At the turn of the last century, coal served as the main source of fuel for heating homes, running factories and operating trains. As colder weather approached, widespread anxiety over fuel shortages and the rising cost of coal propelled Roosevelt to take unprecedented action.

John Mitchell, president of the United Mine Workers of America, agreed to call off the strike if a tribunal of presidential, union and company representatives met to deal with the key issue of union recognition. Mitchell also asked for an immediate small increase in the miners’ pay until the tribunal worked out a settlement. The operators, however, refused to deal with the union despite the president’s pleas.

Seeing that neither side was willing to back down on its demands, Roosevelt threatened to declare a national emergency and send in troops to take over the anthracite mines. Roosevelt also named an Anthracite Coal Commission to review the issues that triggered the strike.

On Oct. 23, the miners agreed to end their walkout based on the commission’s recommendations. While winning a 10 percent wage increase and a nine-hour workday, the miners did not gain recognition of their union. The commission also failed to halt child labor or address hazardous working conditions.

As the midyear elections approached, most voters approved of Roosevelt’s efforts to end the coal dispute. In the aftermath of the 1900 census, the Republicans picked up 11 House seats, while the Democrats gained 27. Each party gained two seats in the Senate. The GOP maintained its majority in both houses. Third-party candidates were shut out.

SOURCE: U.S. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS