In the Wake of His Successful Intervention to Settle the Anthracite Coal Strike in 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt Instructs Patrician Treasury Department Official, Hamilton Fish, to Cooperate With a Labor Leader

The most important single incident in the success of the early labor movement in the United States was the 1902 strike of the anthracite miners in Pennsylvania. From then on, the miners became not merely human machines to produce coal, but men and citizens. What many perceived as a victory in the coalfields breathed life into the American labor movement, and it strengthened moderate labor leaders and progressive businessmen who championed negotiations as a way to labor peace. It also changed the role of the Federal Government from strikebreaker (as it had previously been) to impartial investigator and arbitrator.

The man responsible for resolving the strike was President Theodore Roosevelt, who became personally involved in negotiating and arm-twisting. Though neither side got what it had started out wanting, his efforts were successful. Both sides finally agreed to the findings of the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission, and peace was restored in the coalfields. More importantly, a new role was established for the Federal Government in labor disputes. During the dramatic confrontation with the mine operators and workers on October 3, 1902, Roosevelt said, "I speak for neither the operators nor the miners but for the general public." He made labor and industry accept the fact "that the third party, the great public, had vital interests and overshadowing rights" and so set a precedent for the Federal Government to intervene in labor disputes as a representative of the public interest.

John N. Parsons was a union leader and the kind of moderate Roosevelt liked. He had union experience as president of the New York Letter Carriers and the National Association of Letter Carriers, and also served as a leader in the Knights of Labor and Central Federated Unions. After leaving the presidency of the letter carriers in 1901, at TR’s suggestion the Postmaster General named him to make special inspections of post offices. In 1903, he moved to the customs service of the Post Office Department, where he would cooperate with customs officials who were under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department. In 1905, Yonkers Postmaster Henry Osterheld was fired, and Roosevelt appointed Parsons in his place. Thus did a former letter carrier and union official rise to Postmaster, an extraordinary occurrence for the time.

Hamilton Fish was a Republican leader and considered to be one of the top Republican bosses in the State of New York. He served as Assistant Treasurer of the United States in the Administration of Theodore Roosevelt, and became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1909. Just months after the strike, with its memory very fresh, Roosevelt instructs Fish, a patrician if there ever was one, to cooperate with Parsons.

Typed Letter Signed as President, on White House letterhead, Washington, May 30, 1903, to Fish, ordering him to work with Parsons. “This will introduce to you Mr. John N. Parsons, whom I would very much like to have you get in touch with. He represents an element among the body of wage-workers with whom I have been in complete sympathy. I should be glad if you would consult with Mr. Parsons, and if possible act with him.” This must surely relate to the customs service, which was under both Fish’s Treasury and Parsons’ Postal Departments. The term “act with him” makes one think that an investigation was afoot. Doubtless Fish was less than happy to receive this letter.