The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-04

at a small hotel near the capitol. They
went in street car from their hotel
to Jackson Place, and Pennsylvania
avenue. and walked the half block to
where the President was awaiting
them. Their arrival was few min
utes in advance of the hour named for
the conference. II o'clock.
The operators reached the temporary
White House at one minute past IL
o'clock in carriages, which they had
taken on leaving the private cars at
spent last night Each party
on the first floor, and soon after they
were ushered upstairs, the miners rep
resentatives going ahead.
In the front room on the second
floor they found the President awaiting
them. 1t is the place in which he has
transacted all business since he return
ed from his Western trip. He was in
a roller chair and dressing gown. After
the introduetions he smilingly explain
ed his inability to receive his guests in
a more formal manner. Those present
at this time were President Roose-
welt, Attorney General Knox
Secretary Cortelyou, Carroll d.
Wright, commissioner of labor;
Presidents Baer of the Reading, Thorn
as of the Erie, Truesdale of the Del
aware, Lackawanna and Western, and
Fowler of the Ontario and Western
Railroads; Daniel Wilcox vice presi-
dent, of the Delaware and Hudson
Railroad representing President Oily
phant;s John Markle, representing the
independent coal operators, and Presi-
dent Mitchell of the Mine Workers
Union, with Thomas Duffy, T. D. Mich
OILS and John Fahy, presidents of dis
triets No. z, l and 8 of the miners
union, being the districts where anthra-
cite coal is mined. Later, Assistant
Secretaries Loeb and Barnes, who are
stenographers, came into the conference
room. The President entered at once on
the business at hand, by reading the
statement which he had carefully pre-
pared urging a settlement of the strike
in the interests of the public. His man.
ner was exceedingly serious and his
voice showed his deep feeling.
Almost Immediately after the Presi-
dent had closed, Mr.. Mitchell arose and
on behalf of the miners offered to sub
init all the differences to arbitration.
The operators looked surprised but be-
fore any reply could be made Presi-
dent Roosevelt said he desired that
beth parties take the matter under con-
Sideration and meet him again at 3
o'clock. The first session of the confer
ence had lasted less than fifteen min
utes. The operators We're driven to
their private cars in the railroad yards.
Mr.. Mitchell and his party returned to
their hotel. Both parties Immediately
set to work to prepare statements in
reply to the Presidents suggestions
The operators decided to make sepa-
rate responses, but before doing so,
had a discussion of the general tenor
of the statements they would make 1t
is understood that President Baer COM
municated his statement to parties in
New York over the long distance tele-
phone before reading it to the Presi-
dent
At 3:15 the afternoon proceedings be-
gan.
President Baer of the Reading opened
them, and was followed by President
Mitchell and Messrs. Markle, Trues-
dale, Wilcox and Fowler.
At the conclusion of the statements
there was considerable informal con-
versation. The President called atten-
ton to a part of the statement made
by Mr. Baer, in which the latter said
that the operators were willing to sub
init grievances to the Courts of Conn.,
mon Pleas in Pennsylvania. The Presi-
dent asked Mr.. Mitchell if he, not as
president of the union, but as an in
dividual, would agree to that. Mr..
Mitchell promptly replied that he
would not.
The operators made it plain that
they would listen to no proposition
whatever emanating from Mr.. Mitch
ELL 1t was five minutes of O'Clock
when the conference ended.
Deep interest was manifested in the
conference on the part of the public.
The sidewalks and street in front of
the temporary White House were
thronged with people who anxiousy
awaited the result. Newspaper cor
respondents lined either side of the en-
trance to the White House from it's
doors to the street
There was a distinct expression of
disappointment in the crowd when 1t
was known that the conference had
been unsuccessful and no agreement
had been reached.