The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-10-23
THURSDAY. OCTOBER -. 1902
GovERNMENr OwNERsnIr-


strike of the coal miners will have
upon the Congressional elections IN
November is puzzling the politicians.
Important strikes always effect the
political situation. During Mr.. Cleve-
lands Administration We had the
Pullman strike. and the Democratic
party undoubtedly suffered severely
therefor. Mr.. Cleveland having sent
Federal soldiers into Illinois ian op-
position to this desire OF the Cover
nor. The result was that many of
the strikers were killed and their
leader Eugene Debsl was sent TO
Jail for six months. The Democratic
party faces the bloody record when
1T attempts TO use the strike of the
coal miners as its slogan. Ii Is not
our purpose TO discuss whether Mr..
Cleveland was right or wrong, but
simply TO draw attention TO fact
in history.
Mr.. Cleveland has recently taken
advantage of the situation and APP
pearls to Democrats TO stand TO-
gether; he endorses the platform OF the
New York Democracy, and therefore
endorses that section which treats
ON the coal question. The Demo
Gratis of New York want Govern
ment ownership of the mines mot
the railroads.. and il the Govern-
ment does not own the railroads
they will own simply nothing 10y
owning the mines, as the profit or
coal mining is vastly consumed 10y
the coal-carrying railroads
1t is very easy for a man TO civ,
vent TO a calamity howl in times OF
distress. and while we sympathiz
with thecoal miners in their effort TO
better their condition. vet we feel
that any man who desiresGOvernmeui
ownership of the mines is following
the matter blindly and without rem
son. II the Government owned and
operated the mines OF PENNSYLVANIA
and West Nirginia.it would uecessari-
~ follow that the Government would
become the owner OF all the other
mines in the country. Private com
Germs could not compete with the
Government, and in all fairness the
Government would have TO buy.
Then again. the mines would become
a political bailiwick. Every miner
there employed would become a POI
litical heeler-worse 10y far than the
ordinary city ward heeler-and the
effect would eventually be demoraliz-
ing and a detriment 20 tie good or
der Of society. BY this means the
mines would get expensive TO run.
and reversal OF public opinion
would take place and the result
might be that free labor would pass
away and convicts would be substi-
tuted. We would then have our 81
beTian mines, the horror OF Russia.
These and many other things are to
be considered when We are inclined
20 leap into paroXysms over "a tenn
pOrary condition that is in the main
TO be deplored
That President Roosevelt disap-
pointed his political opponents there
is no doubt. Many expected him to
follow Mr.. Cleveland's course in the
Pullman strike Ii was expected
that John Mitchell would be Ian
gushing in Jail and that many tomb
stones would be telling their silent
tale of a horrible conflict between
Federal soldiers and miners. That
this calamity was averted the Presi-
dent is to be congratulated. The
tale TO be told would have been far
differentiated the President not been
a wise and cautious man. The task
was a delicate one Whether it be
said he acted on selfish or on patri-
otto grounds, it cannot be said truly
that the results of lis efforts were
not patriotic. As TO the head of the
miners union, John Mitchell was
treated with the Hottest considera-
ton, as no representative of labor
had ever been before. In fact. it is
the first instance wherein labor or
CARNATIONS had received official rec
ignition at the hands of the execu-
tive. The rule heretofore invoked bv
our Presidents when the emergency
has arisen has been the rule of the
bayonet.
The Democracy will find it difficult
to combat Mr.. Roosevelt when Mr.
Cleveland's actions in the Pullman
strike are held up as an emblem OF
love for the laboring men, and IN
less people forget too soon, the
ri