The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-27
Determined to End 1t Though
1t Brought Impeachment.
INTENDED TO USE THE ARMY
Only Wanted to Get 1t Into
Coal Region.
Then He Was Prepared to Do
the Rest.

New York, May 27.@Theodore
Roosevelt, as president, was ready to
take measures equivalent to action
in time Of war; to end the great strike
in the Anthracite mines in 1902. He
was determined to take action even
though an effort should be made later
to impeach him for it. Mr.. Roosevelt
so testified in giving testimony today
before a referee in the suit of Alexan-
der T. Wales, a lawyer, in Bingham
ton, New York, against President
White of the United Mine Workers of
America for fees he alleges are due
him for the part he took in settling
the strike.
In September" said Mr.. Roose-
welt. 1.-The situation began to grow
acute. 1t was situation full of men,
ace to the country. I asked to appear
before me Representatives of the op-
orators and of the miners. I regard
ed the attitude Of John Mitchell, then
head of the miners. as reasonable,
and the attitude of the operators as
unreasonable. and offensive"
After telling of his efforts to settle
the strike through a commission of
consented to head, he continued:
II made up my mind that I would
have to take drastic action, unless the
operators and miners got together. I
intended to send in the United States
army. I only wanted to get it in
ton.
Asked Quay to Help.
IT told Senator Quay Of Pennsyl-
vania would act, and I would guar
antee that the people Of the eastern
seaboard would have coal and have
it right away. 1 told him that II he
would help me he could vote to i'm
peach me later If he wished. I asked
Quay to arrange to have Governor
Stone of Pennsylvania, when I noti-
fed the governor to send me word
that he was unable to control the sit
uation and then would send in the
army. ..........--.
II planned to have General SEQ
field go In and take charge with the
troops and act practically as receiv-
er for the mines.
''I told the general it would be
equivalent to action taken in time of
war and that he must pay no heed
to any other authority-no heed to
a writ from a judge or anything else,
except my commands. He said he
would do so.''
Colonel Roosevelt said he kept his
plan secret, even from the members
of his cabinet. The operators. he said.
persisted in their uncompromising
plan until finally a change came, and
after many disputes about the men,
bership of the commission, one was
appointed and the strike ended.
Spars With Attorney.
Colonel Roosevelt was constantly
sparring with Mr.. Wales, who con-
Quoted his own case. When under
cross examination, Mr.. Wales fire.
quently angered him, and he bent for
ward shaking his finger at the lawyer
and scowling at him. He said he had
never seen Mr.. Wales before and
knew nothing of any part which the
plaintiff took in settling the strike.
Mr.. Wales tried to make Colonel
Roosevelt admit he was willing to
violate the law, defy the courts and
disregard the constitution to settle the
strike.
Il would not accept your interpre-
tation of the constitution Colonel
Roosevelt retorted. II proposed that
every action 1 took should be in ac-
cordance with the constitution as
Abraham Lincoln construed it."
would you have settled the strike,
law or no law" persisted the plain
tiff
I'D have settled it," Colonel Roose-
welt said. I'D have found a law