Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-02
WILL ALL BE HERE
Men Invited to Confer on the
Coal Strike.
HOPEFULNESS Is FELT
IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE END is
APPROACHING.
Members of the Cabinet Will Not Par
Members of the Cabinet Will Not Par
ticipate in Tomorrow's Discussion
Senator Quay Sees President.

1t is fully understood at the temporary
White House today that all of the men who
Were invited by President Roosevelt to come
here tomorrow to talk with him about the
scarcity of coal will be on hand. although
the names of those who have accepted are
rot given out. The suggestion is made that
some Of the coal presidents are holding
back from sending their acceptances, but
this Is not positively known. John Mitchell,
president of the United Mine Workers, and
President Baer of the Reading system were
among the first to telegraph their accept
ances. and replies from other coal company
executives followed President Olyphant is
quoted in New York paper as saying that
If he does not come he will send repre-
sentative. No one believes that Mr.. Oily
plant will be so foolish or so insulting as
TO attempt to send a representative to talk
with the President of the United States. In
addition to the men who were invited yes
terday, the President has asked President
Cassatt of the Pennsylvania railroad to
Join the conference 1t is expected that
President Cassatt will attend
The coal strike and the action Of the
President yesterday were more or less dis
eussed at the White House today, but the
intense interest of the country will center
In the conference tomorrow. Secretaries
Root and Wilson, and other cabinet officers
and Senator Quay Of Pennsylvania, were
among those who saw the President today
Senator Quay Sees the President.
With the exception of Governor Crane of
Massachusetts, Senator Quay is the only
man outside of cabinet members to see and
talk with President Roosevelt since his leg
was operated upon at Indianapolis That
the Pennsylvania senator talked about the
j coal situation Is a foregone conclusion, and
II Is believed that Senator Quay was able
70 tell the President a great deal about
both sides of the coal strike, and much
about the men who are going to participate
IN the conference tomorrow. When Sena-
tor Quay went away he preserved that
sphinX-like demeanor familiar to Wash
ington newspaper men. He did loosen up
enough, as the expression goes, to ask one
OF the newspaper reporters, What is going
on for the good of the people," Then he
walked on toward the Arlington Hotel
swinging his walking cane just as habit
has caused him to do for so many years
Secretary Root, who laid the founda ton
for the action taken by the President yes
terday, had nothing to say, yet he knows
more than any man in the country what
the probability Is of settlement of the
strike, unless the other man should be the
President himself, and his information was
received from Mr.. Root
Cabinet Members Will Not Attend.
The great conference at II o'clock tomor-
row will not be interfered with by a single
outside influence Cabinet officers will not
go near the temporary White House unless
some of the men engaged In the conference
should suggest that they would like to have
this or that man be consulted The Presi-
dent alone will present to the gathering his
opinions as to the serious situation that
confronts the country by reason of the con-
tinuation Of the coal strike.
No one thinks that the President will go
beyond an appeal to the officials that both
SIDES attempt to get together and not allow
pride or a feeling of obstinacy to stand in
the way OF the termination of strike so
fraught with misery to thousands of per-
sons Beyond this the President cannot
and will not go.
May Suggest Arbitration.
The only possibility Of departing from a
mere appeal for humanity's sake Is that
the President may see fit to suggest that
arbitration be resorted to, despite the firm
position of the coal operators that they will
not sanction this Arbitration is looked
upon one of the outcornes of the confer
ence. A solution that would allow the op-
orators to select a man. the miners another
and President Roosevelt appoint a third is
looked upon as a feasible one. With the
knowledge that this might be done the
miners would consent. it is thought, to re-
suming work Immediately, leaving the set
tement Of their demands to the arbitration
tribunal.
Most sanguine expectations are generally
some action that will conclude the strike
President Mitchell will come here with an
idea of just how far he will go in the way
of settlement. and the coal operators will
no doubt have fully agreed upon a line of
action. The belief is that one or two of the
coal operators will represent all the others
In doing the talking. and that the others
Will have little to say.
Mr.. Gompers Expresses Qualification.
In speaking of the conference tomorrow
President Samuel Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor this afternoon said to
Star reporter: II very much pleased
at the invitation extended to the mine own
ers and to President Mitchell Neither side
can disregard this invitation Mr. Mitchell
for the miners has made every overture for
peace and has offered to submit all matters
tn controversy to arbitration not only be-
fore the strike occurred but during its prog
ress.
These offers were spurned with contempt
" the coal companies presidents The
,ference can certainly do no harm and
,ay, and l sincerely hope 1t will result
adjustment of this long drawn out
oversy mutually advantageous and
ross of honor or dignity to no one"
1en asked as to what he thought Presi-
1t Mitchells probable attitude at the
Inference would be, Mr.. Gompers said that
ne knew nothing of President Mitchelrs
plans and would not under any circum-
stances. even state what he thought would
be the mine presidents policy.