The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-12-02
CURRENT COMMENT.

, Discussing the coal strike arbitration
commission and Its work, the Mem
phis Commercial-Appeal (Dem) says:
In view of the probable outcome OF
the conflict-which is a triumph for
the principle OF arbitration-the recoS-
milton of John Mitchell as the presi
dent of the United Mine Workers can
not be regarded as peril to our in
.EtitutlOns any more than could be the
recognition OF the fact that Leo XIII
..s Pope Of Rome. or Edward VII is
King Of England. or Mr. James JEFF
RES is the champion puglist OF the
world"
( The war department Is going TO
press the fight IN congress for the re-
Iesta bishment in the army of the post
icanteEn. which was abolished by act
Eof the last congress. The overwhelm-
ling sentiment of the army is for the
reinstatement Of the canteen and the
Testimony seems conclusive Of the fact
that the men were much better off un-
der the old system than under the
present conditions. in which vile deDS
cluster about the army posts and draw
he patronage and accomplish the ruin
of men who would frequent the prop
lerly supervised and decently conduct
led coEteens. The argument for the
icanteen is practically unaDswerabie,
but the pTOhibltionists are very noisy
land the congressman is easily fright
ened so that it is by no means sure
THAT the best interests Of the army
land the dictates of common sense VIII
!prevail and the canteen be re-estab-
iished.-CharlestOn Post
Was rotten politics at the bottom Of
1.-THE Hunter Fitzgerald tragedy in Qua
Itemala? That is what one of the lead
Ing republican papers charges. And
There appears to be some foundation
Ifor the charge. 1t is fact that there
have been scandals connected with
Ithe Hunters, father and son, ever
Since Godfrey Hunter was appointed
minister to Guatemala. There were
I-harges against Minister Hunter and
charges against his son, the man who
'hOt Fitzgerald. The state department
KNEW adj about them from various
sources. Nevertheless for some rea-
IsOn or other Mr.. Hunter was permitted
liO retain the place of minister Of this
country in Guatemala. If he had been
removed when it became evident that
NE was no longer a fit person to rep
Resent the government, there would
have been no such scandal as that
(which casts a shadow over the Amer
lican legation in Guatemala-Savanna
News.
The coal strikers who violated the
law by committing acts Of violence
SHOULD have been controlled with an
i-EOu ndiu II Is pest 10 MAKE an ex-
iample of the very first trespasser
IupOn the rights of the public in these
eases. Hesitation is ALWAYS bad policy,
as Governor Stone. of Pennsylvania
iscOVered. But the strikers have not
been the only Violators of the law OF
Ithe most fragrant ones. The laws nf
1.-THE state of Pennsylvania provide that
mo common carrier in Pennsylvania
shall own or operate q coal mine, and
1T is notorious that most of the coal
mines in the state are owned and OPP
ierated by the railroads. 1t is no am
Swer to say that the coal companies
Hnd the railroad companies are Sepa-
rate. They are separately organized
but consist of the same men and repre-
sent the same interests. Whether
this 1limsy evasion of the law would
aold in court or not. it constitutes un-
blushing contempt for the viii, of the
~ipGOple. How can the coal operators
expect sympathy from a public which
they have tricked in this way?-Nor-
folk Landmark.
However much we may deplore the
election of a Mormon to the United
States senate it must be acknowledged
that the protest against Apostle
6n roots election is not based unor
grounds that will justify his exclusion
ilttIe doubt that Apostle SmOot viii
be the choice of the republican ma
ljOrity in the ted States legislature
His lection is considered certain. The
ministerial Alliance of Salt Lake has
However undertaken campaign
against him, with the evident intention
IOf influencing the senate to refuse hin
the seat to which he may be elected
His election. so the alliance claims ir
Its protest would be a practical ''uniOT
iof church and state" The basis oI
this allegation is that as a member o1
he Mormon ApOstolate SmoOt is OBJ
Iligated to submit to that body for its
approval any important action he ma )
contemplate. Ii is further alleged thai
IOther members of the apostolate are
living in pOlygamy, contrary to law
land that as a member of the apos toll
late SmOOt gives his approval to this
violation of the law by his coNeag CUES
There is no charge that Srnoot prac-
ltices or has ever practiced polygamy
I'm this respect his case is differentiated
from that of Brigham H. Roberts, whL
Twas denied his seat in the lower houS5
lOf congress ostensibly on account o
mis- having lived in rolygamy. The ex-
IClusiOn of Roberts was proceeding
of questionable legality: there were {
number of republicans as well as dem
IOCrats who opposed it on the ground
THAT it was not legal. But We are no
discussing now the Roberts case. 1t i:
merely pertinent to point out that the
case against Apostle SmoCt is not a:
strong, so far as present information
i@Oes, as that against Roberts. Wheth
ier SmOCt believes in the practice o
!pOlygamy or not, whether he COnnive:
at it in others, has nothing to do Will
mis- eligibility for the senate. In thi
country a man cannot be punished fO
his views on religion or morality o.
!even for his opinions as to the laws: 81
Hong as he does not violate the laws o.
practice immortality he cannot be pc
'nalized for his beliefs.-Columbi biz
State.