The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-01
GOVERNOR PENNYPACKER.
His Responsibility NOw-h He Falls, Fed
cral Guardianship Proposed.

cral Guardianship Proposed.
To THE EpiToE OF THE SrS-Sir; There are
now five parties to the anthracite situation
in its broad sense, ] name them In the order
OF their numerical Importance:
/. The 20, OCO, 900 or 80, 900, 900 Americans to
whom hard coal has become practically a
necessity of health, comfort and consequent
well being.
?. Some $50, 200 or more miners and workers
in and around tho mines, including both In
dependent and unlonized mems
3. Owners and operators Of dbal mines.
4. The Governor Of Pennsylvania. directly
representing the citizens OF that State.
8. The President OF the United States. who
by force OF outraged public opinion may yet,
and l believe against his better Judgment
be dragged into the wranRle. .
II Is primarily to Governor Pennypacker and
possibly to President Roosevelt Indirectly
that the country must look for an honest,
equitable, speedy settlement Of the con-
troversy, unless the impossible happens and
Mr.. Mitchell wit.draws his absolutely indie
fensible demand that none but unionized
labor be employed In mining anthracite.
Until some Of the most responsible business
men Of the country are willing to place them
selves In q very unfortunate light-to say
the least-the owners and operators will
resist that arrogant demand II not another
pound OF anthracite be sent to dewate this
year. Discussion over the wage scale. which
MIR. Mitchell has asked for and which has been
granted through Mr.. Baer's desire to show
the country that the operators Will do any
thing in reason to avert further trouble
discussion OF the wage scale. We repeat, 10
q wholly secondary matter. and Mr.. Mitchell
knows it. 1t is simply childish 10 make a
grandstand play such as he has made Tin
asking for a further conference next Tuesday,
unless he is willing also to discuss the advisa-
bflity Of giving UP the demand that none but
unionlzed men be permitted TO earn q living
In the mining industry. Beside this con-
stltutional right OF industrial freedom every
thing else sinks out of sight. II Is to-day
the most serious, the most important. the
most pressing question which confronts the
people of the United States. In comparison
Herewith matters Of railway rates, tariff
chan yes, canal building, are insignificant.
II American citi2ens-no matter how poor
and ignorant-are permanently denied the
right TO earn bread for themselves and their
children unless they become member OF a
secretly organized body. which has no stand
ing before the courts. which has no legal
parentage involving public control: then.
we say, and with full realization Of the solemn
import of the words, 80 far is our boosted
freedom a falsehood, our experiment In a
government for the people, by the people,
OF the people. a failure: our Declaration or
Independence a dead letter. That the owners
and operators realize the facts Is evident.
That they Ill refuse TO swerve a hairs breadth
from their course in this respect Is the hope
and expectation Of every intelligent man.
That they are fighting not merely In order
to control their own business enterprises.
but also to settle once and for all the over
whelminR question OF Industrial liberty versus
Industrial serfdom TO a labor monopoly, is
understood by those who are able to take q
calm, sane view Of the situation.
A great many independent workmen. espe-
cially In the Hazleton and Pottsville regions.
will continue at work. we understand, unless
shot, stabbed, dubbed into a state Of dis
ability. That assault and riot may be ex-
pected 10 taken as q matter of course by those
who have seen Pennsylvania g disgrace in the
past. It is up to Governor Samuel W. Penny
packer to maintain the reputation he made
as a Judge through long years Of service to
redeem the good name and fame Of the Com
monwealth whose chosen Executive he is.
The time TO deal with expected riots is now.
not after they have occurred: and one way
TO deal with them would be to Issue at once O
proclamation to the people OF Pennsylvania,
briefly recitins the existing conditions, forci-
bly, declaring anew the right Of every man
to earn his living by honest work. regardless
of any union or other private body; ANNOUNCE
ing that law and order shall be preserved
In spite Of consequence s, and that II the entire
National Guard be unable to keep down in
surrection-as IL was unable in 1eO2-an instant
demand will be made on the Federal Gov
m for sufficient cavalry and artillery
to preserve life. liberty and property in such
portions Of Pennsylvania as are under the
sway Of irresponsible. lawless persons.
The Issuance OF a proclamation Of this kind
would no doubt be deemed unusual, "irregu-
lar: but tho conditions are such as to justify
it should no better and more expeditions
course Of action be open. As was pointed
out by a writer in the NORTH American Repie11
a few months ago, one great difficulty facing
the Governor OF Pennsylvania lies In the fact
that he cannot legally throw any part Of the
National Guard into the field unless called
on by a Sheriff who confesses his inability to
preserve law and order in his particular
county; and furthermore. that a coal region
Sheriff Is the last man on earth who wants
to call for State troops. A Pennsylvania
Sheriff who asks the Governor for help may
Just as well die or move away, we are told.
He can't continue 10 live In peace and safety
at home. His business or political career Ia
ended the moment he sends such a telegram
to Harrisburg.
It is to be taken for granted that Governor
~Pennypacker knows this phase Of the situa-
ton, and / should not be surprised IL In the
near future he should let the coal region
Sheriffs hear from hin In no uncertain tones
as TO the preservation Of law In their terri
tory. II Governor Pennypacker is the man /
take him for. II he is determined to perform
his duty to the public, there will be no neces-
sity for the President of the United States to
again throw himself into the breach to pre-
vent widespread suffering throughout a large
section of this country.
Should the authorities Of the Keystone State
fail to do their duty this time it mi ht not be
a bad idea to consider the plan Of placing
Pennsylvania under Federal guardianship
until che is willing and able to reclaim her
place as a responsible member OF the Union.
NEW YORK, March 81. r.,
Babies Eyes.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sfr. I would like