The Grit-advocate., 1903-01-09
Ceal Strike the Event Of the
Year Of the Most Far.Reach.
ms importance Sen
timent Thoroughly Aroused
Over the Controversy.
~~~~~

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 isthmian ship canal, and abroad Ger
many and England We're almost ready
Tor combined action against NeneZuela
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 it came, gave at the
start little reason to suspect what its
course and conclusion would be. rms
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 it was fought: nor
was II 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 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 It crystallized sentiment
on the part of that great body of the
American public-the consumers-who
were concerned in 1t neither 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 rcsolu-
tion until they voted to return to work
Oct. q, after arbitration had been ar
ranged for. The number of men involved
was I7,000 The price of hard coal in New
York, where the factories were accus-
toned to no other fuel, rose from $3 to
as 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
az 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
all proposals Of arbitration. from what
ever source. Whether their attitude was
dictated by desire to obtain larger hold
ings of stock in a demoralized market or
to make possible permanent higher prices
for coal. or from a 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
Mine Workers Union, who June II, at
Indianapolis. prevented the bituminous
coal miners from striking in sympa thy.
who carried on the strike with less ac-
eompanyins violence than was ever
known in SO great industrial disorganiza-
ton before, and who. despite great per-
sonal aggravation from his opponents
methods, maintained a serenity that
helped not a little in the clear-sghted
lprogress which he made to ultimate vic
sRoosevelts commission of arbitration
next spring will come the end far
a. Its immediate incidents are concerned,
! Of an industrial struggle that would new
q 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
connection with the treatment by the
United States of the islands that fell
under Its influence as a result of the
Spanish war. the first was 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.
Il. 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.
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. 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.
After much discussion of the relative
merits of the Panama and the Nicara-
guam routes. Congress made provision
for $500. 900 bond issue and passed
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 a 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
the largest river and harbor bill in the
country's history-approprtat seaoo0.-
ooo A 10-cent a pound tax on co!ored
oleomargarne so heavy as practically
Ito cut that industry in half. was i'm
posed.
End Of the Boer War.
The Boer war was brought to an end |
May 81 by the signing at Pretoria by