The Elbert County tribune., 1903-01-08
Coal Strike the Event of the
Year Of the Most Far-Reach-
ing importance Public SEN
timent Thoroughly Aroused
Over the Controversy.

s~~
The year OF 1902 opened with the as
sured certainty of the early coming OF
peace in the Philippines and South AZ
rica. and with the date for the establish
ment of an independent government in
Cuba already determined: the Congress
OF the United States was rapidly ap-
proachng the favorable determination OF
It's great problem of the construction OF
an isthmian ship canal. and abroad Ger
many and England We're almost ready
Tor combined action against Venezuela
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 such
vital Importance another event. which
was far from being foreseen at the time
ana which. when 1t 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 fail.
IL 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 1t was fought: nor
was 1t because of the mere fact OF the
inconvenience and loss occnsioned by II
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 crystaliized sentiment
on the part Of that great body of the
American pubic-the consumers-who
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 u. and the min
ers did not yield an inch In their rcsoiu-
ton until they voted TO return to work
Oct. q. after arbitration had been ar
ranged for. The number OF men involved
was lf7 600. The price OF hard coal In New
York. where the factories were accus-
toned to other fuel. rose from 50 TO
as high as $50 n ton. with often no sup
plies to be had. The demand of the min
ers in part for higher wages, but
stiil 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
memberR' interests.
The mine owners organized in the most
thorough monopoly in tho country. and
represented by the presidents of tho coal
carrying. railroads. seemed to welcome
the strike. and contemporary declined
all proposals OF AfDtEntlOn, from what
ever source Whether their attitude was
dictated by desire to obtain larger hold
ings of stock in n demoralized market or
to make possible permanent higher prices
for COAL or from deep antagonism to
organized labor, was 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
frIa shA
indianapolis. prevented the bituminous
coal miners from striking In sympathy,
who carried the strike with less ac-
campaigning violence than was ever
known In so great Industrial disorganiza-
tion before, and who. despite great per
sonal aggravation from his opponents
methods. maintained a serenity that
helped not a little In the clear-sighted
progress which he made to ultimate vic.
ttory. With the finding OF President
-Roosevelts commission of arbitration
next spring will come the end. as far
as Its immediate Incidents are concerned,
of an Industrial struggle that would new
er have begun had the representatives of
capital showed themselves as true to
their agreements and intelligent In
their views as did the representatives, of
labor.
independence Of Cuba.
OF the two great events of the year in
connection with the treatment by the
Onlted states OF the lHlandS tnut teI
under its Influence as result Of the
Spanish war. the first the Inaugural
tion of Independent government In Cuba.
The 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.
(raa~s
Leonard Wood. lowered the American
fiag and left the island to Its own re.
sources.
Peace in the Philippines.
The Philippine Islands were declared
by proclamation of the President July
4. to be In a state of peace and quiet and
worthy of the establishment of the civil
In place of military government. for
which Congress had provided. Wiki this
went 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 |
After much discussion Of the relative |
merits of the Panama and the Nicara- |
guam routes Congress made provision |
for a s200Oo0.oo0 bond issue and passed |
a law which gave President Roosevelt |
the power to decide upon. the route.
OF other Legislation the passage of the
national irrigation act. turning over the |
revenues from the national domain for
the use OF a comprehensive scheme OF
Irrigation and the creation Of perma-
nent census bureau are to be noted TO
relieve the congestion of an ever-accu-
mulating surplus. Congress removed the
last of the war revenue taxes and passed I
the largest river and harhor bill IN the
country's history-appropriating s69ooo,-
900. A 10-cent a pound tax on colorea
oieonargarine. so heavy as practically l
to cut that Industry In half. was I'M