Middletown transcript., 1902-10-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsH1NaroN, OCT. Gth, 1902.

WAsHIEGroN, Oct. 9th, 1902.
lWHILE intense disappointment is felt
w because the conference, called by
President Roosevelt between the coal
mine operators and the representatives
of the strikers. failed to accomplish its
purpose, there is evident on all sides a
feeling of deep gratitude to the President
for his manly and eloquent appeal to the
contending parties to sink their rights
and differences in tie interest Of patrio-
tism and humanity. Mr.. Roosevelt
made no attempt to adjudicate the diff
erences or even to argue the case. He
simply presented the side of the American
public, so large proportion of which is
doomed to suffer as result of the strike,
notwithstanding the fact that it is in no
way involved in the causes leading up TO
it. President Mitchell, on behalf of the
Mine Workers Union, offered to submit
all differences to a tribunal to be ap-
pointed by the President, but the opera
tors refused to recognize Mitchell or the
Union he represents. They asserted
that if order were preserved by the state
or federal authorities, they would be
able to mine large percentage of the
capacity of the mines and in the absence
). of such order, they did not consider that
they were properly responsible for the
existing condition of affairs. So far as
can be seen, the conference accomplished
nothing, both parties being intent on
holding ont to the bitter end, regardless
of the suffering caused to an innocent
public. 1t is claimed that the President
will take further, action though of what
nature it is impossible to predict.
*x#
Soon after the President had made lis
appeal 10 the contending parties, men,
Der of the Cabinet assured your cores
pondent that there was no question in |
his mind but that the operators would |
agree to Mitchel's proposition as to do |
so at the request of the President could |
not be constructed as recognition of the |
miners union and would insure for the |
railway presidents the gratitude of the
entire public. The gentleman quoted |
had just left the White House and |
doubtless expressed the opinion of the
President. In the light of the failure of
the conference, certain gossip, which
has for several days been current in Wash
ington, is interesting. 1t is known
that no sooner had Attorney General
Knox filed his first papers in the suit
against the Northern Securities Company,
than Mr.. ]. Pierpont Morgan came to
Washington and had a more or less
stormy interview with Mr.. Roosevelt.
1t is reported that Mr.. Morgan stated
that as result of the Attorney Generals
action, there would occur a great distur-
bance of the financial interests of the
country, to which the President replied:
II am neither bull nor bear in Nor
gan stock. I aim President of the United
States and am sworn to execute the law.
I would proceed against you or any OF
your combinations as quickly as 1 would
against striker-not because am opposed
to capital or labor, except as either of
them may be violaters of the laws of the
country" By that statement it is ,
claimed that the President incurred the
bitter enmity of Mr.. Morgan and that
the latter is absolutely unwilling, there
fore, that any settlement of the coal
strike should come about as a result of
the Presidents efforts for the reason that
such a result would add to the latter's
In this connection it is further in
timated that Mr.. Morgan has had much
to do with the financial stringency in
New York, to alleviate which Secretary h
Shaw has been obliged 10 take such 3
drastic measuresr It is even claimed | !
that Mr.. Morgan used his influence to
bring>out the gold Democrats at the !,
New York Democratic convention !
aud that it ia part of his policy to !;
defeat the Republican party in the COM
ing election and in that of 1904. The =
personal defeat of Mr.. Roosevelt, the :
only man who is bold enough to oppose =
him, is said to be his end. He can afford !
to promote the defeat of the Republican :
party for the reason that a Democratic
House would. be powerless to effect
tariff reform go long as the Senate re- :
mains Republican, as it must ior the
next six years, whereas on the other =
hand, he fears that Republican House :
might mean the reduction of certain i.
tariff schedules dear to him and his e. :
nancial friends. To what extent these as
are founded on fact it is hard 4
to determine, but it is universally re- =
cognized that Mr.. Morgan's influence
would Immediately end the coal strike /
i thrown on the side of the President.
49, II
An evidence Of the prevalent prosper II
ty throughout the country is furnished
oy the immense number of visitors who
ire arriving in Washington this week.
t is estimated by the railway officials b
hat total approximating half million :,
trangers will be landed in Washington :,
" Wednesday morning. No pains have ~
'een spared by the reception committee .
o make the visit of the G. A. R. and o
he Spanish War Veterans enjoyable, o
nd with favorable weather the encamp- :.
hent promises to be great success. =
he city is beautifully decorated. The N
'arious historic spots are marked by =
pproprite signs, the Capitol is decorated = !.
nd open to inspection and will be -
Illuminated on several evenings. The
congressional Library will be open =
very evening and the National Museum n \;
Or longer hours than usual. Every de- = =
all of the grand parade to occur on We'd =
esday has been worked out The Presi-
ent,continues to improve, and with Gen.
raj Terrence, commander-in-chief of the 81
!. A. R., will review the parade of tba