New-York tribune., 1902-08-22
ORR GOD SENT COAL OPERATORS.


Strict construction theologians have before
now insisted upon the close relations between
Calvinism and coal. 1t is something new, how
ever. TO find a hardheaded fnancier setting up
as q doctrine of the business world the pre-
destination of the Pennsylvania coal mines TO
the all wise control Of President Baer and his
fellow presidents of coal companies. Doubt
less good Calvipists have accepted the man
agement of the coal operators, like everything
else that is, as being somehow or other in some
mysterious way in harmony with the ultimate
designs of a God Who endures evil and makes
even the wrath of men to praise Him. But few
of them have reached the point of considering
the so-called coal barons' shining examples
of Gods perfect work, in which His loving de-
signs for the welfare Of the whole human race
were made manifest 1t seems, however, that
is the true doctrine which all religious men
should hold. To a religious inquirer who was
concerned about the moral issues of the present
strike Mr. Baer has written letter IN which
he says:
! beg of YOU not to be discoura ged. The rights
and interests Of the laboring men will be pro
tected and cared for not by the labor agltatOrs,
but by the Christian men to whom God in His
infinite wisdom has given the control or the
property interests Of the country and upon the
successful management OF which so much de-
pends.
Do not be discouraged Pray earnestly that
right may triumph, always remembering that
the Lord God omnipotent still reigns and that
II;e &c, ;c ono ~ law and order and not of
violence and crime
Now, that is certainly handsome Of Mr.. Baer.
1t will take load from the consciences of many
earnest people TO have this authoritative dec
laration that God through the kindness Of the
coal operators will be able to manage this
strike in accordance with the dictates Of in
| finite wisdom. There have been some persons
| who believe in law and order, and have no
| sympathy with riotous strikers or demagogic
| agitators, who have not hitherto been able TO
| detect Infinite Wisdom sitting at any Of the
| coal presidents desks. but doubtless they were
| mistaken. In their blindness they have said it
was the duty of the operators to operate; that
they should either meet their men half way and
settle the difficulty. or, under the protection OF
| the State put other men to work and mine coal.
They have had a notion that God put the coal
In the earth to furnish heat for mems needs, and
thought there was some slip In the cogs of the
universe when they could not buy coal because
President Baer Gods vicegerent at the mines,
| would not work them But if it is a part Of
the divine order that we should all pay $40
a ton till the surplus stock is worked off, so let
| 1t be- Only we should like to ask question or
two. Are the coal operators infallible indi-
vidually, or only when they are gathered to-
gether. like church council, about an ofllce
| table to fix rates and say what each retailer
must sell bis coal for on pain of having his God
| given supply cut off? Was the agreement Of
| two years ago, which the operators say was so
| unwise and has made so much trouble, also die
| tated by infinite wisdom?
There has been an impression abroad that
| great many mistakes had been made by mine
| owners They have seemed in the past careless
| about the welfare of Gods children, both those
| who worked IN the mines and those who bought
| the coal, and. whatever may have been their
right TO control their own property, the conduct
! of company stores and the condition of the
working classes at the mines have not suggested
| the highest type Of Christianity. But we are
| glad TO know that this is mistaken impress
| sion. We believe in law, and we do not see how
! reign of terror which prevents free men from
| working in the mines because some other free
men do not want to work can be tolerated. We
| shall support the managers in operating II it
takes every soldier in Pennsylvania to overawe
/ and If need be- shoot down the mob. 1t is
therefore a great satisfaction to know that the
operators whose property it would be duty to
protect have not abused their power. but that
| infinite wisdom lights their path. 1t is as we
say, a great satisfaction. The only thing that
makes Us sceptical is the fact that one of these
! God sent stewards should have written this
epistle. We feel little we do in the face. of
| the claims of spiritualsm. 1t may be true that
| spirits appear But II the mediums acquaint-
| ances really are spirits acquainted with the