drawn out. Involving as IL
has the supply of a natural product
so generally used by the American
people as is anthracite, and so es-
Genital to their comfort and welfare, 1t
has centered public attention ana
called forth popular discussion to de-
gree that has not been true OF any
other strike in the history of our coun-
try.
There has been a vast amount OF mis-
information disseminated on poth
sides of the controversy: by men who
have not taken time to thoroughly If
form themselves upon the facts in the
case before undertaking TO write or
sneak ,,pon the situation. Gradually.
however the wheat has been sii'e"
from the chaff. and it is safe to say
that the general public has pretty
clear and definite idea of the questions
Al issue in this struggle. and the con-
tentions ON both sides of II. lhey
also understand, as they never have De-
fore the conditions under which their
coal supply is mined and distributed
An Industrial war. like an military or
naval one. is in the highest degree
destructive and .wasteful; but it is
great public educator. The losses on
bo,h sides are always enormous, an"
in n large measure are borne, ultimate
lv. by the general public. Every ehort
should be made to avoid conliicts oi
this kind by an appeal to fairness ana
reason. Where both sides are disposed
difficulties can usually be avoided.
Every citizen in this republic mas
right to sell his labor where ana 10
whom he pleases and should be 1uilV
protected i'm that right. If capital is 10
IN, invested III the productive enter
nrises that give employment and pros
nf the DpOnlp, 1t
must be sure of reasonable returns.
No man. can be blamed for trying 10
better his condition i'm life by fair ana
honorable means The efficient. tenn
perate. industrious man VIII always pe
the most productive, and therefore the
one who can and will command the
hest nay for his services. Any at
tempt to hold men of his class oack
for the benefit of those less temperate
industrious and fficient, is wrong III
principle. unjust in practice. ana VIII
always in the long run be doomed 10
failure. Every man in this American
life of ours has the right to strive ana
shouil strive to make the most of HIM
self.
IL is certainly to be hoped that the
outcome of the agreement which has
been reached. after so many long
weary weeks. involving so much OF
suffering and less, to leave the points
at issue i'm che coal strike to the de-
cision of a fair and impartial tribunal,
may not only end the present conflict,
but may also serve to prevent Others
in the years to come.
Both sides should accept the final
verdict in good faith. and live up to il
in letter and in spirit There can be
no doubt but what it will right many
wrongs, and nut the whole coal bust
ness on a much more equitable basis
for the .ears to come.
What the Immediate effect of the re-
sumption of work will be upon the ex
listing fuel famine it is hard to say
The present shortage is so great. tha
the question of distribution alone il
something enormous and difficult 4,