The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-10-08
ROOSEVELT STILL
WORKING FOR PEACE.
Cabinet Conference Sunday TO
Consider Plans For Ending
Strike---No Statement
Given Out.

Washington, Oct. 5.-ln an earnest
effort to expedite the adjustment Of
the coal strike problem another con-
ference over the situation was held at
the White House today and adjourned
after thre hours of deliberation. No
statement was given out as to the
conclusions reached and every partl
cipant absolutely refused to discuss
what had taken place during the meet
ing.
The conference was called for today,
although it was Sunday, in view OF
the extraordinary importance to the
American people of speedy solution OF
the question. Beside the president
there were present Secretaries Root
and Moody, Attorney General Knox,
Postmaster General Payne and Carroll
D. Wright, United States commission
er of. labor. The last named was sum-
moned to attend the conference on ac-
count of his expert knowledge.
|. Only four members Of the cabinet
were present. Three of these four
were lawyers and the issue involved was
one which called for the deliberation
OF trained legal minds. The fourth
cabinet officer, Postmaster General
Payne, has taken prominent part In
81 g preliminary conferences over the
coal situation, and besides has had a
lifelong Identification with corporate
interests which are involved IN the
present question.
The conference began shortly after
10 O'Clock this morning, the time Tx
ed by the president. When those
who were to participate arrived at the
White House they were delayed few
minutes owing to the physicians max
ing their morning call. When the two
physicians left it was reported that
the presidents condition was progress
sing satisfactorily and that. there were
no untoWard Developments.
The president, in expressing his
views at the outset Of today's con-
ference, talked earnestly and showed
deep feeling. His voice at times
could Le heard down stairs. Several
times during the conference Secretary
CortelyoG was summoned into the
room and directed to prepare certain
matters for the consideration Of the
president and his advisers. This was
CS2kOQ I'D SO10O oNo@SAA
was about to be consummated.
When the conference adjourned a
few minutes before l o'clock all those
who had joined in it declined to talk,
! all being pledged to the president to
absolute secrecy. The utmost efforts
were made to guard against publicity.
Not since the Spanish war has there
been such reticence shown at a confer
ence of such character as was served
today.
1t is therefore almost impossible to
do more than draw the most general Of
conclusions as to the nature OF the pro
cedings. based upon what preceded the
meeting. The known facts are that the
president has reached the conclusion
that he has nothing to expect save
from further appeal to the coal oper-
ators 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 be
fore him is as to his ability to do this.
He can pledge himself to appeal to
congress to examine 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. Al
SO he can suggest to Gov. Stone of
Pennsylsvania that he cause the Penn
sylyania legislature likewise to make
an inquiry, perhaps Fastening the
usual methods by calling an extra ses-
sion. But these pledges would be
given only on condition that the men
90 at once into the mines and get out
with all speed the coal for which the
people are suffering.