Coal mine operators give out statements saying there will be a strike, as they will refuse to grant the miners’ requests. T. L. Lewis, vice-president of the United Mine Workers, declares there will be no strike and that the operators will grant the requests of the miners.
Harry Orchard, who assassinated the late Governor Steunenberg, of Idaho, confesses to taking part in 26 murders.
Ex-Speaker David B. Henderson dies at Dubuque, Iowa. Mr. Henderson served two terms as speaker, succeeding the late Thomas B. Reed. He was elected in 1883 and served continuously until the end of the Fifty-seventh Congress.
February 26.—The Missouri Supreme Court hands down a decision which it is believed will influence the Supreme Court of New York to order H. H. Rogers to answer the questions asked him in the Standard Oil investigation. At the time Attorney-General Hadley, of Missouri, was taking depositions in the case in New York City, Rogers was put on the witness stand. He refused to answer certain questions and expressed his contempt for Missouri Courts. Mr. Hadley went before Justice Gildersleeve, of the New York Supreme Court, and asked for an order forcing Rogers to answer or be held in contempt of court. The order was refused on the grounds that the questions involved had never been passed upon by the Missouri courts. Now comes the Missouri court with a strong decision which covers every point at issue.
President Roosevelt intervenes to prevent the threatened coal strike.
In accordance with a decision handed down by the Supreme Court of Texas, the Pacific, the United States, the American and Wells-Fargo Express Companies, and fifty of the principal railroads of the state, will have to pay $5,225,000 in penalties for violating the anti-trust law. The court holds that when a railroad company enters into an agreement with an express company which excludes other companies from doing a business on its lines, it restrains trade and stifles competition, which is prohibited by the anti-trust law.
The supposed shrewd trick of Senator Aldrich in having Senator Tillman report the Hepburn railroad rate bill now has the Republican Senators embarrassed. The Senate seems to be in favor of the bill and the Republicans dare not let it pass as a Democratic measure. Realizing that something must be done, they appeal to Senator Spooner to draft a rate bill that will suit all factions of the Republicans and be put through the Senate as a party measure.
William Nelson Cromwell, the New York lawyer who unloaded the Panama Canal property on the United States, and who has since acted as counsel to the President and Secretary Taft on Panama matters, appears before the Senate committee. He denies that he was the cause of ex-Chief Engineer Wallace’s resigning. When questioned as to his dealings with Secretary Taft he refused to answer.
February 27.—Steel Trust officials and George Gould order the bituminous coal mine operators to make peace with the miners and prevent a strike.
The Insurance Commissioners of Kentucky, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Nebraska ask the New York Insurance Department to co-operate with them in making an investigation of the Mutual Life Insurance Co.