The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-10-03
WANT TO END STRIKE
President and Advisers Study the
Situation.
Unable to Find Legal Warrant for
interference by Federal Govern
ment-MUral Suasi ion to Be Tried
ON Strikers and Operators.

certain what, if anything, could be
done by federal authority to settle the
coal strike.
The result was a rather general ex-
preston of opinion by the advisers Of
the president who were parties to the
conference, to the effect that the fed
eral laws and constitution did not af-
ford means of federal interference to
end the strike, but another conference |
will be held to-day, and the president
will do all he can properly and legally |
to bring about settlement. AT |
the temporary white house a confer
ence was held with three cabinet Off
GERS, Attorney General Knox, Secre-
tary Moody and Postmaster General
Payne. Gov. Crane, of Massachusetts,
also was present. These gentlemen
met with President Roosevelt first and
after the subject had been considered
for some time, they adjourned to an
other room and conferred together for
an hour. They all returned later in
the day and held another conference
with the president and the strike stu
alton was discussed further.
Power Is Lacking.
The tenor of the whole discussion
was to the effect that there was a
lack of power in the federal admin
istration to take any action at the
present stage of the strike, although
the seriousness of the coal famine
now and the much greater evils soon
to follow were considered at length
ana with a wish to discover some
method of ending the industrial dead
lock.
Will Adopt Any Legal Method.
While recognizing the futility of
efforts to end the strike that could
accomplish nothing, it was stated
that the president was anxious that
settlement should be brought
about at the earliest possible mo-
ment, and that if the attorney gen
eral or any other member of the
cabinet could devise method by
which the president could proceed,
that he would not hesitate to adopt
1t unless meanwhile assurances of a
settlement were received. After the
meeting Gov. Crane left Washington
for Massachusetts.
The conference will be resumed
to-day, at which time Secretary
Root, who spent Tuesday in New
York, will be present. 1t is under
stood that the visit of Secretary
Root to New York was for the pur-
pose of consulting prominent bust
ness men on the subject.
May Send for Managers.
1t has been intimated that the presi-
dent may send for the managers of the
coal properties, but this will not be
done until after the conference to-day,
and perhaps not then. Some confidence
is expressed in the report which Sec
Rotary Root may bring from New York
though it could not be learned what
communication if any had been re
ceived from the secretary while he was
in New York. He reached Washington
from there about ten o'clock Tuesday
night, but denied himself to newspaper
men and others seeking information.
No official statement was made re
garding the conference Tuesday
though an intimation was given tina
some statement might follow the con
ference to-day. AS heretofore stated
the main fact made apparent Tuesda.
was that the president will make ever,
effort he can exert properly and law
fully to stop the strike and avert fue
famine.
Will Try Moral Suaslon.
1t is said the president also conten
plates sending letter to the pres
dents OF the coal railways and anothe
to President MITCHELL of the miners
union, urging them to get together an
reach an adjustment. He will base M
action upon the rights of the publ
in the premises. The people must hav
coal, or great suffering will follow. Ih
coal mines are in one sense public util
ties, and neither their owners nor tn
men who work in them have the rig I
to withhold their product from tn
public. Already the coal railway pres
dents and President Mitchell have bee
advised of the plan of the preside1
to attempt this moral suasion upc
them. 1t is not believed that any e
couragement has been received fro
the railway presidents, who are ST
standing out stubbornly. The nine
are ready to submit their case to arr
tration or to accept any reasonab
concession.
May Call Extra Session.
Another suggestion is that congre
be convened in extra session to ena
law on the lines of a bill present.
by Senator Mason providing for II
appointment of receivers by the fe
eral courts in situations similar
those confronting the country to-da
Congress, acting as the repres ntati
of people deprived of their RICH
could relieve the embarrassment
the country by enacting law decls
ing that the rights of the people in CO
nection with the necessities OF i
were equal to the legal rights OF
owners of the coal mines.
Sites Are Awarded.
St. Louis, Oct. 1.-Under a loweri
sky and swept by chilling WI
from the west, over thousand p'
pie, comprising delegations from I
90, &c ,nI Sraotot0rS Tn