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A private letter from Henry Loomis Nelson to George Brinton McClellan Harvey, appearing in Harper’s Weekly, recounts the misunderstanding between former president Grover Cleveland and President Roosevelt regarding Cleveland’s involvement with the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08
President Roosevelt acknowledges Senator Lodge’s letter and comments on his progress in finding a solution to the Anthracite Coal Strike. Many parties want Roosevelt to take drastic action on one side or the other, sending in troops, bringing legal action, or seizing property, all of which is impossible. He continues to seek a solution without taking steps that would cause violent repercussions.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1902-10-07
Uncle Sam, as a tightrope walker, with Seth Low hanging onto his coattails, pushes a wheelbarrow labeled “Arbitration” on which two men are tied, one labeled “Railroads” and the other labeled “Labor.” The men are bound together with straps labeled “Public Opinion.” Uncle Sam is walking on a rope that is stretched across a wilderness river with a waterfall and mountains in the background. Caption: He doesn’t know where he’s going, but he’s on his way.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1913-08-27
In his speech, Theodore Roosevelt discusses his record with labor and the Adamson Law. Roosevelt makes a comparison of his own handling of the 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike with President Woodrow Wilson’s more recent dealings with labor. The speech also mentions major leaders in labor affairs, including Samuel Gompers and Mexican President Venustiano Carranza.
1916-10-14
Text of Rev. Minot J. Savage’s speech, “The Ethics of the Coal Strike.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-06
Mayor Low encloses a telegram that he hopes will strengthen President Roosevelt’s hand in the Anthracite Coal Strike negotiations. Low believes that coal is a “necessity of life” and if an agreement cannot be reached then an agreement should be forced by Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-02
Mayor Low encourages a settlement of the Anthracite Coal Strike and believes that the welfare of the country demands the immediate resumption of anthracite coal mining.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-02
Argues that the continuation of the Anthracite Coal Strike is the fault of the operators for not agreeing to any concessions or submitting to arbitration while insisting on the unconditional surrender by the miners. The strike cannot be considered a simple business matter as lack of coal is creating widespread suffering. Coal is a necessity and should be treated as such, i.e. like food.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-02
Senator Hanna believes Secretary Shaw’s policy to end the Anthracite Coal Strike will clear the situation and guarantee prosperity. He hopes for success.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-02
Leading anthracite businessmen do not believe that there will be a strike. If a strike does occur, a large operator promised that Senator Hanna would not be allowed to interfere in order to further his political aspirations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902
Collection of responses from coal companies to the conference requested by John Mitchell and the United Mine Workers of America.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902
David T. Day reports that John Mitchell is in New York, New York, and asks whether he should initiate negotiations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-09
Commissioner of Labor Carroll D. Wright opposes compulsory arbitration to end the Anthracite Coal Strike.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-09
Further wage concessions are offered to end the Anthracite Coal Strike.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-08
An unknown writer pledges that his organization will not challenge the jurisdiction of any judge appointed by President Roosevelt and will accept the results from the day the miners return to work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-08
Two tramps sit on railroad ties. One is reading the newspaper, and there is a pot heating on a campfire. Two railroad cars, a coal car and a box car, stand in the background. Caption: Agitating Abe — I tell yer, if us fellers wants t’ be reckernized, we got t’ form a union. / Plugcut Peters — Dat’s what! Den, if de grub dey give us ain’t up to de American standard of livin’, we kin force dem ter arbitrate!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1903-01-07
A female figure labeled “Arbitration” stands between a soldier labeled “Law & Order” and a laborer labeled “Strike” who is holding a bomb and about to throw a brick, with the words “Riot” and “Arson” appearing in the smoke billowing from a fire behind him.
This cartoon reflected the growing incidents of labor strife, some of them violent, as organized labor attempted to assert itself as a bargaining force in the American economy. Specifically the cartoon foreshadows a major confrontation that occurred later in the year, known as the U. S. Steel Recognition Strike. As J. P. Morgan consolidated his steel and tin holdings under the new trust, the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers (The AA) feared that their bargaining positions would be diminished or denied (as it turns, out, they were, by secret vote of the U. S. Steel board). The AA had tenuous agreements with one of the few surviving independent steel makers, Sheet Steel, but lost ground as it suffered from competition by Morgan. In 1903 it was swallowed by U. S. Steel, and Morgan’s corporation asserted itself as a closed shop that did not allow union organization.
Cartoon shows President Roosevelt riding a reindeer as Santa Claus sits atop a sleigh full of coal. Caption reads, “We’ll Make a Hit This Year, Santy.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-09
George F. Baer and John Mitchell share a pipe labeled Arbitration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-26
The Republican elephant looks out at clouds forming the words “Pres. Roosevelt’s Success in Coal Strike Settlement.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-26