New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-17
UNDER THE BLESSING OF con 8.

We have been greatly interested to note the
critical comments OF The Brooklyn Eagle on
President ROOsevelt's action in the coal strike
It's condemnation Of the Presidents remarks in
his letter of acceptance, which we reprinted
Yesterday fer The information Of w. Bourke
Cochran - without any expectation. however.
that the gentleman will ever deign TO conform
bis eloquence 10 poor thing like the truth
contained the statement that 1.-The President
hurried 10 the rescue Of a cause fortified by
''the use Of dynamite" The cause Of coal min
ing is fortified by the use Of dynamite 1t is
used for the prosecution Of the business in large
quantities. But that is not what ''The Eagle"
means It means 10 convey the idea that the
President was friendly 10 anarchists, and hur-
ried 10 their rescue IN order TO save them from
defeat at the hands Of the operators acting ac-
cording to law. After the event. ii is as easy
as It is useless 10 say that the strike. but for
the President, would have collapsed. and that
law instead Of arbitration would have settled
the question. But IN October. 1902, the wisest
cid not know when coal mining would be re-
sumed. The President had nothing 10 do with
enforcing law In Pennsylvania. That was
local matter, and nothing he did interfered with
the enforcement OF law. At a time when law
wac not being enforced by those alone having
power To enforce Il, when there was no certain
" that even with fits enforcement the operators
could ger enough trained workers with the
proper license from the State 10 mine coal.
when the whole country was in dire need Of
coal, the President used his influence TO bring
the contending parties 90 an agreement Is it
fair now 20 describe that act as a case OF hur-
rying TO the rescue OF q cause fortified by the
use OF dynamite? Here is what The Eagle"
thought about 1t on October q, 1902:
The Presidents commission. with the loresi-
dent himself as informally the umpire. viii try
20 settle matters lately in dispute as 10 make
and non-union labor, and between both Kinds
and the operators in the anthracite field, by an
agreement stipulated 20 last three years. and BIZ
which the operators and the miners both solemn
- are pledged 10 be bound. That the commits
SIGN may be successful viii be the hope of all
right minded men.
The action OF the President was nns In its
motive and most fortunate IN its immediate ef-
feet IL was, however, dangerous as q precedent.
fne best result that can conns from 81 would be
one that would make recourse 90 the process
unnecessary hereafter. Neither presidencies nor
goVeFnoFships. nor the personality OF their in
tentlons which law should be able 70 settle We
welcome the result. but regret and dsplore thu
need there was for che Rctson that produced 81
The price paid, the substitution Of private agree
mert for public government. too high and
is TOO hazardous for frequent repetition.
Still, II the end does not crown the work, the
work crowns fhe snd and The end of the strike
has coma Cool is better than controve rsy.
Coal 81 is TO bs, AND Hors too soon. &or can
there be any too much
1hs American peo.!e ssve turned &c grsvs =