The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1903-01-19
Coal Strike the Event Of the
Year Of the Most Far-Reach-
ing importance Public SEN
timsnt Thoroughly Aroused
Over the Controversy.

rured certainty o. the earsy coming Of
peace iu the Philippines and south Az
rira and with the date for the establish
ment o. an Independent government IN
Cuba already determined the Congress
Of the United States was rapidly ap-
preaching the favorable determination qt
tta great problem ol the construction Of
en inthmian ship canal. and abroad 6 ~
many and England were almost reaay
Tor combined action against NenexuriA
In the matter OF those Same debt claims
which ia The concluding day Of the year
have been the cause FOR new strain m
the Interpretation or the Monroe durtrine-
But as the outcome proved, not even
the greatest Of those matters posseuaen
for the people OF the United States tuch
vital importance ns another event, which
WAS FAR from being foreseen a. the time
and which. when n came. gave at me
start little reason 10 suspect what ita
course and conclusion would be. Ihl4
was the great strike IN the knthracite
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 oi tbs
United States for the number Of men en-
gagged. the length Of its duration and the
ubatinacy with which Il was fought: nor
was It because Of the mere fact of the
inconTenience and loss oceasioned BY Il
70 the puhiics nor YET because la securing
iis settlement the President Of the United
States was forced 70 take control Of ths
situation ~ ActlnE In . manner Tor which
there was nothing n ans constitution or
customs % the land 20 give Justification.
Beyond All these things the strike was
the most pregnant arent Of the year. be-
cause o. the way n cryatalli1ed sentiment
on The part of that great body 81 the
American public-fha connunera-rWho
were concerned IN if neither a. employ
era nor AZ laborers. but who wera forced,
by the ieopafdillnk Of their own inter
ests ~ consumers, 60 intervene for their
own protcction.
II vas the approach Of winter. with
coal-yarda empty and the minea un-
worked. that cauerd the public 20 lay
aside all old preludicea on one side or
the other. penetrate directly 20 the heart
aA the problem - % which - the op-
pdnenta vas the enc responsible for the
lack Of settlement. and then bring pres
sure 10 bear that could not b. disregard
Cd. Dating from fhe year 80 q = safe 70
any that not even tna moEt significant
strike viii b. ronte4tef Hlthout = inorq
rsaI recornifior o. - riE41 q lhe long
suffering thire party. me eo1suraer. than
mas ever been soooreea 1sfors Ths wids-
spread seutimeut thar m4nifested itaaif
for government oWuefnilip % - coal
mines and tie ftIIl aitaf demand Tor thu
iafrictsat government rsEu.afion Of them.
81 cefauiE of ownership are other things
20 be numbered among The permanent
results Of The strike
Thn strike began May r. and the min
ern dld rot yield an inch IN their resolu-
flon until they voted 20 return 20 work
Oct n. after arbitration had been sr-
ranged for. Tho number of men Involved
was ~. 90. Tne pixies 81 hard coal IN New
York. where the factories were nccus-
TONED 70 ne other fuel ruae from q 70
a. high a. - a ton. with often no sup
plies to BE- had. The demand of the min
era was in part for hiEhar wages. bur
- HLLH a 81. .4E
ot ef welEhlnE and grcording the product
Of the meu. ~ which the union. nrtins
a. an organisation. could protsct its
members interests.
The mine owncrs. organised Ia the most
thorough monopoly in the country. and
Represented ~ the presidents or the coal
earrying railroads. seemed 70 welcome
the strike. and contemptuously deciired
an proposals af arbitration. from what
ever source Whether their attitude was
dictated BY a desire to obtain larger hold
luea nr stock IN n dfmorallnqd market or
TO make posslhla permanent higher prices
for coal. OF from deep untnsouism 20
organised labor. wAs matter only for
speculation On the part q outsiders.
Through the strike there has risen a.
ono of the greatest among tho great nE-
uren of Americans of the day that Of
Mine Workers Union. who June A.. ai
indianapolis prevented the hifumInona
Icoal miners from striking IA sympathy.
who carried on the strike with less &C.
lcompanying vioience than vas ever
kunHn IN 20 great Industrial diaorFanlEa =
tion hefore. ana who. despite great per
aonai argratation from HIS opponents
mafhoda. maintained serenity that
helped not little IN the rlear-sishfed
progress which Ne made 10 ultimate vic.
tory with the HndlnN of President
RooseYelt'a comninsion of arbitration
next spring will come The end, a. far
as rs immediate Incidents are concerned.
OF an Industrial struggle that would new
er have begun had the representatives of
capital showed themselves - true to
their agreements and a. intelligent IN
their views as did the representatives a.
labor.
Independents Of Cuba.
or The two great eVents Or the year In
connection with the treatment b. the
United States of the Islands that fell
under ~ influence a. result Of the
spanish war the first vas the inaugurn.
ton CT independent government in Cuba.
The Cuban Independents day. when Prea-
ldent Palma took contrcl Of the execu-
tive once. was Nay q Just N - days
after younk Alfoaso nttaired his ma
1oriiy and brcrme king Of rpain N fast
The popular elcctisl had btln held liec.
a. 1901 and the electoral college had
chosen the islands president Feb =.
The American military governor Gen-
Leonard Wood. lowered the American
nag and iefs the ialand. TO ~ own -
sources.
Peace IN the Philippines
Tho rhnippins islands were declared
~ proclamation OF the President July
4 20 Be In state of peace and quiet and
worthy or tho establishment Of the civil
In place Of military government. for
when Congress- had provided. with this
went a proclamation Of amnesty 10 po-
iltical onendern and civil standardization
began
Through Gov. TART the nrrt American
envoy ever sent 70 Rome arrangements
were made with tho pope, not formally.
but practically. by which tho friafs'
lands n tha Philippines shall be trans
f1rred 10 the United States. 10 be rcsold
20 the Flipinoa fhcmtelres. The Phiiip-
pine isiarda were given a - per cent
reduction On the Dineley tarln rates at
thu last session Of Congress. and the
present session - oonsderinE the further
roductlon OF this % that the reduction
viii be Is per cent-ihat is. that only =
per cent Of the schedule duties need be
paid.
The Years Legislation.
OF national Legislation during the year
thera was none u more importance 70
either the commerce or the naval power
Of the country than that authorizing
fhn construction Of an IaihmlAn canal
After much discussion Of the relative
mafItn Of the Panama and the Nicara-
guam routes Congress made provision
Tor a f1ooOoooo0 bond issue and passed
D lay which gave President Roosevelt
Ihs power % decide upon the route
OF ether seelalasion he passage OF he