The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-17
SOME LESSONS OF THE STRIKE.


If the ending of the long strike is a mat
ter for general graduation the way of its
ending is not less so. The latter is an OBJ
ject lession in American ideas and methods
In fact, the main feature Of the strike and
the events accompanying it have been illus
trative of American ideas and institutions
The miners union itself is a notable in
stance of the American talent for organi-
cation. Altogether, aside from the merits
of the controversy, the strike has furnished
an example of organization, leadership and
discipline that has never been equaled in
any other country. The leaders, from
President Mitchell down, have held their
followers perfectly in line. and while every
important step has been decided by dele
gate conventions or local meetings, the de-
cisions have been accepted without ques-
ton. The voice of the majority has been
the voice of the union, and the leaders have
been followed and obeyed implicitly be-
cause they were the embodiment of the
mass. 1t was a great thing for nearly
10000 earnest, struggling. hungry men to
tending with a common purpose to a COM
mon end inspiring their leaders and fol-
lowing them with unquestioning confidence,
and through it all showing In the main
respect for law and a grim determination
to succeed without resorting to violence
For. while there has been some violence.
it has been slight considering the magni-
tude and the length of the struggle The
organization and general conduct of the
miners have been typical of the American
talent for self-government and self-con-
troll.
From another point of view the strike
affords a good illustration of the Ameri-
can habit of dealing with critical situa-
tons. No similar event has ever seriously
affected as many people. A foreign war
could hardly have become a more absorb
ing topic of discussion. and would not have
been seriously felt by more persons than
was the strike. The cutting off of the fuel
supply for some millions of people and in
creasing It's cost to many more millions
at the beginning of winter was a very seri-
Jus htoeecA. ~ Souott siCdt lSilSiOfl, OUT
no trouble. All the methods used to bring
the strike to end were OF a peaceable
character. The press Numbered, the
preachers talked. mass meetings and con-
ferences were held. resolutions were adopt
ed and plans were suggested. but no guns
were fired. Only few foolish people sug-
gested calling national forces into action
and the authorities themselves never
thought of 1t. People got very mad but
they cooled of again. There was a good
deal of fist-shaking. but no fighting There
was no looting of coal yards. no street bar
ricades. and no shooting. Nobody lost con.
troll of himself and everybody felt tina,
American horse sense would solve the
| difficulty.
That is just what happened. and the
| final solution OF the difficulty is the mos-
| American feature OF the whole. AS tn.
outcome Of numerous conferences and much
correspondence. the President OF the United
States finally appoints a commission O.
| representative men to whom all the mat
tiers In controversy are to be submitted
and whose decision both sides agree to &C
cept and abide by. That II took lonI
time to reach this mode OF settlement. an,