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President Roosevelt informs Senator Quay that he has requested a meeting with the presidents of the anthracite coal companies and John Mitchell for October 3. He would like to meet with Quay at his earliest convenience.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-01
President Roosevelt writes to Seth Low to inform him that no result came out of the meeting between the coal operators and miners. If Pennsylvania is unable to maintain law and order, Roosevelt is willing to allow the federal government to intervene at the request of Pennsylvania.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-04
President Roosevelt requests that A. J. Cassatt meet with him on October 3 in Washington, D.C., to discuss the failure of the coal supply, which is affecting the entire nation. Several coal and railroad operators have also been invited.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-01
President Roosevelt requests that John Mitchell meet with him on October 3 in Washington, D.C., to discuss the coal supply. A similar request has been sent to the presidents of the anthracite coal companies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-01
George B. Cortelyou writes to John Mitchell to inform him that President Roosevelt would be pleased to have the district presidents accompany Mitchell to the meeting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-01
Through a series of excerpts from personal letters, President Roosevelt refutes reports in The New York Sun and Harper’s Weekly that Grover Cleveland had never been offered a position on the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission. President Roosevelt argues that in fact Cleveland was offered the position and accepted it, and describes the details of the incident.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-06
President Roosevelt wishes he could put a stop to the strike by arbitration, but believes that making a proposal that fails not only does not do any good, but actively harms the cause. Public opinion, upon which Roosevelt has to rely, is more likely to be with him when the strike is actually happening, rather than before it begins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-28
Judge George Gray has advised to wait until the Coal Strike Commission makes its final report before bringing a lawsuit against the coal companies. President Roosevelt also wishes to wait until the Interstate Commerce Commission suit is complete so that they can learn from it. Attorney General Philander C. Knox does not think the government could win a suit based on the current evidence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-28
President Roosevelt commends Judge Gray for his work on the Anthracite Coal Commission and agrees with Gray regarding the composition of the arbitration conciliation committees.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-31
President Roosevelt would like to speak with Secretary of War Root on several matters, particularly an article by Walter Wellman which suggests that Roosevelt kept Grover Cleveland off the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission due to fears of making Cleveland a “Presidential possibility.” Roosevelt insists that the operators rejected Cleveland.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-25
Reports have appeared in newspapers that President Roosevelt would not appoint Grover Cleveland to the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission because such a prominent position could make Cleveland a Democratic rival. Roosevelt denies this version of events and claims that the operators refused to have Cleveland on the commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-25
President Roosevelt provides an account of how the Anthracite Coal Strike was settled.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-22
President Roosevelt appreciates J. H. Woodard’s letter because Woodard understands the lasting implications of the Anthracite Coal Strike. Roosevelt wants organized capital and organized labor to understand that the public has a vital interest in the coal industry and that a settlement is in the interest of property because it will protect property from revolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-19
President Roosevelt wanted President Cleveland on the commission to investigate the Anthracite Coal Strike but to reach an agreement the wishes of the coal operators and miners had to be taken into account regarding the composition of the commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-16
President Roosevelt has received conflicting reports on the level of disorder created by the striking miners. Roosevelt appears primarily upset at the coal operators for their “gross blindness” and inability to understand their duty toward the public. Roosevelt will do everything within his power in the interest of the people.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-13
President Roosevelt will not be able to be at Princeton because his doctors have warned against travel due to his leg injury. Both sides in the Anthracite Coal Strike have rejected Roosevelt’s efforts at arbitration, but Commissioner of Labor Carroll D. Wright is being sent to investigate conditions at the coal fields. Roosevelt asks that Grover Cleveland join Wright in the investigation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-10
President Roosevelt found Silas McBee’s account of the coal strike conference admirable. Roosevelt wishes the miners would show more sense but found the operators more disruptive at the conference.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-09
President Roosevelt compares the Anthracite Coal Strike situation to what President Lincoln faced during the American Civil War, including receiving wide ranging advice from extremists. Roosevelt sees problems on both sides of the strike and has received contradictory reports on the level of violence in Pennsylvania. Roosevelt favors John Mitchell’s proposition but does not believe it will be accepted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-07
President Roosevelt informs Grover Cleveland that his actions regarding the Anthracite Coal Strike have been influenced by Cleveland’s action during the Pullman Car Strike. Roosevelt currently plans to offer to create an investigatory commission if the miners will go back to work so that a solution can be agreed upon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-05
President Roosevelt has sent Commissioner of Labor Carroll D. Wright with a proposition to John Mitchell that if the miners will return to work a commission will be appointed to investigate the issues between the coal operators and miners. Roosevelt would like Senator Hanna to influence Mitchell’s acceptance of the proposition and if he accepts Roosevelt would like Hanna’s help selecting commission members.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-05