Arbitration, Industrial

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Bacon

President Roosevelt’s concern continues to grow over the Anthracite Coal Strike. John Mitchell dominated the meeting between President Roosevelt, the coal operators, and representatives of the coal miners. Roosevelt found Mitchell’s proposition reasonable but the coal operators advocated for military intervention in the strike which Roosevelt found to be “amazing folly.” President Roosevelt continues to seek a peaceful solution and has offered Mitchell an investigatory commission if the miners will return to work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Marcus Alonzo Hanna

President Roosevelt is disheartened at his failure to reach an agreement between the coal operators and miners. Roosevelt is unsure of his next action but the operators’ “hopeless attitude” has increased his desire for government supervision or regulation. Roosevelt thought that John Mitchell’s arbitration proposition was reasonable but the operators would not come to an agreement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-03

Letter from Seth Low to Theodore Roosevelt

Seth Low writes to President Roosevelt about the anthracite situation. He writes that the operators believe that they have won public sentiment. Low hopes that Roosevelt will use his influence to promote arbitration between the two parties. Low favors arbitration instead of war and compares the labor situation to the United States’ position in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-28

Letter from Seth Low to Theodore Roosevelt

Seth Low provides Theodore Roosevelt with a summary of the negotiations with coal miners. Low states unionization could probably be avoided if wages are increased.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-24

Letter from Seth Low to Francis L. Robbins

Seth Low writes to Francis L. Robbins about the negotiations between operators and bituminous miners. As a fellow member, and current Chairman, of the Conciliation Department of the National Civic Federation, Low hopes that Robbins will pursue a solution to the disagreement between the two parties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-13

Letter from Seth Low to Theodore Roosevelt

Seth Low writes to President Roosevelt to offer the assistance of the National Civic Federation Committee on Conciliation in the “coal situation.” Low encloses a copy of a letter he wrote to two other department members. Low includes a handwritten note that gives two reasons for not yet tending to the situation at the present time.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-13

Letter from George L. Duval to Guillermo Pérez de Arce

George L. Duval recounts a history of the growth and consolidation of industries and the resulting rise of labor unions. He recounts the role President Roosevelt played in the anthracite coal strike, and suggests that the commission then appointed could be the model for a permanent national arbitration committee to oversee labor struggles in the future. The relevance to this kind of help in Chile is noted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-11

Note and comment

An editorial in the Philadelphia Public Ledger defends President Roosevelt’s intervention in the Anthracite Coal Strike. The writer states Roosevelt did not violate state sovereignty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-15

Memorandum from Carroll D. Wright to Theodore Roosevelt

Commissioner of Labor Wright summarizes the events of the 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-19

Letter from Elbert F. Baldwin to Theodore Roosevelt

After lunching with a man from the mining district of Pennsylvania, Elbert F. Baldwin reports that many miners’ homes display a picture of President Roosevelt and John Mitchell as the “Friends of Arbitration and Fair Play.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-19

Chronicle and Comment

Opinion on several political topics, including the tariff and the Venezuelan crisis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-14

Offer to create a coal strike commission

President Roosevelt offers to create a commission to investigate the Anthracite Coal Strike if United Mine Workers President John Mitchell can get the miners to return to work. He also promises to do all in his power to act in accordance with the commission’s recommendations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902

Letter from Goldwin Smith to John Harrison Wilson

Goldwin Smith is pleased the peril of the coal strike has been avoided but remains concerned over the power of labor unions. He would like to see government controlled mines run as a public service. Smith commends General Wilson’s work preventing John Edward Charles O’Sullivan Addicks from obtaining a Senate seat.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-06

Letter from James Jeffrey Roche to Theodore Roosevelt

James Jeffrey Roche congratulates President Roosevelt on the settlement of the Anthracite Coal Strike and his selection of Edward A. Moseley for the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-03

Letter from John Ireland to Theodore Roosevelt

Bishop Ireland informs President Roosevelt of his growing popularity after the settlement of the Anthracite Coal Strike. American Catholics are pleased with the appointment of Bishop Spalding to the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-31

Letter from Henry White to George B. Cortelyou

Henry White encloses a confidential letter for President Roosevelt. He is pleased at Roosevelt’s success with ending the Anthracite Coal Strike.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-29

Letter from Douglas Robinson to Theodore Roosevelt

Corinne Roosevelt Robinson has been ill but appears to be recovering well and President Roosevelt should not worry. Douglas Robinson wishes Roosevelt a belated happy birthday and congratulates him on his successful handling of the Anthracite Coal Strike. He asks if Roosevelt can attend the fiftieth anniversary of the Children’s Aid Society.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-28

Letter from R. A. Alger to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Alger congratulates President Roosevelt, writing “the field is yours.” Alger is likely referring to the conclusion of the Anthracite Coal Strike.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-27

Telephone message from Matthew Stanley Quay

Senator Quay spoke with John Mitchell who will be in Washington, D.C., in the morning. Quay believes that President Roosevelt can convince Mitchell that the proposal would be in the best interests of the miners.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-14

Letter from Joseph Bucklin Bishop to Theodore Roosevelt

Joseph Bucklin Bishop believes that J. Pierpont Morgan’s hostility towards President Roosevelt arises from a fear that the precedent set by the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission will lead to near constant arbitration between business and labor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-25