The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-16
INCIDENTS OF THE DAY.


WASHINGTON. Oct. 1.-THE events of
the day leading up to the present situation
In the miners strike were entirely devoid
Of sensations or of dramatic incidents.
Comparatively few people knew of the
coming of President Mitchell and he is
not known generally in Washington his APP
pearance attracted little attention. He came
by invitation of the President, telegraphed
TO him last night. He arrived on the Penn
syIvania Railroad at 11:27 O'Clock. He
not accompanied by the district mine pres
idents. as he was on the trip of Oct 9. his
only travelling companion being newspa-
per correspondent, who accompanied him
from wilkesbarre.
Mr.. Mitchell left his seat promptly on
the arrival of the train, carrying heavy
overcoat under his arm, and proceeded
leisureIy with the other passengers over
the long platform from the rear of the train
to the waiting room, He was met there by
no one except a delegation of reporters
whom he received with somewhat mel
ancholy smile. He shook hands with all of
Them but volunteered no remarks. He re-
manned in the Presidents waiting room
for ten or fifteen minutes. but absolutely
declined to reply to any question the an
swer to which might throw light upon his
present intentions or future movements.
Leaving the railroad station, Mr.. Mitchell,
still accompanied by his reportorial escort,
proceeded to Pennsylvania avenue, where
he took an electric car for the White
House He brought no baggage except
that contained in a small valse. and this.
with the heavy overcoat, he carried with
him to the executive mansion. On the
street car he was not only reserved, but
apparently his mind was much preoccupied
He chewed an unlighted cigar and replied
to questions IN monosyllables. When he
alighted from the street car at Jackson
place and saw crowd~of about twenty
or thirty newspaper men in front of the
temporary White House, he asked: Are
they always here?"
swung open to admit him Mr.. Mitchell
nodded and smiled pleasantly to several
newspaper acquaintance whom he recog-
nized. The miners president was shown
directly into the office of Secretary Cortel-
you. A minute later he was joined by Mr.
Cortelyou, who greeted him cordially.
Cortelyou invited Mr.. Mitchell to proceed
| with him at once to the parlor of Presi-
dent Roosevelt on the second floor of the
| mansion.
Prior to the arrival of Mr.. Mitchell the
| President was engaged busily i'm confer
| ences with his advisers. Secretary Root
was an early caller and was in conference
] with the President for about an hour. AS
| he left the White House Mr.. Root, while
| taking generally an optimistic view Of the
situation. said obstacles had arisen in the
| way of settlement of the strike. These, he
| believed, would be overcome. Just how
| they were to be overcome he did not indi-
| cate. and he did not say what the nature
| of the obstacles vas.
| Subsequently Colonel G.. ID. Wright, COM
| missioner of labor, and Mr.. Frank Z. Sar-
gent, commissioner of immigration, went
| into conference with the President. Com
| missioner Sargent remained only a brief
time When he left the White House he
declined to discuss his interview with the
| President.
Speaker David B. Henderson arrived at
the White House just after the coming or
Mr.. Mitchell He was shown to the Presi-
dents room and there was introduced to
the miners president. He remained less
than five minutes, saying as he departed
that he had called only to pay his respects
| to the President
President Roosevelt and Mr.. Mitchell
were In conference until 1856. The latter
| LETT the Presidents office and descended
t tI stairs unaecomRanied He said ne n,
Sargent, commissioner of immigration, in
| the Treasury Department. Mr.. Sargent
was until recently president of the Brother
personal friend of Mr.. Mitchell. and has
been prominent In efforts to end the coal
Mr.: Mitchells second conference with
president Roosevelt lasted just thirty-fve
minutes. He was ushered into the Presi-
dents 0ffice at $40 p. m, and left the
sylyania avenue car and went directly to
the office of President Gompers, of the
FEDERATION of Labor. There he met Mr..
Gompers and Mr.. James Duncan, vice
president of the Federation of Labor, and
several other labor leaders. Their con-
sultation necessarily was brief, as Mr..
Mitchell desired to leave on the first train
for Wilkesbarre. Mr.. Gompers and Mr..
| Duncan accompanied Mr.. Mitchell to his
train, the three walking close together and
| chatting earnestly.
Mr.. Mitchell left the city at 4:50 for
Wflkesbarre, going, as he had come. on the
| pennsylvania road. Just before his depart
ure he declined absolutely to make any
| statement whatever of the result of the
| conference with the president. He also de-
| clined to say whether he would have any
| statement to make after his arrival at
| Wnxesbarre, which he expects to reach at
| clock tomorrow morning.
Shortly after Mr.. Mitchell left the White
House Secretary Root arrived and soon
afterwards the President and the secretary
| left on an extened drive. AS the President
| passed through the hall of the White House
| to the carriage he used one crutch to assist
him walking. To a group of newspaper
men he remarked cheerily that ne hoped in
| a day or two to be able to discard the
| crutch. Referring to his injured leg, he
said that 1t now was the least Of his
trouble. He declined to make any state
ment regarding the conference with Mr..
| MITCHELL