The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-24

cent. Of you would gladly have returned
10 work by Sept. IS, had II not been for
ofiioers Of your local unions, smooth
tongued rascab, who went among you
by day and by night, urging and order
ing you to hold out; declaring boldly that
MITCHELL had got his Reverence Bishop
POTTER and Senator MARK HANNA on the
hip, and that through their influence, in
two weeks moro the President Of the
United States would force the coal roads
TO give in TO your demands. You know
the situation; you heard these stories
told again and again.
Then the autumn wore on, with des-
titution facing Others than your own
families. Mills and factories all over
New England and the Middle States were
idle-they had no fuel-and thousands
Of men and women, from Bangor, Me-, to
Detroit, were thrown out Of work, with
winter perilously near. As cold weather
actually came on, schools were closed,
here and there, and churches. Public
meeting places and public conveyances
could not be heated; In a million homes
east Of the Mississippi people suffered
as never before from lack Of fuel, for
they did not know how to get along
without anthracite coal. Grip and
pneumonia made their Tavages. First
our grandparents, enfeebled by long
years Of labor and care, and our weak,
helpless babies were murdered by you.
Then others not In robust health we're
attacked by disease because you refused
them sufficient warmth. and In turn they
suocumbed and were buried. It is prob
ably true that by deliberately prolong-
ing the strike Of 1909, you men Of the
anthracite coal fields were the means Of
killing ten times as many Americans as
persisted by wounds and disease during
the late war with Spain A wave Of
horror swept across the land; zero
weather was with us, and none could
foretel the outcome, And almost in
desperation over the htolerable CON
dition Of affairs, seeing that the military
strength Of this Commonwealth was
unable 70 stamp out your anarchy, yet
honestly fearing lest JOHN MITCHELL
might, perhaps, be telling the truth as
to the justice Of your demands and your
law abiding attitude, gave in, and APP
pointed q commission Of inquiry, with
Judge GRAY Of Delaware a. chairman.
/ know now that in doing this made
the greatest mistake Of my life; but
under the circumstances could see
nothing else TO do. II is needless 20 tell
you, hope, that politics had nothing
to do with my action. You know me
better than that. A single sentence
dictated at my desk In the Executive
offloe In Washington would have started
the entire Department Of the East-in-
fantry, cavalry, artiTlery-rushing to-
ward the coal regions in sixty minutes,
with but one possible result: the strike
would have been broken before the
troops stationed on Governors Island,
New York, could have boarded their
trains In Jersey City. But the Consti-
tuition of the United States does not
the President TO take such
action Independently; and the man who
then was your Governor refused TO call
for Federal assistance, in spite Of Gen.
GoBN's solemn assertion that with the
entire National Guard Of Pennsylvania
at his command he was unable to cope
with the situation.
Naturally, the mine owners and !
operators did not want 10 submit them
selves 10 commission headed by Judge,
GRAY or any other outsider; but for
reasons easily understood they could
not very well refuse q request coming
from the White House, and they finally,
though reluctantly, bowed TO the ineVit-,l
able. The strike was declared Oh,
ceased The taxpayers Of
Pennsylvania had another enormous
bIn 70 settle for necessary expenses Of
The National Guard. Il am informed
hat the operators reoouped their Losses
by adding 50 cents per ton 10 their charges
Tor coal; and II IL presumed that you
miners and mine laborers were not
benefited Sppreciably, for you now are
making preparations To- strike again.
next year.
snow, there 10 Just one thinE,mOre
I want 70 say: When neIt year comes,
strike IL you wish to; cease work In.
or collectively, as you may
choose. But-hAve q care not 70 use
threats, intimidation, blackjack, TO
Volvers or dynamite on other men who
VIII want the jobs you throw Gwayl II
you do inaugurate q season Of anarchy
In 1900, you need expect no help from me,
direct or indirect, for you viii not get
Il. By bringing on another reign Of
terror you may succeed In closing the
mines and again plunge millions Of our
FELLOW citizens into misery such as they
experienced IN 1904. Should this happen
[ promise you, here and now, that all
The weight and power and influence
The President Of the United States can
sxert under the Constitution viii be used
10 crush your rebellion until not shred
of lie vigorous being remains animate
The country viii wait with anxiety
10 hear what President ROOSEVELT does
say 40 WIkesbarro on Aug. 10.
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Innortaut FVents In Ar.ht.