Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-06
NAY Gall STRIKE OFT
Mitchell May Call Convention OF
Miners to Consider the
Strike Situation
CABINET CONFERENCE SUNDAY
Discussion of a Plan to Settle the
Strike Temporarily, With View to
Having Congress and the PennsyI-
vania Legislature Take Some Action
Looking to Adjustment of Trouble.

vania Legislature Take Some Action
Looking to Adjustment of Trouble.
Washington, Oct. president Nit
chell may call convention OF the Unit
ed Mine Workers and ask it to call the
anthracite strike off and appeal to the
congress of the United States and to
the legislature of Pennsylvania to make
Impartial investigation of the strike and
into the conditions in the anthracite re-
Of the cabinet council held Sunday. at
which all Of the presidents advisers
present took grounds against radical
action on his part at this time. The
question is whether Mr.. Mitchell will
adopt the suggestion. Some of the men
most prominent in official circles in
Washington believe he will.
Mr.. Mitchell is the only party to the
controversy showing a disposition to
meet the suggestions of President
Roosevelt and waive differences until
the coal famine has been averted.
1t is intimated in high official circles
that he has been urged to take another
step that would relieve the tlistressful
conditions, leaving adjustment of his
claims to congress and the Pannsylva-
MIA legislature. 1t is admitted that this
would be nominal victory for the coal
of,rc l,,,f i. hn nf al
concerned and interested that the ulti-
mate result of such action would be to
benefit the miners, insuring action by
congress and the Pennsylvania legisla-
ture. The suggestion offers speedy
temporary solution of the yexed ques-
ton with a certainty of a thorough In
vestigation later on.
In an earnest effort to expedite the
adjustment of the coal problem another
conference over the situation was held
at the white house yesterday and adj
journed after three hours of delibera-
ton. No statement was given out as to
the conclusions reached and every par
ticipant absolutely refused to discuss
what had taken place during the meet
ing. The conference was called. altho 1t
was Sunday, in view of the extraordin-
airy Importance to the American people
of speedy solution of the question.
Besides the president, there were
present at the conference Secretary of
War Root. Secretary of the Navy
Moody, Attorney General Knox, Post
master General Payne and CO.. Carroll
d. Wright, United States commissioner
OF labor.
The last named was summoned to at
tend the conference on account of his
expert knowledge Of the situation in the
anthracite coal fields and because of his
personal investigation of the conditions
there which he made some months ago
at the instance Of the president.
& It was notable that only four of the
members of the cabinet We're present.
This. however, was significant only of
lawyers and that the issue involved was
one which called for the elaboration of
trained legal minds.
The fourth cabinet officer, Postmaster
General Payne, has taken a prominent
part in the preliminary conferences
over the coal situation which led up to
the conference with the railroad presi-
dents and miners representatives Fri
day and besides has had lifelong iden-
with corporate interests
which are involved in the present ques-
ton. The fact that Mr.. Payne also has
been one of the closest advisers for
many years in the national councils of
his party likewise is important in con-
nection with the personnel of the con-
ference. 1t began shortly after 10 o'clock
in the morning, the time fixed by the
president.
When those. who were to participate
arrived at the white house in q driZzling
rain they found Surgeon General Rixey
Of the navy and DR.. Lung, the presi-
Gents physician, already there making
the morning call on the president. This
caused a delay of few minutes. When
the two physicians left it was reported
that the presidents condition was pro-
crossing satisfactorily and that there
were no untoward developments.
The president in expressing his views
at the outset of the conference talked
earnestly and showed deep feeling.
His voice at times could be heard down
stairs. Several times during the con-
ference Secretary Cortelyou was sum
mOned into the room and directed to
prepare certain matters for the consid-
GRAFTON of the president and his adj
visers. This was taken TO indicate that
some action of one nature or another
was about to be contaminated.
When the conference adjourned a few
minutes before o'clock all those joined
in it declined to talk. Every member
o. the cabinet and Colonel Wright the
only outsider who was present, was
Pledged to the president to absolute Sc
crecy as to what had occurred within
the conference room.
In this states of absolute reticence of
every one of the parties to the confer
ence, it is almost impossible to 10 more
than draw the most general of conclu-
sions as to the nature of the proceed
ings, based upon what preceded the
meeting The known facts are that the
president has reached the conclusion
that he has nothing to expect save re-
fusal from a further appeal to rhe coal
operators and, therefore, has decided to
look for relief from situation which, in
his view, is fast growing intolerable, to
the miners side.
He feels that he hardly can expect
them to make the sacrifice of all of
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 HIM
self to appeal to congress to examine