River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-09-29
COAL STRIKE OF 1902.
The Democratic Attack on Roosevelt
Because of His Action.

Aue democratic Attack on hooseNeAp
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-
| stitution, the infantile Constitution
! Club" of New York City, has pitched
| upon the settlement of the coal strike,
in the fall of 1902, as an instance of
'usurpation of authority"
Nothing could have been more for
tunate for Mr.. Roosevelt than the revival
thus 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-
| preaching winter, and with the supply of
| coal shut off by an apparently irrecon-
cllabIe conflict between the coal-mine
| operators and their employees, and of the
means by which the unbearable situa-
ton was brought to an end. For in our
time events move so rapidly that the
| perlls, the anXieties, and disorders of two
years ago are as ancient history. Yet,
where the public mind is brought back
to the trial and stress of the coal strike
| period OF 1902, there is no lack of CRATE
tul remembrance of the humane, tact
ful and courageous action of President
| Roosevelt in settling the strike.
Gratitude is expensive" remarked a
| cynical historian of the Eighteenth Cen
fury. That the leaders of the Democratic
party find it SO expensive as to be pro-
| hIbatory for them is certain. 1t was
the wives and children of Democrats,
as well as Republicans, who were saved
| from the ravages Of frelesS hearth in
the winter of 1902-1903. There are hun
| dreds of thousands of Democrats who
Will remember that, and who do not find
| gratitude expensive" The miners of
| pennsylvania, who received the boon
| OF the hardest labor-and they craved it
through the efforts of President Roose
Welt and his commissioners, remember,
ana there is not a remote chance that
| they, nor many thousands of other citi-
zens all over the country, will consider
| gratitude too expensive for them to in
dulge IN, and in a practical manner, at
the polls next November.
A recent writer upon the Presidents
action to relieve the distress Occasioned
| by the coal strike gives the following
| account of the initiation, by Mr.. Roose-
| welt, Of his efforts in behalf Of the peo-
pie and the country:
| ''In October, 1902, when the anthracite
STRIKE was well under way, and there was
| apprehension that it would be maintained
until the heavy frosts came and perhaps
long after, President Roosevelt received
I many appeals from all parts Of the country
| that he offer his good offices as an indlvid-
ual to quiet this trouble These appeals
came daily, and were of such impressive
wording some plaintiye, almost piteous,
many expressing the serious apprehension
OF the people, that the President felt he
could not be unmindful of them. He there
fore summoned to Il conference in Wash
ingtOn all of the operators whose mines
were involved and stated to them at the
beginning of this conference that he wished
them fully to understand that he had no
authority in law or precedent for any ac-
tion in the way of counsel or urgent appeal
he might make. Personally, the President
knew that the task he was undertaking in
vOlved no little political risk. He foresaw
much of the conservative opinion of the
country would seriously question the wis
dom, prOpriety or laWfulneSS of the step,
yet 1t seemed to him that he might say
both to the operators and to the labor lead
erS that he offered his services as mediator
so that the contest which so seriously
threatened the welfare and peace of the
whole country might be brought to an
END"
With little encouragement from the
quidnuncs, President Roosevelt took upon
himself, as an individual, the difficult
task Oh meaning wound Wnlcn seemed
hopeless in its ugly depth and envenom-
ed irritation. The result is known to
the world. The nation hailed the set
Element of the strike with joy. Theodore
Roosevelt had done the first duty Of
the first citizen of a republic, and with
out any remote fraction of violation
of the constitutional duties or rights Of
any other official or body Of officials, of
Congress, or any judicial tribunal.
Those who call this action an infringe
ment upon the United States Constitu-
ton reveal a condition of puerile men
tally which is fairly ridiculous. 1t is
an attack of the kind which furnishes
arms to the opposition.
The supporters of President Roosevelt
welcome the coal strike "reminiscences.
The Constitutional Club must be col
lection of owl-like creatures who can
not see by daylight May their tribe
increase among the Democratic forces!
They are helpful to the Republicans
SO long as they remain on the other
side of the political fence.