The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-01-06
ROOSEVELT
ACTON On COAL
STRIKE IN 1902

| New York. Jan. 6.-Hitherto unpup-
blished 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 a
few persons who were to take part
in its execution appear in the nftn
|installment of the ColonePs own let
tiers edited by Joseph Bucklin Bish-
OPP in the January issue of Scribner's
Magazine. The article also gives
some intimate sidelights on Roose-
yelt's attitude toward union labor.
After 20 persons had been killed
and about 40 injured during the riot
ing in the coal fields and the ap-
proach of winter brought with it the
prospect of nationwide fuel fam
line. 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 Accord
ling to his biographer, Mr. Roosevelt
HAD decided, in case the operators
persisted in their refusal to accept a
commission to eassume powers
which the Constitution did not spe-
lcifically give him" ad to use the Uni
ted States army to suppress al VIC
lence and disorder.
Writing to Robert Bacon on Octo-
her 5, 1902, shortly after conference
lin Washington of the mine operators
land the strike leader, the late John
Mitchell, in a futile effort to settle
the trouble by the appointment of u
commission of investigation or arbi-
Itration, he said:
"The situation is bad, especially be-
cause it is possible it may grow infin-
itely worse. II when the severe
weather comes on there is coal
famine, | dread to think of the suffer
ing in parts of our great cities espe-
cially, and | fear there will be fuel
riots of as bad type as any bread
riots we have yer seen. OF course
once the rioting has begun, once
there is a resort to mob violence, the
lOnly thing to do is to maintain order
lit is dreadful thing to be brought
face to face with necessity of TAX
y ing measures, however unavoidable
which will mean the death Of mer
who have been maddened by want
land suffering 7. 2ss- '~~s-a.s4r'4-sa'-.A'
In letter to Senator Lodge he
wrote that he was feeling" his way
\ to solve the difficulty and was deter
mined not be drawn into any "vio
lent step which would bring reaction
and disaster afterward." At anothe
time, he said Most emphaticall!
II shall not compromise with lawless
ness. have been told on excellen
authoriety, that the disorder has beef
livery great and of an evil kind. o.
equally good authority, am told tn
IN exact contrary. shall speedily fin
II out for myself. | stand against sc
N cialism; against anarchic disorder
Nj Colonel Roosevelt's drastic" pla
III of action which Mr. Bishop says h
III 'makes public with the late Pres
III dents permission and authority, II
lin cluded his appointment of an invest
NH eating or arbitrary commission will
|NI out regard to whether or not the Of
||l orators asked for it or agreed [
Hill abide by its decisions He asked e.
I'LL President Cleveland in cas- che wei
lllI| to appoint such commission, If b
ll|l would accept a place on it, and, a
llll cording to Mr.. Bishop, Mr. Clevelar
0||| replied favorably.
|I This commission was only part
|lI) the Presidents PLAN" says Mr.. Bis
MIN OPP. THE investigation which it W,
H||l to conduct would take time In q
HIN der that mining operations might
tlIlI resumed as speedily as possible, Il
HIN President consulted with Senat
HIM Quay, who was all-powerful in Pen
nIll sylvania politics, and was assured
lIn him that whenever the President d
Will sired him to do so he would ha
MINI the governor of the State notify q
IlII| President that he could not Ike
I|lI| order in the coal region and need
nlN federal interference.
Hill The President then informed M
IIIII| or General John M. Schofield that
NlI| case of federal interference he wish
Hill In capd h;y, ~ H. aost