Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-13
DELEGATES RETURN
REPRESENTATIVES, OF DISTRICT
AT DETROIT CONFERENCE.
The Resolutions Adopted Regarding
Coal Strike and Comments Thereon
Statement Of Situation.

Thomas w Smith. president OF the Board
Of Trade, and W. F. Guide, president Of the
Business Mems Association. accompanied
by the delegates to the recent coal confer
ence at Detroit. called at the District buiic-
ing this morning and presented to Com
missioner Mcfarland a report of the cor
ference proceedings and the Districts share
In them The delegation appo4hted by the
Commissioners consisted OF John B. Dash.
chairman; W. J. Zeh, f, G. ,coldren. A
GUIDE, B. S. Graves, r. P. Andrews, euro
H. Rudolph and Isaac Cans, The report OF
the delegation was as fol6ws:ni
Owing to delayed trIfp, and missing
connection at Buffalo, 1t was Impossible Tor
the delegation to reach Detroit until mid
night of the 9th instant, after the th.cd
session of the conference and the final ad-
journment. BY appointment the credentials
were presented to his honor, the mayor on
the morning Of the 10th, and your delega-
ton was received with every courtesy.
your delegation was requested by him
to express It's views Of the resolutions
which had been passed by the conference
The Action Taken.
Having had practically no opportunity
for consultation, we made an appointment
for noon of the same day. After a careful
consideration Of the various provisions OF
the resolutions. we met at the Office Of the
mayor, W. c. Maybury Of Detroit. w. c. f.
Breckenridge Of Lexington, KY; T. 0. Tars-
ney. corporation counsel Of Detroit: Fred :
erick B. Smith, president of the Detroit
chamber Of commerce, and other prominent
citizens. Our statements and criticisms OF
the resolutions as verbally made at that
time are briefed in connection with the
copy Of the resolution hereto attached. we
were informed by Mr.. Breckenridge and
others Of the workings Of the committee OF
resolutions and the various points were In
formally discussed by the parties present.
Your delegates are deeply sensible Of the
honor conferred on them and beg to assure
you that everything in our power was done
to maintain the honor and reputation of the
District Of Columbia"
Comment on Resolutions.
Accompanying the report is copy Of the
resolutions adopted at the conference, to-
gether with the comments or criticism Of
the District delegation.
The delegation favored the bringing of
any legal proceedings warranted by exist
ing law. and approved an investigation by
the interstate commerce commission. The
delegation did not favor giving to the In
terstate commerce commission the power
to fix and determine rates, but to correct or
approve rates complained Of. The delega-
ton did not regard the exercise Of the right
Of eminent domain applicable to the pres
the governor Of Pennsylvania to call an ex-
ira session of the legislature and condemn
the coal-carryfng roads was disapproved as
impracticable and inadvisable, even II con-
stitutional. The delegation approved spe-
cial session Of the House Of Representatives
to appoint committee to investigate the
strike. The representatives Of the District
disapproved the resolution. censuring the
and expressing sympathy with the miners
and providing for the raising of fund FOR
their assistance. saying that 1t. was dis
tinctively taking sides in the controversy
dss
ton. in the absence OF substantial proof Of
the charge, did not approve the paragraph
condemning the bituminouS sdM operators
for increasing the price Of that fuel.
The President Endorsed. 20
The delegation heartily anaHsrpvsd that por-
ton Of the resolution referring to the action
Of President Roosevelt in attempting to eff
feet settlement of the coalIstEtke by moral
suasion as noble and comrendAbie. and as
an example of a high order d spatriotism,
that should be emulated Republic serv-
ants In lesser Office , 9t,os
The delegation could not apprnye that pro-
vision In the resolutions in (which It was
stated that the conference believed Mr..
MitchelPs proposition made. tel the Presl-
dent that the mine workers would go to
work at once and leave alb questions OF diff
ference for future arbitration was reason
able. fair and patriotic. and urging the
President to cause proceedings to be at once
instituted to dissolve the combination and
to enjoin the continued infractions Of the
law and for the immediate appointment OF a
receiver to operate the mines, pending the
final determination of the case.
Situation Serious.
With regard to this. the delegation said:
'It appreciated fully the seriousness OF
the present situation and desired the earli-
est possible change Of condition.. Whatever
may be the respective merits Of the plans
presented to the President by Mr.. Mitchell
and the operators. this delegation believed
that the reported efforts OF the President
to induce the opposing parties TO assent TO
some middle ground of adjustment to be
more likely to bring early relief than any Of
the radical and drastic measures embodied
In the resolutions: that public efforts and
expressions should be directed to that end.
rather than to the condemnation of either