Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-10-11
SUNDAY CONFERENCE
AT The WHITE HOUSE
President Roosevelt Again Dis
cusses Strike Situation
With Advisers.
COURSE DECIDED UPON
Administration Will Ask Governor
Stone for Legislative lnVestiga-
ton OF Abuses in the Coal
Fields.

Fields.
Washington, oct. I'm anearnest
effort to expedite the adjustment of the
coal strike problem another conference
over the situation was held at the
White House yesterday, and ADJOURNED
after three hours of elaboration. no
statement was given out as to the con-
clusions reached, and every participant
absolutely refused to discuss what had
taken place during the meeting. n
conference wa called for Sunday, in
view OF the extraordinary Importance
to the American people OF q speedy So
luton Of the question. BESIDES the
president there were present at the Con-
ference Secretary of War Root, Secre-
tary of the Navy Moody, Attorney Gen
eral Knox, Postmaster General Payhe
and Colonel Carroll D.. Wright, United
States commissioner of labor.
The last named was summoned 10 at
tend the conference on account OF MS
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 pres
ident.
Only Four of Cabinet Present.
II was notable that only four of the
members of the cabinet were present.
This, however, was significant only OF
the fact that three of these four were
wye and hat the issue involved
was one which called for the delibera-
ton OF trained legal minds.
The fourth cabinet member, POST
master General Payne, has taken a
prominent part i'm the preliminary con
..... IA. coal .EitlynItnn wh1En
led up to the Confence with the rail-
road presidents and miners repre-
scntatiycs Friday, and besides has a
a lifelong Identification with corporate
interests which are involved in the
present question. 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 I'M
portant in connection with the person
mel OF the conference.
II began shortly after 10 o'clock yes
terday morning, the time hNed Tor
meeting the president.
President Very Earnest.
When those who were TO participate
arrived at the White Hous in a driz-
cling rain they found Surgeon General
of the navy, and Or. Lung, the
presidents physician, already there
the morning call on the presl-
dent. This caused a delay of Il few
minutes. When the two physicians left
IL was reported that the president s.
condition was progressing s~atisfactor-
lily. and hat there We're no untoWaru
developments.
The president, in expressing his
views at the outset of the conference,
talked earnestly and showed a deep
feeling. His voice at times could be
downstairs. Several times dur
the conference Secretary Cortelyou
summoned into the room and d.
rccted to prepare certain matters Tor
the consideration of the president ana
his advisers. This VAS taken to IN
dictate hat some action of II nature
or another was about to be
mated.
When the conference adjourned, q
few minute before | o'clock, all those
had Joined i'm it declined to talk.
member OF the cabinet and COL
one Wright, the only outsider who was
present, was pledged to the president
10 absolute secrecy as to what had oc-
Cured within the conference room.
In this state of absolute rctiCenCe OF
every one of the parties 10 the confer
Cnce il is almost impossible to do more
than draw the most general conclu-
sions as to the nature Of the proceed
ms. ldStl bl'll W 10 l'''N''' 49,
The known facts are that the
has reached the conclusion
That he has nothing to expect save re-
fusal from a further appeal to the
operators, and therefore has de-
cidad To look for relief from Il situation
which I'm his view is fast growing in
tolerable to the miners Sidc.
He feelh that he hardly can expect
hem 10 make the sacrifice Of all of
- 4. ....,,.;,,,, ,rft h,,rt hn1linp ont
IT least a promise of some return,
the question before him is as to
ability to do this. lie Can pledge
to appeal to congress to exam
into the justice of the miners com
and remedy them as far as lies
i'm the power of the legislative branch,
by the earnest good VIII of the
executive. Also he can suggest TO
Governor stone Of Pennsylvania that
he cause the Pennsylvania legislature
to make an inquiry, perhaps
fastening the usual methods by calling
an extra session, but these pledges
would be given only on condition that
men go at nee into the mines and
get out with all speed the coal for
which the people are suffering.
Policy of Moral Suasion.
To adopt this curse means the on
tinuanCe OF the policy Of eXerting moral
suasion to end the strike. 1t is certain
thus far the president has not
found a single one of his constitutional
advisers who could suggest any depart
urc from his policy; no Il could find
a method sanctioned by law, or the
constitution which promised relief and
the use Of dure2S against
either the operators or the miners.
SO il is believed hat today's confer
enCe was called by the president with
the purpose of putting in exact shape
the details of q plan conceived in its
outlines even before the depart
ure of President Mitchell Friday after
noon from the mixed conference.
The three hours spent in consultation
were none too long to put into form the
twin propositions; one to the miners
organization and the other to Govern
or Stone, ana the fact that Secretary
Cor telyUu was called on TO prepare one
or more statements at the direction of
the president is taken as N indication
messages We're sent ont at the end
Of the conference ana that the rcticcnCe
of all of the parties is eXplainable, per-
haps, by their desire to avoid the dis
courtesy Of publishing the nature OF
these before they are received by the
people TO whom they are addressed, as
well as by n wish to escape the COM
plications OF the negotiations by heated
public discussion at this stage.
Have Accomplished Something.
THAT the parties to the conference feel
they have accomplished something was
evident by the expression Of one
Of a belief that the miners o will be
again at work.
one subject of the conference was to