The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-02-12
THE POOR CONSUMER.

II is less than four years since
President Roosevelt intervened in
the anthracite coal strike and effect
ed a settlement which was drawn
battle. That affair cost the operators
and miners at least s100,000,000 in
profits and wages and cost the public
an intolerable burden OF suffering
and annoyance.
Yet we are now threatened with
another battle Netween the same
forces, and the a s comes that both
sides are fully p epared for a pro
tracted struggle. The operators have
stored millions OF tons OF coal and the
miners have set aside millions Of
money for maintenance.
II appears that each has employ.
ed the period of operation to fortify
itself for the greater battle now
threatening Substantially nothing
has been done to perpetuate the
working agreement. The last four
years have been a period. not OF real
peace. but Of mere truce.
II is impossible for the average man
10 form any clear idea of the rights
or the wrongs Of the case. The gen
eral public will incline, no doubt, to
sympathise with the laborers, be.
cause sympathy runs easily to the
mass as against the class.
MeaJwhile the question arises.
What can the consumer do about It?
He will be the real sufferer. Has he
no rights in the case? None that
law or government can take hold Of
II the miners refuse to work or If
the operators choose TO close their
mines, they are acting within their
natural and legal rights to labor or
not to labor. to do business, or not
to do business. as they see At.
But in the larger law Of society, the
consumer has a clear and command
ing right. He has undertaken to run
a factory or he has built home upon
the plainly manifest conditions Of
plentiful coal supply, and his necessi-
ties are entitled to some considera-
tion. But neither capital nor labor
grants him the slightest. In all the
strife Of these ancient and apparent
ly perpetual enemies, the public Is
completely ignored. The consumer is
the victim OF the shots from both
camps, and try as he may he cannot
put himself beyond the range of the
guns.
Considered from the broad stand
point of millions of people thus
placed at the mercy of comparatively
few, the situation is amazing. The
millions are hopelessly bound by the
statutory rights of the few-rights
which the many, through their pro
cess of law and courts. themselves
established, and are yet powerless to
suspend or modify.
The conservative sense of the coun-
try was shocked when the New York
Democratic convention during the
last strike proposed the gov
| ernment ownership of coal mines.
and the idea is the more appalling
when we contemplate the probable
result OF such revolutionary rem
edy; for 1t must appear to the dull
est comprehension that with the pres.
ent status of combination in other
| necessaries of life a like situation is
| likely to develop at any time as the
supply of oil or beef or matches or
clothing Obviously the government
cannot become the universal proprie-
tor
There is no way out of the dilemma
at least 10 open and easy path
We must endure what we can't cure
To stop ~ conflicts of human inter
est would be to usher in the millen-
niam. All that can be done legiti.
mately or wisely is to set up the pub.
lies moral claim for consideration,
to persuade, to preach and to shame
alike greed and force by a constant
propaganda Of decency and fair treat
ment-and 10 intervene, as President
Roosevelt did four years ago, at the
first convenient opportunity
In the meantime the wise man will
look TO his coal bin and pray for an
early summer,-Record,
| -O+O
GoLoeIE SERMONlZES.