San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-02
Men and Affairs
By II. I. S.

Copyright. by The San Antonio Light
! Washington, ID. C., Sept. 1.-What
ever else may be said of the anthra'
cite miners and operators, their path
ways of the past two months GER
tainly have fallen in the pleasant
places. Some one has said that If the
momentuous capital and labor par
leys had taken place at the bottom of
a mine shaft they probably would
have been concluded in a very few
days But negotiations by the sad
sea waves at Atlantic City over a
period of six or eight weeks wasn't
such distressing fate for those who
held the question Of petc. or war in
! the anthracite fields in their hands.
And at Harrisburg the negotiations
of the past few days Nth Governor
Pinchot were conducted in the gov
crnor's reception room in the famous
Pennsylvania state capitol. Even all
Of the corruption and graft which
marked the erection of the edifice
failed to rob it of splcndor which
/ probably never will be aqualled in
any state building of the future.
The governors room, where miners
and operators sat about a heavy wal
nut table covered with gold stamped
| morocco leather, is undoubtedly one
of the most ornate chambers 10 be
found in any part o. the world. The
very atmosphere of the room "a heavy
with luxury and expense. Every
Pennsylvania must swell with pride
when he steps within its pc rtals. Even
the miners. fresh from the Venetian
gardens and Roman C, llonades of At
lantic City's finest hotels. gave gasp
when they entered the highly adorned
meeting place chosen by Governor
Pinchot.
About the high panneled walls there
is a mural friese of as rich color
ard treatment as the famous quest of
the holy grail in the public library
at Boston. The fricse which is the
work of Violet Oakley of Philadel-
phia, depicts events in the history of
the commonwealth Of Pennsylvania,
most of the paintings dealing with
the life of William Penn. As he sits
in the reception room, Pinchot, tee
totaler and one of the dryest execu
tives in the country, is forced to gaze
upon the likeness OF old Admiral Penn,
seated beside table with an open
rum bottle hard by. The admiral is
driving William Penn from the family
domicilc. driving him with clenched
fist and evidently with good bit
of the rum inside. The legend on the
picture says that William is being ex-
lied because of his sympathy with
the, despised sect of Quakers."
Another of the murals shows the
| condemnation of Anne Askew TO death
by burning. He-esy was the charge
against Anne and the picture lends
itself to richness of color through the
scarlet robes of the cardinals who
were the judges. The quaint letter.
ing on the panel 'eads: Rather deathe
than false TO faythe.'
The richness of the room is further
enhanced by massive floor lamps and
chandeliers of crystal and bronze. Ger
tainly the men Of the mines and even
those of the capitalistic offices of
the money marts could not have asked
for more sumptuous surroundings in
which to voice their disagreements.
One of the most gracious PERSONAL
ties met at the miners conference was
Mrs. Pinchot, wife of the governor.
Mrs. Pinchot has tremendous in
tcrest in public affairs. particularly.
and naturally. those that concern
the present and future political life
of her husband. Mrs. Pinchot is n
member Of the policy committee OF the
american Peace Award, founded by
Edward Box. and will have a voice in
awarding the 100000 prize for the
bct international peace plan which
will give America voice in world af-
fairs. but still keep tt country free
from necessity of participating in any
.Gture wars-''if such should arise"
In the announcement. of the award.
Mrs. PinchOt is described as "wife