The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-04

"A WASHINGTON, October 3-The coal ~ conference between the Presi- HW dent and representatives of the operators and the miners came to an end at the temporary white house this after noon with failure to reach an agree ment Apparently the rock upon which the conference split was recognition of the miners union.
 The President had urged the contend ing parties to cease strife in the interests of the public welfare. The miners, through the president of their union, had expressed a willingness to submit differ ences to the arbitration of a tribunal to be named by the President and to enter into an agreement to abide by terms fixed by the arbitrators for period of from one to five years. The employers, through the presidents of the railroad and coal companies and leading inde- pendent mine operator, had squarely re- fused arbitration, had denounced the miners labor organization as a lawless
 
 could and would have no dealings; had demanded federal troops to insure com plete protection to workers and their families in the mining regions and court proceedings against the miners union, and had offered. if the men returned to work, to submit grievances at individual | %1 0f ffa of the court of common pleas for the dis 1 trict Of Pennsylvania In which the col fiery was located.
 There the matter closed. Tonight both the city, but tomorrow they return to their several localities. each saying at a late hour that the struggle will continue.
 Chapter In Economic History. It was a remarkable chapter in the economic history of the country that was written today. For the first time the Pres ident of the republic had intervened dl- rectly between the great forces of cap ital and labor in an effort to avert what ne himself regarded as a great national calamity. The result was to bring the principals in the great controversy face to face, with the whole country eagerly intent and watcbful of their doings. Tech nically tEe issues between the two great forces stand as they did before the Fres- ident summoned the representatives of the contending forces to the national capital, and forgetting his own acute suf- fering, besought them for the love of the great country wherein they dwelt and .xG suffering poor to adjust their differences and work together in peace for the com monWealth.
 Today the views of the contenders in the great industrial stl uggle were so ex treme and wide apart that there was no middline ground possible, and so the con- ference came to an end without an agree. ment for it's continuation.
 The conference had lasted six hours, including a recess of three hours between the morning and afternoon session, taken to enable the miners and operators to prepare a written response. to the Presi- dents 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 op- orators. as he left tie White House. with closely set jaw, was asked regarding this. and he ssid:
 If any one knows what the President will do next. that is more than I know"
 Fourteen Men Present.
 Fourteen meen, including the President. were in the second story front room at the temporary white house during the momentous conference. President Mitch ell and three of his district leaders rep resented the miners and five railroad men and one independent mine operator, the employers. With the President were At torney General Knox, Commissioner of Labor Wright and Secretary Cortelyou. All the cabinet save the attorney general kept aloof during the conference, but be- tween the two meetings and afterwards several of the Presidents advisors called upon him to talk over the situation.
 During the conference the President lis- tened to botoh sides with t he greatest eagerness. Immediately after its adjourn ment his physicians, Surgeon General Rxey and Dr. Lung, insisted on making an examination of his wound and re- dressing 1t. Apparently no i'll effects had resulted from the excitement of the day and after later call at o'clock Dr. Lung announced that the Presidents condition was satisfactory.
 Today's conference began few min utes after Il o'clock. President Mitchell and his three district presidents of the miners Union were the first to put In an appearance at the temporary white house. The operators reached the temporary white house at a few minutes past Il o'clock. Each party was escorted to sep arate rooms on the first floor and soon after they were ushered up stairs, the miners representatives being ahead.
 In the front room on the second floor they found the President awaiting them.
 List of Those Present
 Those present at this time were Presi- dent Roosevelt Attorney General Knox, Secretary Cortelyou, Carroll D. Wright, commissioner of labor; President Baer of the Reading company. President Thomas of the Erie, President Truesdale of the Delaware, Lackawanna and West ern and President Fowler of the Onta- rio and Hudson railI .. Daniel Wilcox,