The Washington times., 1902-10-04
COAL MEN VISIT
SECRETARY ROOT
White House Conferees Discuss Situa-
tion Freely After Leaving
the President.

| Tho big developments of the day did
not cease with the ending Of the con-
ference at the temporary White House
Yesterday afternoon. Anothe and
hardly less important one was held last
night when the six coal magnates
called on Secretary Root at the Ar.
l,neton There the strike situation was
again rome over from, the legal and
constitutional standpoint.
It was $50 o'clock when the party Of
six left their special cars, which had
been sidetracked in the Baltimore and
Ohio wards. near the Delaware Avenue
crossing, and proceeded to the Arlington
It was 11:45 o'clock when they returned.
| During their absence they had been forti-
fled in their previous opinions and felt
certain that nothing could be done, un-
less their suggestions to the President
we're acted upon.
Legal Aspects of Case.
When the six coal magnates reached
Secretary Roots apartments they en-
! tered at once upon the legal aspects OF
the case. In consequence Of the pre-
vious negotiations in which some of
them had participated with Mr.. Root
known to them personally. the confer
ence at once became most direct and
free discussion Of the case, much differ
ent from the formal presentation OF
statements to the President earlier in
the day. When the discussion had been
completed, the following conclusions
had been affirmed:
| There is no way for the Government
Of the United States to proceed under
present laws against the coal operators
or the coal carrying companies to end
| the strike.
There are no legal precedents appll-
cable to the present conditions under
which troops of the regular army could
be sent by the President to protect
miners who may wish to go to work, bu.
Will not do so for fear of bodily violence
Call for Federal Troops
There are only two instances which
could be cited in this connection and
both are different from the present case
One of these was the Coeur d'Alene case
in Idaho, in which instance the governor
of the State declared he could not pre-
serve order and called for Federal
troops which were furnished. The other
was the Chicago riots case during the
first administration Of President Cleve-
land, when the United States mail serv-
| ice was impeded and the troops were
called out to prevent any interference
by strikers"
The lack of Federal authority to send
troops into Pennsylvania now was there
fore admitted by all. just as has been
previously stated by Attorney General
Knox.
When asked ut the special train what
course there was left to end the strike.
one of the operators said:
Let the Government proceed against
the Mine Workers Union, the greatest
combination in restraint Of trade that
this country has ever known. Nothing
else prevents the strike from coming to
an end and the people being provided at
once with an ample supply Of coal"
The special train remained on the yard
tracks until o'clock this morning, when
the return journey to New York was be-
gun. The time for starting was deter
mined upon so that President Baer, who
is an early riser as we'll as prodigious
worker. could get to Philadelphia at a
more seascnable hour than would other
wise have been possible.
The train will reach there between 6