The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-10
STRONG RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
BY THE CONVENTION AT
DETROIT
CONDEMNATION AND SEIZURE
OF MINES RECOMMENDED
Suggestion That the Federal Govern.
ment Proceed Against the Coal Car
rying Raiiways-Course of the OPP
orators Condemned and That of the
Miners President Commended.

DETROIT, Mich, Oct 9.-The in
terstate conference on the coal situa-
ton began today. When Mayor May
bury called the conference to order in
Masonic Temple he made a speech,
saying, among other things:
IF there is no law sufficient to COM
pass the present difficulties, the sooner
we have such a law the better. If the
constitution prevents an action being
taken by the government against the
coal companies, the sooner it is made
to fit the needs of the people the bet
ter
Ex-Gov. Cyrus G. Luce, Of Michigan,
was elected president. Edward M. La
hiff, of Chicago, was made secretary
A call of the conference showed the
following representation:
Eleven States Represented.
New Hampshire, 2; Rhode Island, 1;
New York, l.; Ohio, 5; Indiana, %;
Illinois, 8; Wisconsin, s.; Minnesota
g.; Iowa, 1; Kentucky, s.; Michigan, rs
In addition there were about fifty citi-
zens of Detroit present.
When the report of the committee
on credentials had been read, a COM
mittee on resolutions was appointed,
Including the following members:
Wisconsin, V. L Berger, Rev. r. B.
Condor and w. E. Walker: Minnesota,
w. S. Albertson, E. r. tombstone and
D. A. Stuart; Iowa, G. Salot.
When the afternoon session was
called to order Senator William e.
Mason, of Illinois, was made perma-
nent chairman of the conference.
While waiting for the report of the
resolutions committee the conference
was given over to general debate on
the coal situation. The speakers al
most unanimously favored govern
mental ownership of the mines, and
received by the delegates showed that
a large majority of them favored it as
a permanent solution of the coal stu
alton.
Senator Mason was the first speaker.
He outlined his plan to have, special
session of congress, pass an act au-
thorizing the appointment of receiv-
ers for the mines and their immediate
opening.
Resolutions Are Vigorous.
The resolutions were adopted at to-
nights session. After setting forth the
serious situation due to the coal strike,
they say:
''First-We urge upon the president the
necessity and expediency of instructing
the attorney geenral to institute civil pro-
ceed1ngs looking to the enforcement of
both the interstate commerce act and the
act of July 2. 1890.
"Second-Of instituting criminal pro-
ceedings in the proper courts against the
managers, directors, officers and agents of
the above named acts.
'"Fhird-To direct the interstate COM
merce commission to at once inquire into
the reasonableness of the rates of trans
portation charged by the coal transporta :
ton companies and any other violation OF
the interstate commerce clause, that trib-
an injunction to restrain further exercise
of such abuse and violation.
."Fourth-To have congress confer upon
the Interstate commerce commission the
absolute power to fix and determine the
rates of transportation upon interstate
commerce
Right Of Eminent Domain.
Resolved, That the government that
possesses the right of eminent domain
can and should exercise that right in be-
great public wrong can be righted and
great public suffering averted."
Resolved, That we respectively petit
ton the governor Of Pennsylvania, unless
the strike is speedily settled. to call for
a special session of the Pennsylvania leg
1slature and recommend to it the passage
of a law providing for the condemnation
by the state at fair and just compensa-
ton, of all the coal-carrying railroads of
Pennsylvania and sufficient anthracite
coal mines SO as to supply the demands
of the American public, and pending the
entertainment of their value to take i'm
mediate possession of such coal mines by
receivers to be appointed by the court
pursuant to statute who shall at once take
possession Of said mines and railroads and
operate the same
The president is asked to call spe-