The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-31

"A AAaNC HCIGAOAOEG QtLE12tA Nl4A
they would not recognize the miners'
union. and 1t Is perfectly plain that
they are determined TO break IL up II ?.
Is possible to do so by any means. In
1900 these same men made concessions
to their striking miners in order to end
the strike, and IN these concessions they
recognized the union They did his
greatly against their will and only after
great solicitation by and under heavy
pressure from the republican party
leaders in order TO prevent the defea-
Of President Mckinley. The same con
d7tions as these arose during the pres
ent campaign. The coal operators for
a long time refused to bulge an inch
from their first position. After PreSi-
dent Roosevelt has diligently worked
upon them to agree TO arbitration, they
apparently accede to his request and
make a proposition for arbitration 10
settle the dispute. This is lone just
in time for the strike TO be declared Of
before the election, but it is done with
a reservation which is likely 10 make
nugatory al the work hat has bee.
done toward the settlement OF the
trouble. When the election is over the
mine operators will show their hard
and the objection raised Monday by
President Baer 20 Mr.. Mitchell taking
part as president of the miners union
will be pressed and it will be seen that
in order to get the mine operators 10
go on with the arbitration proceedings
the other sid must give up their union.
1t looks as if this arbitration is nothing
but a patched up scheme to avoid tie
serious effect the strike was having on
the republican chances OF success in
next Tuesdays election. We do noC
charge nor dc we believe that President
Roosevelt or the members Of the arhi-
tration board are parties to this plan
They are sincere. in our opinion.
The arbitration commissioners seem
to be aiming at a thorough investiga-
ton Of the causes of the strike and
the conditions OF the miners, and if they
are allowed the full scope they seem 20
desire their work will be Of great inn
p~ortance. Their determination to make
an examination of the mines and the
homes of the miners at the outset is
good as is that of having expert ac-
countants to audit statements of wages
and classification of miners. If these
commissioners are going this deep into
the affairs of the coal mine owners
there is mighty apt ITO be some squeal-
- ~ ---+ e 49, r~++o- 1<~-o til
investigation is over.
We were very glad to see that tie
offer of President Baer to furnish a
special train for the commissioners in
their tour of inspection was declined
by them. 1t would have been nos inn
proper for them to ave accepted this
offer. While there IS not a man on tie
commission who could be bribed by this
attention it would have a a very bad
appearance and would have taken from
their finding, whatever it may be, thai
Weigh which it should have ArbitTG-
tors transported free Of all charge in 4
handsome special train, with sumpt-
uous fare, fine wines and Havana
cigars, all at the expense Of one party
while they are making an inspection OF
the conditions Of the homes and work
ing places of the other parties to the
controversy in order to gain informd-
ton on, which to settle a dispute be-
tween the two WOULD not have been 4
proceeding pleasing to the American
people or one calculated to give them
much confidence in the findings of thOsc
arbitratorS.