The Delta independent., 1903-01-09
Coal Strike the Event Of the
Year Of the Most Far-Reack-
ing importance Public Sem
timent Thoroughly Aroused
Over the Controversy.


The year of 1902 opened with the as
sursd 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-
preaching the favorable determination OF
Its great problem OF the construction OF
an isthminn ship canal. and abroad Ger
many and England We're almost ready
Tor combined action against Nenezueia
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
Tor the people of the United States such
vital Importance as another event, which
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. TINS
was the great strike In the anthracite
coal mines of Penns ylvania, 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 occasioned 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
.sttuation 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-
eaure of the way II crystailizcd sentiment
the part of that great body of the
American publtc-the eonsumers-who
were concerned In II neither as employ
srs nor ss iaborcrs. but who were forced.
by tho jeopnrdixing OF their own inter.
estr A. consumers. TO intervene for their
own protection.
The strike began May u. and the min
ers did not yield an inch In their rcsolu-
ton until they voted TO return to work
Oct. u. after arbitration had been ar
ranged for. The number OF men Involved
was iC GO The price of hard coal In New
York. where the factories were accus.
toned 10 no other fuel. rose from - 10
~ high A. 50 ton. with often no sup
plies to Be- had. The demand of the min
ers was In part for higher wages. but
sttii more for n regulated and :air meth
cd Of Weighing and recording the product
Of the men. by which the union. acting
a. an organization. could protect its
member 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 conicmptuously declined
all proposals Of arbitration. from what
evss source Whether their attitude was
dictated by desire to obtain larger hold
tags Of stock In demoralfKed market or
to make possible permanent higher prices
for coal. or fro0 a deep antaxonism 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 fiy-
ueeo sf Americans OF the day. that OF
John Mitchell. the young leader OF the
Mine Workers Union. who June L. at
Indianapolis. prevented the bitumInous
coal miners from striking In sympathy,
who carried on the strike with less ac-
oompanyinE violence than was ever
known In 30 great Industrial disorganiza-
ton before, and who. despite great per
oonal aEGrnvasion from his opponents
methods, maintained serenity that
'hsiped not little In the eicar-sighted
lprogress which he made TO ultimate vic.
Sory. With the finding OF Prcsiden;
Stsooscvelts commission of arbitration
next spring will come the end as far
a. its Immediate Incidents nre concerned.
; Of an Industrial struggle that would new
or have begun had the representatives of
capital showed themselves as true to
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
'UnMed States of the islands that fell
under It's influence a result of the
Spanish war. the first was tho Inaugural
ton of Independent government In Cuba
The Cuban independence day. when Pres
ident Palma took control of tho exccu-
tive ONCE, 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 proclamation OF the President July
4. to be in state OF peace and quiet and
worthy of tho establishment OF the civil
In place of military government. for
which Congress had provided. with this
went a proclamation OF amnesty to po-
liticRl offenders and civil administration
began.
The Year's leoisiatlon.
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
tho construction of an isthmian canal.
After much discussion OF the relative
merits OF tho Panama and the Nicara-
yuan routes. Congress made provision
for a s2o0. 900. 900 bond issue and passed
a law which gave President Roosevelt
the power to decide upon the route.
or other legislation the passage OF the
national irrigation act, turning over the
revenues from the national domain for
the use of n comprehensive scheme of
irrigation, and the creation OF a perma-
nent census bureau are to be noted. To
relieve the congestion of an cvcr-nccu-
mulatinR surplus. Congress removed the
last OF tho war revenue taxes and passed
the largest river and harbor bin ~ tho
country's history-appropriating $4,000
o0o A 10-cent n pound tax on coored
oleomargarine. so heavy ms practically
to cut that Industry In half. was i'm
posed.
End Of the 1oer War.
The Bocr war was brought to nm end
May II by the signing at Pretoria BY