The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-31
A Message to the White House.

Some OF those possessing special
knowledge of the anthracite regions for
a decade or more have expressed them
selves as believing that Mr.. MITCHELL
and his chiefs were sincerely DESTROYS of
avoiding an industrial war such as the
country suffered in 1902. This, they
aver, is an exceedingly unpropitious
time for a strike in so far as the mine
workers are concerned. -Four years ago
the operators were caught mapping;
but that experience evidently taught a
ealutary lesson, and now, it is said,
there are many million tons Of anthra-
cite stored neal the large centres Of
demand, which can readily be drawn
upon for months to come. The open
winter Just ended has been an unusually
favorable one for mining and shipping
coal. Owners of factories, hotels, large
wholesale and retail houses, office build
ings and occupants Of not a few private
residences, we are told, have been able
to lay in a supply Of fuel large enough
to preclude actual suffering even if the
threatened strike should continue until
New Years Day, 1907.
Owing in part to these conditions,
also to the fact that Americans will not
forever submit to industrial tyranny,
and because jealousy, rivalry, distrust,
have wormed their corroding way deep
into the loyalty which Mr.. MITCHELL
once enjoyed from practically all of his
followers, it is not unreasonable to be-
lieve those who assert that he, at any
rate, wants no strike at this time. There
are other considerations, however, more
weighty than any thus far mentioned
which may exert powerful influences
looking toward an early cessation of
warfare should a tripartite struggle now
involve the operators, the mine work.
ers and the general public. Four years
q the Hazleton region was perhaps
the most thoroughly organized of any
In the anthracite fields; the men there
and in the Schuylkill region literally
held undisputed sway, before which
ordinary peace officers were powerless.
Even General GOBLIN, with ten thousand
disciplined troops in the ield-cavalry,
artillery, infantry-found it impossible to
restore order and maintain law. Assault,
intimidation, arson, murder, ceased only
as a result Of the treaty Of Washington,
brought about wisely or unwisely in an
effort to end conditions described as
being @intolerable" to a large part Of
the American people. To-day, we I'M
derstand from published information, a
large percentage Of the men in the
Hazleton and Pottsville regions are not
members Of the United Mine Workers.
If a serious strike should occur it seems
probable that the miners union may
make the Lehigh and Schuylkill fields
tseir first point Of attack, intimidation,
assault, In order to persuade" indie
pendent mine workers there to join the
organization.
But something has happened in the
State OF Pennsy lvania since a weak
livered, invertebrate Governor permit
ted the instruction Of 1902 to assume
d~isgraceful proportions. The people of
Pennsylvania have been heard from in
no uncertain tones, as witness victories
in which Mayor WEAVER is a conspicuous
standard bearer. That a repetition Of
riot and pillage in the anthracite regions
should come this year is well nigh
unbelievable.
Lastly, it Is to be ~fervently hoped
that p~sychical antenne, waving their
invisibility above a large white structure
about 224 miles to the southwest Of New