The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-06
Three Hours Devoted to Discus
sion of Strike Situation.
ABSOLUTE SECRECY.
Participants Refuse to Say
What Was Done.
A Number of Plans We're Taken
Under Consideration.


fort to expedite the adjustment of the
coal strike problem another conference
over the situation was held at the
White House Sunday and adjourned al
ter three hours deliberation- NO state
ment was given out as to the conclusion
reached and every participant absolute
ly refused to discuss what had taken
place during the meeting. The confer
ence was called for Sunday, in view OF
the extraordinary Importance to the
American people of a 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,
Postmaster General Payne and CarroH
d. Wright United States commissioner
of labor. The last named was summon
ed to attend the conference on account
of his expert knowledge of the region
of the anthracite coal fields and be-
cause of his personal investigation ot
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 were
present. This, however, was significant
only of. the fact that three of these four
were lawyers and that the issue involV-
ed was one which should be for the
deliberation of trained legal minds. The
fourth cabinet officer, Postmaster Cen
eral Payne, has taken a prominent part
in the preliminary conference over the
coal SITUATION winch leu uD 10 lnt NOii-
ference with the railroad presidents and
miners representatives Friday, and be-
sides has 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 important in connection with the per-
sonnel of the conference.
1t began shortly after 10 o'clock. the
+1ae,r s-if hon
who were to participate arrived at the
White House. in a drizzling rain, they
found Surgeon General Rixey of the
navy, and DIR. Lung, the presidents
physician, already there, making the
morning call on the patient. This caus-
ed a delay of few minutes. When the
two physicians left it was reported that
the. presidents condition was progress
ing satisfactorily and there were no un-
toward developments.
Expressing his views at the outset of
the conference, the president talked
earnestly and with deep feeling. His
voice at times could be heard down
stairs. Several times during the confer
ence Secretary CortelyOu was summons
ed into the room and directed to pre-
pare certain matters for the cOnsidera-
ton of the president and his advisers.
This was taken to indicate that some
action of one nature or another WaS
about to be cOnSummated.
When the conference adjourned, a few
minutes before l o'clock. all those who
had Joined it declined to talk. Every
member of the cabinet and Colonel
Wright, the only outsider who was
present, was pledged to the president tc
absolute secrecy as to what had occurr-
ed within the conference room.
The utmost efforts were made tC
guard against publicity. even the pres;-
Dental summons to the conference hao
been made in a very quiet and carefully
guarded way. Not since the Spanish wal
has there been such reticence shown al
a conference of this character.
In this state of absolute reticence o-
the parties to the conference it is almost
impossible to do more than draw the
most general of conclusions as to thu
nature of the proceedings, based upoT
what preceded the meeting. The know
facts are that the president has reached
the conclusion that he has nothing t,
expect save refusal from further an
peal TO the coal operators, and therefor,
has decided to look for relief from tn,
situation to the miners side. He feel
that he hardly can expect them to max,
the sacrifice of all of their contention,
without holding out q least a promis,
of some return. and the question befor,
him is as to his ability to do this H
can pledge himself to appeal to con
gress to examine into the justice of tn
miners complaints and remedy them s.
far as lies in the power Of the legisla
tive branch. backed by the earnest goo,
gest to Governor Stone of Pennsylvani.
that he cause the Pennsylvania legisla
ture likewise to make an inquiry per
haps Fastening the usual methods b,
calling an extra session. But thes
pledges would be given only on oondi
tiOn that the men go at once into tn
mines and get out with all speed tn
coal for which the people are suffering
To ado9t this course means the con
tinuance of the policy of eXcrting mora
suasion to end the strike. It is certai
that thus far the president has no
found a single one of his constitutions
advisers who suggest any departul
from this policy; no one could find
method sanctioned by law or cOnstitll
tion which promised relief and involve
the use of duress against either the on
orators o. TIE miners.
So it is believed that the conferenc
was called by the preside-t with tn
purpose of putting in exact shape tn
details of a plan conceived in its roue
outlines even before the departure q
President Mitchell last Friday from tn
mixed conference The three hour
spent in consultation We're none to
long to put into form the twin proposi
tions. one to the miners organization
and the other to Governor Stone TIL
fact that Secretary COrtelyou was cal
ed on to prepare one or more statement
at the direction of the president is ia
ken as an indication that messa ge
were sent out at the end of the confer
ence and that the reticence of all par
ties is explainable perhaps by their de
sire to avoid the d3scourtesy of publish
ing the nature of these before they al
received by the persons to whom the
7 are addressed, as well as by a wish
escape the complication of the negotis
tions by heated public discussion at TIL
stage.
That the parties to the conferenc
feel that they have accomplished some
thing was made evident by the expires.
ed belief of one of tire .conferees that tt
miners soon will be again at work
One object of the conference was
consider some of the propositions ths
have been sent to the president fl
settling the strike. These came from el