The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-08
Roosevelt Approved by Cleveland,

Roosevelt Approved by Cleveland.
In their talk about President Roose-
welt being an Hunsafe' man the demo
Gratis refer frequently to his assumption
Of extra unconstitutional powers in the
anthracite coal strike. He is charged
with having set a precedent of great
danger to the country.
On this basis such men as Carl Schurz,
Bourke Cochran. and E. NJ. Sheppard,
no two Of whom by any combination
have anything in common, have been
ringing the changes upon their new-found
issue Of the unsafeness Of the presi-
dent, and employing the anthracite in
cident as an illustration.
It appears, however, that there are
some facts in connection with that an
thracite settlement with which the
president s detractoEs may not be al
together familiar. They are brought
out in recent pamphlet entitled els
sues Of New Epoch,' by Joseph Buck
lin Bishop, and deal with the coal strike,
| l. cHhhc]AAe', CAAO hAAAppAhOo c'AAo oeAOos
1t is not necessary to explain now all
the steps which led up to the appoint
ment of the anthracite commission. It
is sufficient to say that a condition of
things had arisen which had created
great deal Of anxiety. The coal famine
threatened business decentralization and
great sufferings were imminent. The
state of Pennsylvania was unable to
provide the protection for the operators
to carry on their mines, and they were
unable to obtain miners to do the work
if they had had the protection. ~.
While capital and labor stood at
sword g points, the general public, after
all the most deeply interested party,
was compelled to stand by and suffer the
consequences of the struggle.
1t was at this time that the people
turned to the federal government and
appealed to the president for relief. He
was at first extremely besitant, rcogniz-
ing the fact that he had no constitu-
tional authority to interfere. But,
urged by such men as Mayor Low Of
New York, Governor Crane of Massa-
chusetts, and appealed to by people Of
all classes from all parts of the coun-
try, he decided to tender his services
in the capacity Of a citizen, and not as
president, with a view to bringing about
a settlement. 49, -: -
This offer was at first repulsed by
both sides. Neither party to the quar-
rel seemed to be able to advance to the
high ground Of consideration for the
public welfare to which he invited them.
But actuated by sense Of duty, and
disregarding the lack Of consideration
shown to him as the first citizen Of the
republic, he persisted, with what sue
cess is known to the country.
The point Of interest Just now is the
attitude of distinguished democrats at
that time toward the president 8 action,
and this pamphlet, by Mr.. Bishop,
brings out the fact that early in the
president s efforts to bring about peace
between the miners and the operators,
: ex-President Cleveland took occasion
to write to the president to express to
him his approval of the president Is
; course and his righteous indignation at
!. the obstinacy of the contestants. His
r letter contained suggestions for a plan
! of settlement, and gave as reason fol
volunteering his views that it was
& simply Gan indication of the anxiety
felt by millions of our citizens on the
1 subject ES
s So it appears that Mr.. Roosevelt, wht
4 certainly performed one Of the creates
E services ever rendered by president tt
9 the people, and who is placed before tn,
r public in false and unfavorable ligh
. by.his political opponents, had for on,
Y Of his advisers the most eminent dem
/ ocrat in the country, and enjoyed hi
approval and his counsel.
g So closely were the president and tn
n ex president in harmony in this matte
s that it was President Roosevelt's in
s tention and expressed purpose to ap
point the ex-president as the head Of tn
9 commission. knowledge Of this fac
t came to the operators before they ha
O.. finally given their consent to this basi
a of settlement, and, recognizing the fac
y that they could not object to the inter
l. mediary services Of the expression
It without great damage to their cause
t. they made haste to accede to the pres
ISL dents proposals on the nnderstandin
d1 that the ex-president was not to b
n named as a commissioners. h
Ia Abundant other testimony beside
leiE that Of Mr.. Cleveland to the wisdom q
81 the presidents course in the coal strik
lef might be adduced from the utterance
dI of distinguished men at the time. BIZ
a. perhaps none Of tthemis entitled to MOI
it consideration than that Of Judge Ora
1t Of Delaware, who indicated his approx:
10 of the Presidents course by acceptin
A. the Craftsmanship of the commission
~ and who, in an inter view nearly a yea
IS afterward, said: *. ], do not think thu
" any president ever acted more wiseI
le. courageously, more promptly in q nj
s. tional crisis. So far. from interferin
b. or infringing upon property rights, tt
le president IS action tended to consery