Milford chronicle., 1904-09-30
COAL STRIKE OF 1902.
The Democratic Attack on Roosevelt
Because of His Action.


Because of His Action.
Eagerly searching for grounds upon
which to base their charge that Presi-
dent Roosevelt has encroached upon the
limits of his duties as set by the Con-
sttution, the nfantile Constitution
Club Of New York City. has pitched
upon the settlement of the coal strike,
IN the tall Of 1902. as an instance OF
"usurpati0n Of authority"
Nothing could have been more for
tunate for Mr.. Roosevelt than the revival
Inus instituted among the people of the
United States Of the memory of the sore
STRAITS IN which the whole people stood
TWO Years ago, in the shadow Of ap-
/ proa ching winter, and with the supply of
( eoai SMUT off by an apparently irrecon
| ciiaoie conflict between the coal-mine
! operators and their employees, and of the /
means by which the unbelrable situa- /
tioh was brought to an end. For in our /
( time events move so rapidly that the (
perilS' the anNieties. and disorders of two
years ago are as ancient history. Yet
Where the public mind is brought back
" me trial and stress of the coal strike
Petlou OF lJO2. there is no lack OF CRATE
Iui remembrance of the humane. tact
Ild aAd courageous action of President
bo3sevelt in settling the strike.
Gratitude is expensive" remarked
cynical historian Of the Eighteenth Cen
tury. That tie leaders Of the Democratic
party ind it 50 expensive as to be pro- ,
hl0atory for them is certain. 1t was
the wives and children of Democrats. /
as Wei as Republicans, who were saved q
from the ravages of freless hearth in S
the winter Of 19O2-1903 There are hun O
lreus Of thousands of Democrats who il
VIA remember that, and who do not find o
sratltude expensive" The miners of v
{ ehhsyivania, who received the boon C
IL the hardest labor-and they craved it
through the efforts of President Roose- I
et and his commissioners. remember.
ma there is not remote chance thar .
hey' nor many thousands of other citi-
ems an over the country, viii consider
I&utude too expensive for them to in 81
uise H. and in Il practical manner. at u
ne polls next November. ~
recent writer upon the Presidents -,
c'ion TO relieve the distress occasioned ~,
inc coal strike gives the following ~.
count OF the initiation, by Mr.. Roose- p,
IT, Oh ms efforts in behalf of the peo- hi
e and the country: m i',i
In IN October 1902. when the anthracite III
llhe was wei under way and there was ,.
~ ''ipii,e1eghslGn that it would be maintained =.
- ~ tIe heaFF iroSts came and perhaps no
hS aItef, President Roosevelt Received an
,+ ,+' aplSgdls from all parts Of the country on
a ne OHef ms good Offices as an iudivid- a.
" 10 quiet this trouble. These apDeaIs As
me daily and were of such innressiva
,tulAs, some plaintiye. almost piteous, trv
~ EXPRESSING the serious apprehension | cd
me people, that the President felt he pai
uld not be unmindful of them ITe thera fr
ie summoned TO conference I'm Wash on,
-luh an OF the operators whose mines las
re involved ANA stated To them M tho -,.o
{ 7NiHlnS OF TINS conference that he wished ON
~ tuig 10 understand that he had no cer
tHoiIly IN law or precedent for any ac- ove
"a ~ tne way OF counsel or urgent appeal ain
IlisIt ~ maze. Personally, the President NED
eW that the task he was undertaking in iTyoi
'tu 10 HtIie political risk. He fOresaw e1r
,Iitr, ,Jt oi me tne conservative opinion Of the q
lntty would seriously question the wis !
nl' proprlety or lawfulness Of the sion vii
y IL seemed to him that he might sav ,ri,,
~ 10 tne opelators and to the labor lead tr,
) tndt ne offered his services as mediator tIy
tndt the contest which SO scrioUsiv doe
'e3tehed the welfare ana peace of tbe of
zoe country might be brought to an -
W ith little encouragement from the ",
dnncs President Roosevelt took upon .i ,'l-,i
lself, as an individual the difficult a.. a.!
* OF healing a wound which seemed -
'eieSs in its ugly depth and envenom- .Iii4 .i'''
Al4tdlIoh' 1ue result IS known to g.; =
world. The nation hailed the SET ~ l.
hent Of the strike with JOY. Theodore 5'''i
osevelt had done the first duty of ~ ~ !. u
hrst citizen Of a republic. and with l I,'eS
any remote fraction of a violation ''.,,, ess
the constitutional duties or rights of ,ho To'
other official or body Of officials. of nv
igress' or any judicial tribunal. NJ
hose who call this action an infringe. W
1t upon the United States Constitn- siHi 4
reveal condition of puerile men Us a. !
ty which is fairly ridiculous. II is ,i luI1
attack Of the kind which furnishes PUN
IS to the opposition. Re,,
ne supporters of President Roosevelt
come the coal strike "reminiscences tn
Constitutional Club must be a col teres
ION Of owl-like creatures who can fund
see by daylight May their tribe of N
ease among the Democratic forces, can
are helpful to the Republicans bran,
long as they remain on the other ly ne
of the political fence. Thre