The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-01
"A COAL FAMINE
Is IMMINENT
All Over the Country the Pinch
Is Being Felt.
NO HELP FROM GOVERNMENT
AND THE COURTS ARE POWER
LESS TO INTERFERE.
NO HELP FROM GOVERNMENT
UIAsHINGToN. Sept. sO.-rhe pres

VI AsH1NGToN. Sept 3O-The pres
w ident today took initiative steps
| to ascertain what. If anything.
] could be done by federal authority TO
settle the coal strike. The result was
a general expression Of opinion by the
| advisers of the president who were
present. to the effect that the federal
laws and constitution did not afford
means Of federal Interference 10 end
the strike. but another conference will
be held tomorrow, and the president
VIII do all he can properly and legally
TO bring about settlement
| At the temporary White House a
conference was held with the three
cabinet officers, Attorney General
| Knox. Secretary Moody and Postmas.
| ter General Payne. Governor Crane OF
Massachusetts was also present These
gentlemen met with President Roose-
Welt. and after the subject had been
/ considered for some time they ad-
Journed to another room and conferred
| together for an hour. They all re-
| turned later in the day and held an
other conference with the president
c4'A NAAE SUI IAlnnAAUu was AA1IAnEE4
further
Coal Famine Imminent.
President Roosevelt is deeply con-
cerned over the situation. The ap-
proach Of winter with a coal famine
imminent. and the distress and suffer
ing that must ensue unless coal be-
comes available, present a situation
which. he thinks. should receive the
attention of the administration, If there
is anything that can be done by the
government. Many appeals have been
made to him and many suggestions
have been received by him, and il was
with a view to ascertain what power
the federal authority could evoke that
caused the conference to be held.
During the conference every phase
OF the situation was discussed. The
general opinion Of the advisers was
that the situation did not present a
case in which there could be federal
interference by any warrant OF law.
There has been no Interference with
federal authority IN the mining re-
gion, either by stoppage of the mails or
resistance of the United States court
process. It was pointed out that there
was no occasion for the use OF federal
/ troops, as Governor Stone of Pennsyl-
vania had not called on the govern
ment for assistance, nor had he even
exhausted the resources Of the state by
calling ont the f'Ill. strength OF the
state militia
Question of Receiver.
The question OF the right 10 seek
appointment of receivers for the
mines in order that they might be
operated was discussed, but neither in
the constitution nor in any known law
could any legal warrant be found for
such action, though the discussion Of
such lines even went so far as the con-
sideration of how the properties could
be relinquished and control surrendered
after the object of supplying coal had
been accomplished. assuming that the
federal government could interfere
through receivers. The tenor Of the
whole discussion was TO the effect that
there was a lack Of power in the fed
eral administration TO take any action
at the present stage of the strike. al
though the seriousness OF the coal
famine and the much greater evils soon
TO follow were considered at length
and with a wish to discover some
method of ending the Industrial dead
lock
Governor Cranes presence naturally
brought into prominence the proceed
ings begun in the Massachusetts, courts
TO secure the appointment Of receivers
for the coal properties. but the opinion
was expressed that the situation could
not be met successfully BY this method.
Rumors Of Settlement.
During the day advices were received
that the strike might be settled by the
operators and the miners themselves,
and il was suggested that hasty in
reference of any kind by the federal
government might prevent the con-
summation of plans for a settlement,
If any such were maturing. While
recognizing the futility of efforts 10
end the strike that could accomplish
nothing, il was stated that the presl-
dent was anxious that the end Of the
strike should be brought about at the
earliest possible moment, and that II
the attorney general or any member
of the cabinet could devise a method
by which the president could proceed
he would not hesitate 10 adopt il, an
less meanwhile assurances of settle
ment were received. After today's
meeting Governor Crane left Washing
ton for Massachusetts,.
The conference viii be resumed to-
morrow, at which time Secretary Root.
who spent the day in New York, viii
be present. II is UNDERSTOOD thal the
visit OF Secretary Root TO New York
was for the purpose Of consulting
prominent business men on the sub
ject.
The secretary left for New York
after a short conference at the White
House. when the same men We're pres
ent who were AT today's conference
II has been intimated that the pres
ident NAV send for the managers Of the
coal properties, but this will not ba
done until after the conference to-
morrow.
It could not be learned what COM
munication. II any, had been received
from Secretary Root while he was IN
New York. He reached Washington
a bout 10 O'Clock tonight. but denied
himself TO newspaper men and others
seeking information
No official statement was made re-
esrding the conference today. though
an intimation was given that some
statement might follow the conference
Tomorrow. As heretofore stated, the
main fact made apparent today was
that the president will make every ei-
fort that he can exert properly and
lawfully to stop the strike and avert
a fuel famine.
er1.SF-T T-AFFryT IN SIGHT