Waterbury Democrat., 1902-10-06
SECKEl JU4.- LnLISI-.
President and Cabinet Dis
 cuss Coal Strike Problem.
NEW PLAN OF ACTION INVOLVED.
While Absolute Secrecy Was Main tained, It Is Believed That Prog ress Was Made Toward
 a Settlement

a Settlement.
 WASHINGTON, Oct. 6.-In an ear nest effort to expedite the adjustment of the coal strike problem another con- ference over the situation was held at the White House yesterday and ad- journed after three hours of delibera- tion. No statement was given out as to the conclusions reached, and every par ticipant absolutely refused to discuss what had taken place during the meet ing. The conference was called, al though it was Sunday, in view of the extraordinary importance to the Amer ican people of a solution of the ques- tion.
 Besides the president there were pres ent at the conference Secretary of War Root, Secretary of the Navy Moody, Attorney General Knox, Postmaster General Payne and Colonel Carroll D. Wright, United States commissioner of labor. The last named was summoned to attend the conference on account of his expert knowledge of the situation in the anthracite coalfields and because of his personal investigation of the conditions there which he made some months ago at the instance of the pres ident.
 The president in expressing his views at the outset of the conference talked earnestly and showed deep feeling. His voice at times could he heard downstairs. Several times during the conference Secretary Cortelyou was summoned into the room and directed to prepare certain matters for the con- siderations of the president and his ad- visers. This was taken to indicate that some action of one nature or another was about to be consummated.
 When the conference adjourned 8 few minutes before o'clock, all those who had joined in it declined to talk. Every member of the cabinet and Colo nel Wright, the only outsider who was present, was pledged to the president to absolute secrecy as to what had oc- cured within the conference room. The utmost efforts were made to guard against publicity, just as the presiden- tial summons which called the confer ence had been made in a very quiet and carefully guarded way. Not since the Spanish war has there been such reticence shown at a conference of such a character as was observed at this time.
 Tn this state of absolute reticence of every one of the parties to the confer ence it is almost impossible to do more than draw the most general of conclu- siOns as to the nature of the proceed. ings based upon what preceded the meeting. The known facts are that the president has reached the conclu- sion that he has nothing to expect save refusal from further appeal to the coal operators and therefore has decid- ed to look for relief from a situation which in his view is fast growing in- tolerable to the miners side. He feels that he can hardly expect them to make the sacrifice of all of their con- tentions without holding out at least a promise of some return, and the ques- tion before him is as to his ability to do this. He can pledge himself to ap- peal to congress to examine into the justice of the miners complaints and remedy them so far as lies in the pow CT of the legislative branch, backed by the earnest good will of the executive;
 
 of Pennsylvania that he cause the Pennsylvania legislature likewise to make an inquiry, perhaps hastening the usual methods by calling an extra session. But these pledges would be given only on condition that the men go at once into the mines to get out with all speed the coal for which the people are suffering.
 To adopt this course means the con- tinuance of that policy of exerting moral suasion to end the strike. It is certain that thus far the president has not found single one of his constitu- tional advisers Who.could suggest any departure from this policy. No one could find method sanctioned by law or constitution which promised relief and involved the use of duress against either the operators or the miners.
 So it is believed that this conference was called by the president with the purpose of putting in exact shape the details of a plan conceived in it's rough outlines even before the departure of President Mitchell last Friday after noon from the mixed conference. The three hours spent in consultation were none too long to put into form the twin proposition, one to the miners organi- zation and the other to Governor Stone, and the fact that Secretary Cortelyou was called on to prepare one or more statements at the direction of the presi- dent is taken as an indication that messages were sent out at the end of the conference and.that the reticence of i all the parties is explainable perhaps | by their desire to avoid the discourtesy of publishing the nature of these be- fore they are received by the persons to whom they are addressed as well as by wish to escape the complication of the negotiations by heated public dis cussion at this stage. That. the parties l to the conference feel that they have accomplished something was made evil dent by the expression of one of be- lief that the miners soon will be again l at work
 One object of the conference was to consider some of the propositions that have been sent to the president for set I tling the strike These came from ev- cry section of the country and a large proportion from men of standing and reputation. At the same time it is said that the suggestions often are absurd and impracticable. Others offering a