The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-07
Some Press Comm9nts or the
Anthracite Coal Strike
Conference.
(onf0r0nce.

Chicago Chronicle:
Several of the coal road presidents had
the impudence to say to the president
that President Mitchell of the miners
union represented criminals and an
archists.
Even if this were true there is an i'm
portant difference between the presi-
dents of the coal roads and the president
of the miners union.
As is clearly stated in the report OF
the interstate commerce commission and
in the findings of the Industrial COM
mission the coal road presidents no~
only represent criminals but they are
criminals themselves.
No organ of the United States gov
eminent has yet stigmati zed John Nit
Ghel as criminal.
Indianapolis News:
Here are some fundamental Facts OF
the anthracite situation. The men have
as good a right-the same rlght-to
combine as the mine owners. The men
have the same right to declare on what
terms they will accept employment as
the operators to say on what terms they
will give employment. the mine owners
want workers; the miners want work
They differ as to terms. The miners
have from the start been willing to leave
board of arbitrtors- The mine owners
have refused to do this-or anything.
Which side seems to be the more rea-
sonable?
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune:
The failure Of the effort to bring about
a settlement of the anthracite coal
strike is not due to the president.
Neither is it due to the miners associa-
ton. il arbitration is to be the means OF
ending the troubles. The Willingness Of
President Mitchell to arbitrate was a
reassertion of his first-and continuing
: 10 .1f..c sol Of he l.
panies was but a reassertion Of their
determination, in the language of Presl-
dent Baer, to fight the battle between
capital and labor to a finish in the an
thracite coal fields of Pennsylvania. >
There are many Inconsistencies in the
statement of President Baer-a state
ment that may fairly be taken as en-
bOdying tie views of all coal operators
and Of the officials of all cOal-carrylng
roads involved in the strike.
Charging the miners witt anarchy.
with murder and with rioting, and de-
manding the Intervention of federal
troops, President Baer states his case
away by the admission that from 10000
to 20 600 miners are now at work. and
that because of the presence of the
state troops, the power of the law is
gradually asserting itself, and that
"unless encouraged by false hopes, or
der will soon be restored, and then we
can mine coal to meet the public wants, -
the encOura cement of false hopes refer
ring to the miners and not to the mine
owners and operators
New York Press:
If through the efforts of the president
coal again comes into this market,
where the poor man cannot get it now
nor the rich man for long. there will be
few of the disturbed and distressed peO-
pie of today who will ever stop to ask
who won the great coal strike on the
morrow after its settlement.
New York Evening Post:
In bringing the contestants face to
face under circumstances which call for
kindly discussion and mutual conces-
sions, Mr.. Roosevelt will have exhaust
ed the last resources of Cancellation. By
the mere causing of the conference he
has done what probably no other man
living could have done 1t remains for
the conferees to show something of his
spirit when they shall become his
guests.
The alternative to Cancellation is the
Sternest repression of disorder in the an
tbracite fields, and the requisition of tbs
military force of the state Of Pennsyl-
Vania, and, if necessary of the nation
until 1t is possible to protect every in
dependent miner at his work, at his
home. and in all his movements. But
we hope and believe that the White
House conference will discover a better
wav.
New York American:
The American is not among those who
doubt either the presidents honesty OF
purpose or his ability to bring out of the
conference an agreement that will mean
that the interruption to the fuel supply
of the country shall cease.
To those who accuse the president OF
playing politics it may be said that this