The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-04

Washington, Oct. 3.-The coal confer
nee between the President and repre-
sentatves of the railroads and miners
came to an end at the temporary
White House, facing Lafayette Square,
at 4:55 o'clock this afternoon with a
failure to reach an agreement. Appar-
emily the rock upon which the confer
ence split was recognition of the min
ers union. The President had urged
the contending parties to cease strife
in the interests of the public welfare;
the miners, through the president of
their union, had expressed willingness
to submit differences to the arbitration
of tribunal to be named by the Pres
dent and to enter into an agreement
to abide by terms fixed by the arbitra-
ton for period of from one to five
years, and the employers, through the
presidents of the railroad and coal
companies and a leading independent
mine operator, had squarely refused
arbitration, had denounced the miners
labor organization as a lawless and
Anarchistic body, with which they could
and would have no dealings. had de-
manded federal troops to insure COM
pfete protection to workers and their
families in the mining region and court
proceedings against the miners union,
and had offered if the men returned to
work to submit grievances at individ-
ual cOllieries to the decision of the
judges of the Court of Common Pleas
for the district of Pennsylvania in
which the colliery was located. There
the matter closed. Tonight both the
miners and the operators are still in
the city, but tomorrow they return to
their several localities, each saying at
late hour that the struggle will con-
tinue.
1t is a. remarkable chapter in the
economic history of the country that
was written to-day. For the first time
the President of the republic had in
tervened directly between the great
forces of capital and labor in an eff
fort to avert what he himself regarded
as great national calamity. The re-
suit was to bring the principals in the
great controversy face to face with the
whole country eagerly intent upon and
watchful of their doings.
Technically the issues between the
fore the President summoned the rep
resentatives of the contending forces
TO the national capital, and forgetting
his own acute suffering beSought them
Tor love of the great country wherein
they dwelt, and out of, pity for the
countless throng of suffering poor to
adjust their differences and work to-
gether in peace for the commonwealth.
What, If anything, will result from the
e.. q IL G.,sA sd,
To-day the views of the contenders
IN the great industrial struggle were
so extreme and wide apart that there
vas no middle ground possible, and so
the conference came to an end without
any agreement for its continuation.
The conference had lasted six hours,
including a recess of three hours be-
tween the morning and afternoon ses-
slons taken to enable the miners and
operators to prepare written responses
TO the Presidents appeal.
The immediate parties to the strike
say they will continue as heretofore.
What course the administration will
take next no one is prepared to say.
one of the operators, as he left the
White House with closely set jaw. was
asked regarding this conference and
replied:
IF anyone knows what the Presi-
dent will do next. that is more than l
know
Fourteen men. including the Presi-
dent, were in the second-story front
room at the temporary White House
during the momentous conference.
PRESIDENT Mitchell and three aof his
district leaders represented the miners
and five railroad men and one inde-
pendent mine operator the employers.
with the President were Attorney
General Knox. Commissioner of Labor
Wright and Secretary Cortelyou. All
the cabinet save the Attorney General
Kept aloof during the conference. but
between the two meetings and after
wards several of the Presidents adj
Vsers called upon him to talk over the
situation What took place at the
meeting is set out in ample state
ments made by each side and given
out to the press by themselves and
also officially at the White House.
During the conference the President
listened to both sides with the greatest
eagerness. Immediately after its adj
9ournment his physicians. Surgeon
General Rixey and DR.. Lung, insisted
on making an examination of his wound
and redressing it, Apparently no i'll
effects had resulted from the excite
ment of the day, and after a later call
at o'clock, DIR. Lung announced that
the Presidents condition was satisfac-
tory.
To-days conference began a few
minutes after il o'clock. President
Mitchell and his three district presi-
cents of the Miners Union were the
Arst to put in an appearance at the
temporary White House on Lafayette
square, where a large crowd had as
semhled to witness the coming OF the
SSnief participants in the coal strike:
Lhey had arrived here at about
o'clock In the morning, and had put up