Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-01-09
Coal Strike the Event of the
Year Of the Most Far.Reach.
ing importance Public Sem
timent Thoroughly Aroused;
Over the Controversy.

ssAAASsAs AAOiOu6nly EAHVuOSo
Over the Controversy.
The year of 1902 opened with the as
sured certainty Of the early coming Of
peace In the Philippines and South AZ
RIGA, 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-
preaching the favorable determination OF
Its great problem of the construction or
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
nave been the cause for new strain IN
the Interpretation of the Monroe doctrine.
But as the outcome proved. not even
the greatest of these matters possessed
for the people of the United States sucn
vital Importance as another event, wnich
was far from being foreseen at the time.
and which. when it came, gave at the
start little reason to suspect what us
course and conclusion would be. This
was the great strike in the anthracite
coal mines of Pennsylvania, which lasted
through the summer and fall.
1t 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 occasioned 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 a 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 consumers-who
were concerned In 1t neither as employ
ers nor as laborers. but who were forced.
by the 1eopardizing of their own inter.
ests as consumers, to intervene for their
own protection.
The strike began May IL, and the min
ers did not yield an inch in their resolu-
ton until they voted to return to work
Oct q, after arbitration had been ar
ranged for. The number of men involved
was 147 900. The price of hard coal In New
York, where the factories were accus-
toned to no other fuel, rose from So to
as high as 500 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 CONTEMPORARY declined
all proposals of arbitration, from what
YH-AI Ill
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 antagonism 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 II. at
Indianapolis. prevented the 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-
ton before. and who, despite great per-
sonal aggravation from his opponents
maintained a serenity that
helped not little in the clear-sighted
progress which he made to ultimate VIC
tory. with the finding of President
commission of arbitration
next spring will come the end. as far
as its immediate incidents are concerned.
of an Industrial struggle that would new
err have begun had the representatives Of
capital showed themselves as true to
their agreements and as intelligent in
their views as did the representatives of
labor.
Independence of Cuba.
: OF the two great events of the year in
with the treatment by the
under its influence as result of the
Spanish war. the first was the Inaugural
ton of independent government in Cuba.
The Cuban independence day, when Pres
ldent 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 |
flag and left the island. to its own re-
sources.
Peace In the Philippines.
The Philippine Islands were declared |
by proclamation of the President July |
/. to be In state of peace and quiet and |
worthy of the establishment or the CIVIL |
In place of military government, for |
which Congress had provided With this
went a proclamation of amnesty to po-
itical offenders and civil administration
began.
The Years Legislation.
OF national legislation during the year
here was none of more Importance to
sither the commerce or the naval power
n the country than that authorizing |
he construction of an isthman canal.
fter much discussion of the relative
merits of the Panama and the Nicara-
man routes. Congress made provision
or a 5000, 900, 900 bond issue and passed
, law which gave President Roosevelt
he power to decide upon the route
or other legislation the passage of the
rational irrigation act turning over the
.evenues from the national domain for
he use of a comprehensive scheme of
irrigation, and the creation of perma-
,ent census bureau are to be noted. To
.eIieve the congestion of an ever-accu-
nuIating surplus. Congress removed the
ast Of the war revenue taxes and passed
he largest river and harbor bill In the
.ountrv's history-appropriati s65,0OO.-
m "A Decent pound tax on colored
'Jeomar garine, so heavy as practically
q cut that industry in half, was i'm
,osed. -.
End Of the Boer War.
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