Evening star., 1920-01-06
HAD DDRAST|CPLAN
! TO SETTLE STRIKE
/ OF MINERS IN 1902
SideIights on RooseveIt's At
, titude Toward Union Labor
I Cleaned From Letters.

NEW YORK. January 6.-Hitherto
Unpublished details of the drastic
plan President Roosevelt had decided
TO adopt to settle the anthracite strike
of 1902, said to have been known only
TO two members of his cabinet and
Few persons who were to take part IN
It's execution. appear in the fifth in
etalIment of the ColonerS own letters
edited by Joseph Eucklin Bishop IN
the January issue of ScrihnerS Maga-
zine The article also gives some in
innate sidelights on RooseveltS atti-
tude toward union labor.
After twenty persons had been
Killed and about forty injured during
1he rioting in the coal fields and the
approach of winter brought with 1t
the prospect of nationwide fuel
famine. the mayors of large cities and
governors of several states appealed
to the President. Mr.. Bishop says, to
interfere in the interest of the public
welfare and safety.
According to his bioSrapher. Mr..
Roosevelt had decided, in case the op
orators persisted in their refusal to
accept commi ssion. "to assume pow
ers which the Constitution did not
specifically give him and to use the
United States Army to suppress all
violence and disorder.
Arbitrary Commission.
Col. Roosevelts drastic" plan of
action, which Mr.. Bishop says he
makes public with the late Presidents
permission and authority. included his
appointment of an investi eating or ar
bitrary commission without regard to
whether or not the operators asked
for it or agreed to abide by its de-
cisions. He asked ex-President Cleve-
land in case he were to appoint such
a commission if he would accept a
place on it, and. according to Mr..
Bishop, Mr.. Cleveland replied favor
ably.
This commission was only part of
the Presidents plan." says Mr.. Bishop.
THE investigation which it was to
conduct would take time. In order
that mining operations might be re-
sumed as speedily as possible, the
President consulted with Senator
Quay. who was all powerful in Penn
sylvania politics. and was assured by
him that whenever the President de-
sired him to do so he would have the
governor of the state notify the Presi-
dent that he could not keep order in
the coal region and needed federal in
terference.
SchOfield to Command Troops.
The President then informed Mai
Gen. John NJ Schofield that in case of
federal interference he wished to send
him to the coal regions with the Reg
uluar Army troops with Instructions
TO act as receiver of the mines, take
full charge, put down all violence and
disregard any orders from the oper-
ators. He asked the general if, in case
the operators went to court and had
writ served on him, would he do as
was done under Lincoln. simply send
the writ on to the President After
"a little thought the general replied
that he would. Roosevelt said: All
right, | will send you"
President Roosevelt. it was said. had
all preparations made for starting the
troops within half an hour after the
fny {n1A 81
The plan was not executed, Mr.. Bishop
says. because at the last moment the
operators changed front and consent
ed to the appointment of a commits
sion. Whether or not they got wind
of the Presidents purpose has never
been revealed. but some powerful in
fuence was responsible for their sud
den reversal"