SogreatwasthatpublicinterestintheCoalStrikeof1902，sodeeplyandstronglydidIfeelthewaveofindignationwhichsweptoverthewholecountrythathadInotsucceededinmyeffortstoinducetheoperatorstolistentoreason，Ishouldreluctantlybutnonethelessdecisivelyhavetakenastepwhichwouldhavebroughtdownuponmyheadtheexecrationsofmanyof“thecaptainsofindustry。”aswellasofsundry“respectable“newspaperswhodutifullytaketheircuefromthem。Asamanshouldbejudgedbyhisintentionsaswellasbyhisactions，Iwillgiveherethestoryoftheinterventionthatneverhappened。
Whilethecoaloperatorswereexultingoverthefactthattheyhad“turneddown“theminersandthePresident，therearoseinallpartsofthecountryanoutburstofwrathsouniversalthatevensonaturallyconservativeamanasGroverClevelandwrotetome，expressinghissympathywiththecourseIwasfollowing，hisindignationattheconductoftheoperators，andhishopethatIwoulddevisesomemethodofeffectiveaction。InmyownmindIwasalreadyplanningeffectiveaction；butitwasofaverydrasticcharacter，andIdidnotwishtotakeituntilthefailureofallotherexpedientshadrendereditnecessary。Aboveall，IdidnotwishtotalkaboutituntilandunlessIactuallyacted。IhaddefinitelydeterminedthatsomehoworotheractIwould，thatsomehoworotherthecoalfamineshouldbebroken。Toaccomplishthisenditwasnecessarythattheminesshouldberun，and，ifIcouldgetnovoluntaryagreementbetweenthecontendingsides，thatanArbitrationCommissionshouldbeappointedwhichwouldcommandsuchpublicconfidenceastoenableme，withouttoomuchdifficulty，toenforceitstermsuponbothparties。
Ex-PresidentCleveland’sletternotmerelygratifiedme，butgavemethechancetosecurehimasheadoftheArbitrationCommission。Iatoncewrotehim，statingthatIwouldveryprobablyhavetoappointanArbitrationCommissionorInvestigatingCommissiontolookintothematteranddecideontherightsofthecase，whetherornottheoperatorsaskedfororagreedtoabidebythedecisionsofsuchaCommission；andthatIwouldaskhimtoacceptthechiefplaceontheCommission。Heansweredthathewoulddoso。Ipickedoutseveralfirst-classmenforotherpositionsontheCommission。
MeanwhiletheGovernorofPennsylvaniahadallthePennsylvaniamilitiaintheanthraciteregion，althoughwithoutanyeffectupontheresumptionofmining。ThemethodofactionuponwhichIhaddeterminedinthelastresortwastogettheGovernorofPennsylvaniatoaskmetokeeporder。ThenIwouldputinthearmyunderthecommandofsomefirst-rategeneral。Iwouldinstructthisgeneraltokeepabsoluteorder，takinganystepswhateverthatwasnecessarytopreventinterferencebythestrikersortheirsympathizerswithmenwhowantedtowork。IwouldalsoinstructhimtodispossesstheoperatorsandruntheminesasareceiveruntilsuchtimeastheCommissionmightmakeitsreport，anduntilI，asPresident，mightissuefurtherordersinviewofthisreport。Ihadtofindamanwhopossessedthenecessarygoodsense，judgment，andnervetoactinsuchevent。HewasreadytohandinthepersonofMajor-GeneralSchofield。Isentforhim，tellinghimthatifIhadtomakeuseofhimitwouldbebecausethecrisiswasonlylessseriousthanthatoftheCivilWar，thattheactiontakenwouldbepracticallyawarmeasure，andthatifIsenthimhemustactinapurelymilitarycapacityundermeascommander-in-chief，payingnoheedtoanyauthority，judicialorotherwise，exceptmine。
Hewasafinefellow——amostrespectable-lookingoldboy，withsidewhiskersandablackskull-cap，withoutanyoftheoutwardaspectoftheconventionalmilitarydictator；butinbothnerveandjudgmenthewasallright，andheansweredquietlythatifIgavetheorderhewouldtakepossessionofthemines，andwouldguaranteetoopenthemandtorunthemwithoutpermittinganyinterferenceeitherbytheownersorthestrikersoranybodyelse，solongasItoldhimtostay。
IthensawSenatorQuay，who，likeeveryotherresponsiblemaninhighposition，wasgreatlywroughtupovertheconditionofthings。Itoldhimthatheneedbeundernoalarmastotheproblemnotbeingsolved，thatIwasgoingtomakeanotherefforttogettheoperatorsandminerstocometogether，butthatIwouldsolvetheprobleminanyeventandgetcoal；that，however，Ididnotwishtotellhimanythingofthedetailsofmyintention，butmerelytohavehimarrangethatwheneverIgavethewordtheGovernorofPennsylvaniashouldrequestmetointervene；thatwhenthiswasdoneIwouldberesponsibleforallthatfollowed，andwouldguaranteethatthecoalfaminewouldendforthwith。TheSenatormadenoinquiryorcomment，andmerelytoldmethatheinhisturnwouldguaranteethattheGovernorwouldrequestmyinterventiontheminuteIaskedthattherequestbemade。
Thesenegotiationswereconcludedwiththeutmostsecrecy，GeneralSchofieldbeingtheonlymanwhoknewexactlywhatmyplanwas，andSenatorQuay，twomembersofmyCabinet，andex-PresidentClevelandandtheothermenwhomIproposedtoputontheCommission，theonlyothermenwhoknewthatIhadaplan。AsIhaveaboveoutlined，myeffortstobringaboutanagreementbetweentheoperatorsandminerswerefinallysuccessful。IwasgladnottohavetotakepossessionoftheminesonmyowninitiativebymeansofGeneralSchofieldandtheregulars。Iwasallreadytoact，andwouldhavedonesowithouttheslightesthesitationoramoment’sdelayifthenegotiationshadfallenthrough。Andmyactionwouldhavebeenentirelyeffective。Butitisneverwelltotakedrasticactioniftheresultcanbeachievedwithequalefficiencyinlessdrasticfashion；and，althoughthiswasaminorconsideration，Iwaspersonallysavedagooddealoffuturetroublebybeingabletoavoidthisdrasticaction。AtthetimeI
shouldhavebeenalmostunanimouslysupported。WiththefamineuponthemthepeoplewouldnothavetoleratedanyconductthatwouldhavethwartedwhatIwasdoing。ProbablynomaninCongress，andnomaninthePennsylvaniaStateLegislature，wouldhaveraisedhisvoiceagainstme。Althoughtherewouldhavebeenplentyofmuttering，nothingwouldhavebeendonetointerferewiththesolutionoftheproblemwhichIhaddevised，/untilthesolutionwasaccomplishedandtheproblemceasedtobeaproblem/。Oncethiswasdone，andwhenpeoplewerenolongerafraidofacoalfamine，andbegantoforgetthattheyeverhadbeenafraidofit，andtobeindifferentasregardstheconsequencestothosewhoputanendtoit，thenmyenemieswouldhavepluckedupheartandbegunacampaignagainstme。Idoubtiftheycouldhaveaccomplishedmuchanyway，fortheonlyeffectiveremedyagainstmewouldhavebeenimpeachment，andthattheywouldnothaveventuredtotry。[*]
[*]OneofmyappointeesontheAnthraciteStrikeCommissionwasJudgeGeorgeGray，ofDelaware，aDemocratwhosestandinginthecountrywassecondonlytothatofGroverCleveland。Ayearlaterhecommentedonmyactionasfollows：
“IhavenohesitationinsayingthatthePresidentoftheUnitedStateswasconfrontedinOctober，1902，bytheexistenceofacrisismoregraveandthreateningthananythathadoccurredsincetheCivilWar。Imeanthatthecessationofminingintheanthracitecountry，broughtaboutbythedisputebetweentheminersandthosewhocontrolledthegreatestnaturalmonopolyinthiscountryandperhapsintheworld，hadbroughtuponmorethanone-halfoftheAmericanpeopleaconditionofdeprivationofoneofthenecessariesoflife，andtheprobablecontinuanceofthedisputethreatenednotonlythecomfortandhealth，butthesafetyandgoodorder，ofthenation。Hewaswithoutlegalorconstitutionalpowertointerfere，buthispositionasPresidentoftheUnitedStatesgavehimaninfluence，aleadership，asfirstcitizenoftherepublic，thatenabledhimtoappealtothepatriotismandgoodsenseofthepartiestothecontroversyandtoplaceuponthemthemoralcoercionofpublicopiniontoagreetoanarbitramentofthestrikethenexistingandthreateningconsequencessodirefultothewholecountry。Heactedpromptlyandcourageously，andinsodoingavertedthedangerstowhichI
havealluded。
“Sofarfrominterferingorinfringinguponpropertyrights，thePresidents’actiontendedtoconservethem。Thepeculiarsituation，asregardstheanthracitecoalinterest，wasthattheycontrolledanaturalmonopolyofaproductnecessarytothecomfortandtotheverylifeofalargeportionofthepeople。A
prolongeddeprivationoftheenjoymentofthisnecessaryoflifewouldhavetendedtoprecipitateanattackuponthesepropertyrightsofwhichyouspeak；for，afterall，itisvaintodenythatthisproperty，sopeculiarinitsconditions，andwhichisproperlyspokenofasanaturalmonopoly，isaffectedwithapublicinterest。
“IdonotthinkthatanyPresidenteveractedmorewisely，courageouslyorpromptlyinanationalcrisis。Mr。Rooseveltdeservesunstintedpraiseforwhathedid。”
TheywoulddoubtlesshaveactedpreciselyastheyactedasregardstheacquisitionofthePanamaCanalZonein1903，andthestoppageofthepanicof1907bymyactionintheTennesseeCoalandIronCompanymatter。NothingcouldhavemadetheAmericanpeoplesurrenderthecanalzone。Butafteritwasanaccomplishedfact，andthecanalwasunderway，thentheysettleddowntocomfortableacceptanceoftheaccomplishedfact，andastheirowninterestswerenolongerinjeopardy，theypaidnoheedtothemenwhoattackedmebecauseofwhatIhaddone——andalsocontinuetoattackme，althoughtheyareexceedinglycarefulnottoproposetorightthe“wrong。”intheonlyproperwayifitreallywasawrong，byreplacingtheoldRepublicofPanamaunderthetyrannyofColombiaandgivingColombiasoleorjointownershipofthecanalitself。Inthecaseofthepanicof1907asinthecaseofPanama，whatIdidwasnotonlydoneopenly，butdependedforitseffectuponbeingdoneandwiththewidestadvertisement。
NobodyinCongressventuredtomakeanobjectionatthetime。Noseriousleaderoutsidemadeanyobjection。Theoneconcernofeverybodywastostopthepanic，andeverybodywasoverjoyedthatI
waswillingtotaketheresponsibilityofstoppingituponmyownshoulders。Butafewmonthsafterward，thepanicwasathingofthepast。Peopleforgotthefrightfulconditionofalarminwhichtheyhadbeen。Theynolongerhadapersonalinterestinpreventinganyinterferencewiththestoppageofthepanic。Thenthemenwhohadnotdaredtoraisetheirvoicesuntilalldangerwaspastcamebravelyforthfromtheirhidingplacesanddenouncedtheactionwhichhadsavedthem。Theyhadkeptahushedsilencewhentherewasdanger；theymadeclamorousoutcrywhentherewassafetyindoingso。
JustthesamecoursewouldhavebeenfollowedinconnectionwiththeAnthraciteCoalStrikeifIhadbeenobligedtoactinthefashionI
intendedtoacthadIfailedtosecureavoluntaryagreementbetweentheminersandtheoperators。Evenasitwas，myactionwasrememberedwithrancorbytheheadsofthegreatmoneyedinterests；andastimewentbywasassailedwithconstantlyincreasingvigorbythenewspapersthesemencontrolled。HadIbeenforcedtotakepossessionofthemines，thesemenandthepoliticianshostiletomewouldhavewaiteduntilthepopularalarmwasoverandthepopularneedsmet，justastheywaitedinthecaseoftheTennesseeCoalandIronCompany；andthentheywouldhaveattackedmepreciselyastheydidattackmeasregardstheTennesseeCoalandIronCompany。
Ofcourse，inlaborcontroversiesitwasnotalwayspossibletochampionthecauseoftheworkers，becauseinmanycasesstrikeswerecalledwhichwereutterlyunwarrantedandwerefoughtbymethodswhichcannotbetooharshlycondemned。Nostraightforwardmancanbelieve，andnofearlessmanwillassert，thatatradeunionisalwaysright。
Thatmanisanunworthypublicservantwhobyspeechorsilence，bydirectstatementorcowardlyevasion，invariablythrowstheweightofhisinfluenceonthesideofthetradeunion，whetheritisrightorwrong。Ithasoccasionallybeenmydutytogiveutterancetothefeelingsofallrightthinkingmenbyexpressingthemostemphaticdisapprovalofunwiseorevenimmoralnotionsbyrepresentativesoflabor。Themanisnotruedemocrat，andifanAmerican，isunworthyofthetraditionsofhiscountrywho，inproblemscallingfortheexerciseofamoraljudgment，failstotakehisstandonconductandnotonclass。Therearegoodandbadwage-workersjustastherearegoodandbademployers，andgoodandbadmenofsmallmeansandoflargemeansalike。
Butawillingnesstodoequalandexactjusticetoallcitizens，irrespectiveofrace，creed，sectionoreconomicinterestandposition，doesnotimplyafailuretorecognizetheenormouseconomic，politicalandmoralpossibilitiesofthetradeunion。Justasdemocraticgovernmentcannotbecondemnedbecauseoferrorsandevencrimescommittedbymendemocraticallyelected，sotrade-unionismmustnotbecondemnedbecauseoferrorsorcrimesofoccasionaltrade-unionleaders。Theproblemliesdeeper。Whilewemustrepressallillegalitiesanddiscourageallimmoralities，whetheroflabororganizationsorofcorporations，wemustrecognizethefactthatto-daytheorganizationoflaborintotradeunionsandfederationsisnecessary，isbeneficent，andisoneofthegreatestpossibleagenciesintheattainmentofatrueindustrial，aswellasatruepolitical，democracyintheUnitedStates。