The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1903-01-09

inS importance Public Sem
timent Thoroughly Aroused
Over the Controversy.
sured certainty Of tho early coming Of
peace In the Philippines and South AZ
rica, and with the date for the esta blish-
ment OF an Independent government In
Cuba already determined; the Congress
or the United States was rapidly APP
preaching the favorable determination Of
Its great problem of the construction of
an isthmian ship canal, and abroad Ger
many and England were almost ready
Tor combined action against Venezueia
IN the matter Of those same debt claims
which In the concluding day of the year
have been the cause for a new strain In
the Interpretation OF the Monroe doctrine
BUT as the outcome proved. not even
the greatest OF these matters possessed
Tor the people Of the United States sucn
vital Importance as another event. whicn
was far from being foreseen at the time.
and which, when II came, gave at the
start little reason to suspect what It's
course and conclusion would be. This
was the great strike In the anthracite
coal mines Of Pennsylvania which lasted
through the summer and fall.
II was not merely that this was one OF
the greatest strikes In the history Of the
United states for the number OF men en-
gagged the length Of its duration and the
obstinacy with which It was fought: nor
was II because of the mere fact Of the
Inconvenience and loss coca stoned by 1t
to the public: nor yet because In securing
Its settlement the President OF the United
States was forced to take control of the
situation by acting In manner for which
there was nothing In the constitution or
customs of the land to give justification.
Beyond all these things the strike was
the most pregnant event Of the year, be-
cause of the way II crystallized sentiment
on the part of that great body Of the
American public-the commemorative
were concerned in It neither as employ
ers nor as laborers. but who were forced.
by the jeopardizing Of their own inter.
ests as consumers, to intervene for their
own protection.
The strike began May 10. and the min
ers did not yield an inch In their resolu-
ton until they voted to return to work
Oct. Il, after arbitration had been ar
ranged for. The number OF men involved
was $4,000. The price Of hard coal In New
York. where the factories we're accus.
toned to no other fuel rose from s. to
az high as $40 ton. with often no sup
plies to be had. The demand Of the min
ers was In part for higher wages but
still more for regulated and fair meth
Cd Of weighing and recording the product
OF the men. by which the union. acting
as an organization. could protect its
members interests
The mine owners. organized In the most
thorough monopoly in the country, and
represented by the presidents OF the coal
carrying railroads. seemed to welcome
the strike. and contemptuously declined
n AL nf ftpat ton frnp ,l,..
ever source. Whether their attitude was
dictated by desire to obtain larger hold
ings OF stock In demoralized market or
to make possible permanent higher prices
for coal, or from deep antagonsm to
organized labor. was a matter only for
speculation on the part Of outsiders
Through the strike there has risen as
one of the greatest among the great fig
ures of Americans OF the day, that of
John Mitchell. the young leader OF the
Mine Workers Union. who June IL. at
Indians polls. prevented tho bituminous
coal miners from striking In sympathy
who carried on the strike with less ac-
companying violence than was ever
known In SO great industrial disorganiza-
tion before. and who. despite great per
sonrl aggravation from his opponents
methods. maintained serenity that
helped not little In the clear -sig hted
progress which he made to ultimate vic.
Rooseveit's. commission OF arbitration
next spring will come the end as far
as its immediate Incidents are concerned
OF an Industrial struggle that would new
or lave begun had the representative Of
capital showed themselves as true to
their agreements and as Intelligent In
their views as did the representatives OF
labor.
Independence Of Cuba.
he 81 ha 10,
cor ection with the treatment by the
Unite States OF the Islands that fell
under It's influence AS result Of the
Spanish war. the first was the Inaugural
ton OF independent government In Cuba.
Thu Cuban independence day when Pres
ident Palma took control OF the execu-
tive office. was May 20, just three days
after young Alfonso attained his ma
Jority and became king Of Spain in fact
The popular election had been held Dec
81 1901 and the electoral college had
chosen the islands president Feb. "a
The American military governor, Gen.
Leonard Wood. lowered the American
nag and left the island to Its own re-
sources.
Peace In the Philippines.
Tho Philippine Islands were declared
by proclama ton OF the President July
4. to be In IA state of peace and quiet and
worthy of the establishment OF the civil
In place OF military government for
which Congress had provided. With this
went a proclamation of amnesty to po-
litical offenders and civil administration
began.
The Years Legislation.
OF national legislation during the year
there was none of more Importance TO
either the commerce or the naval power
OF the country than That authorizing
the construction of an isthmian canal