The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-10-07

that some action Of one nature or an
! other was about to be consummated.
4 When the conference adjourned a
few minutes before oclock all those
who had Joined in it declined to talk.
Every member of the cabinet and Mr.
Wright were pledged to absolute Sc
crecy as to what had occurred in the
4 conference room.
Extreme methods were taken to
! guard. against publicity Even the
| presidents summons to the confer
ence had been made in very quiet
and carefully guarded way. Not since
the Spanish war has there been such
Ilretlcence shown at a conference of
this character. as was observed today.
In this state Of absolute reticence on
the part Of ,l,a parties to the confer.
ence. it is almost impossible to do
,mdre than to draw the most general
sof conclusions as to the nature OF the
proceedings based upon what preced-
ed the meeting. The known facts are
that the president has reached the
conclusion that he has nothing to ex-
pect save refusal from further ap-
peal to the coal operators, and there
fore has decided to look for relief
from the situation to the miners side.
He feels that he hardly can expect the
miners to make the sacrifice of all
their contentious without holding out
at least promise of some return,
and the question before him is as to |
his ability to do this. He can pledge
himself to appeal to congress to ex-
anime into the Justice of the miners
complaints and remedy them so far
as lies in the power of the legislative
branch. backed by the earnest good
will of the executive. Also he can
suggest to Governor Stone CT Penn
svlvania, that he cause the Pennsyl-
vania legislature to likewise make an
inquiry, perhaps Fastening the usual
methods by calling an extra session,
but these pledges would be given only
on condition that the men go at once
into the mines and get out with all
speed the coal for which the people
are suffering.
To adopt this course means the
of the policy of exerting
moral suasion to end the strike. 1t is
certain that thus far the president
has not found single one of his con-
stitutional advisers who could sug-
gest any departure from this pro-
,edure. No enc can find a method
sanctioned by law or the constitu-
ion which promises relief.
So it is believed todays conference
vas called with the purpose of put
ing in exact shape the detail of a
'lan conceived in it's rough outlines,
wen before the departure of Presi-
dent Mitchell last Friday. The three
hours spent in consultation today
we're none too long to put into form
he two propositions, one to the min
RS organization and the other to
Governor Stone. The fact that Sec
etary Cortelyou was called on to
'repare one or more statements at
he direction of the president, is TAX !
n as an Indication that messages I
we're sent out at the end of the con- !
erence, and that the reticence of all Q
arties is explainable perhaps by their
esire to avoid the discourtesy of pub e
shing the nature of these before s
hey are received by the persons to
7hom they are addressed, as well as 7
v wish to escape the complication
the negotiations by heated public
iscussion at this stage. +
That the parties to the conference e
elieve that they have accomplish S
d something was indicated by the o
ceiling of the conferees that the min +
rs will soon again be at work. p