The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-10-06
Secret Conference Held at the White
House Yesterday Morning.
Supposed TO Have Been Looking To-
wards q Settlement Of the
Coal Strike.
APPEAL TO MINERS PROBABLE


ference over the situation was held at
the White House yesterday and ad-
journed after three hours CT delibera-
ton. No statement was given out as
to the conclusions reached, and every
participant absolutely refused to dis.
ouss what had taken place during the
meeting. The conference was called,
although 1t was Sunday, in view Of
the extraordinary Importance to the
American people Of a speedy solution
OF the question.
Besides the president, there were
present at the conference, Secretary Of
War Root, Secretary Of tine Navy
Moody, Attorney General Knox, Post.
master General Payne and Carroll d.
Wright, United States commissioner
Of labor The last named was sum
moned TO attend the conference ON ac-
count Of his expert knowledge OF the
situation in the anthracite coal fields,
and because of his personal investiga-
tion OF the conditions there which he
made some months ago at the instance
OF the president.
The conference began shortly AZ.
ter 10 O'Clock. the time fexd by the
president. When those who were to
participate arrived at the White House
in a drizzling rain, they found Sur
geon General Rixey Of the navy and
DIR. Lung, the presidents physician,
already there making the morning call
on the distinguished patient. This
caused a delay Of few minutes.
When the two physicians left it was
reported that the presidents condi- |
tion was progressing satisfactorily and .
that there were no untoward develop /.
ments.
The president expressing his views
at the outset of the conference, talked
earnestly and showed deep feeling. |
His voice at times could be heard
downstairs Several times during the
conference Secretary Cortleyou was
summoned into the room and directed |
to prepare certain matters for the con.
sideration Of the president and Of his
advisers. This was taken to indicate
that some action of one nature or
another was about to be consummat-
ed.
When the conference adjourned a
few minutes before O'Clock, all
those who had Joined In it declined
to talk. Every member of the oabi-
net and Colonel Wright, the only
outsider who was present, was pledg.
ed by the president to absolute Sc
orecy as 10 what had occurred with
in the conference room. The utmost
efforts were made to guard against pub
licity.
Under the circumstances IL is almost
impossible to do more than draw the
most general conclusions as to the ma
ture Of the proceedings, based upon
what preceded the meeting. The
known facts are that the president
has reached the conclusion that he
has nothing to expect cave refusal
from a further appeal to the coal ope-
rators and therefore has decided to
look for relief from the situation to
the miners side
He feels that he hardly can expect
them TO make the sacrifice of all their
without holding out at
least promise of the same return,
and the question before him is ps to
his ability to do this. He can
pledge himself to appeal to congress
to examine into the justice of the
miners complaints and remedy them
so far as lie in the power Of the leg
islative branch, backed by the earnest
good will of the executive. Also he
can suggest to Governor Stone of
Pennsylvania that he cause the Penn
sylvsnia legislature likewise to make
an inquiry, perhaps Fastening the usu-
al methods by calling an extra session.
But these pledges would be given only
on condition that the men 60 at once
into the mines and get out with all
speed at onoe the coal for which the