What significant labor conflict in 1902 led to federal intervention to support workers?

The Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 was a pivotal moment in labor relations in the United States, primarily because it marked the first time the federal government intervened directly in a labor dispute on the side of the workers. The strike involved coal miners in Pennsylvania who were demanding higher wages, shorter workdays, and better working conditions. As the strike escalated, it threatened to deplete the nation's coal supply, prompting fears of a national crisis, especially as winter approached and heating fuel became essential.

President Theodore Roosevelt took a groundbreaking approach by calling both the miners and the mine owners to Washington, D.C., for arbitration. This was significant because it demonstrated a shift in government policy from a laissez-faire attitude towards labor disputes to a more active role in mediating conflicts to protect the greater public interest. Roosevelt's involvement helped to establish the principle that the government should act as a neutral arbitrator in labor disputes, leading to a resolution that included a modest wage increase and a reduction in working hours for the miners.

In contrast, the other conflicts listed did not result in such governmental intervention or failed to illustrate the same level of significance in terms of labor relations and federal involvement. The Pullman Strike and the Homestead Steel Strike saw strong federal responses,