River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-10-09
DISCUSS MORE PLANS.
The President and Several Advisers
Again Confer.
Further Efforts Being Made to F1nu
Cure for the Coal Situation
Miners May Be Asked to
Make Sacrifice.

Make Sacrifice.
Washington, Oct. Elm an earnest
effort to expedite the adjustment Oh
the strike problem, another conference
over the situation was held at the white
house Sunday and adjourned after
three hours of elaboration. No state
ment was given out as to the conclu-
sions reached. and every participant
absolutely refused to discuss what had
taken place during the meeting. Inc
conference was called, although it was
Sunday, in view of the extraordinary
Importance to the American people OF
speedy solution of the question. Be
sides the president, there were pres
ent at the conference, Secretary of. War
Root, Secretary ofthe Navy Moody, At
torney General Knox, Postmaster Gen
eral Payne and Carroll d. Wright, Unit
ed States commissioner Of labor. Inc
last-named was summoned to attend
the conference on account OF his expert
knowledge of the situation in the an
thracite coal fields, and because of his
personal investigation of the condi-
tions there which he made some
months ago at the instance OF the pres
ident.
Maintain Profound Secrecy.
The president, in expressing his
views at the outset of the conference
talked earnestly and showed a deep
feeling His voice at times could be
heard downstairs. Several times dur
ing the conference Secretary Cortel-
you was summoned into the room ana
directed to prepare certain matters 1of
the consideration of the president and
for his advisors. This was taken to
indicate that some action of one ma
ture or another was about to be con-
summated. When the conference adj
journed, few minutes before one
o'clock, all those who had Joined in it
declined to talk Every member of the
cabinet and Col. Wright, the only out
slider who was present, was pledged to
absolute secrecy as to what had oc-
CURED within the conference room.
The utmost efforts were made to guard
against publicity, just as the presi-
Dental summons which called the con-
ference had been made in a very quiet
and carefully guarded way. Not since
the Spanish war has there been such
reticence shown at a conference of
such character.
May Appeal to Miners.
In this state of absolute reticence of
everyone of the parties to the con-
ference it is almost impossible to do
more than draw the most general con-
illusions as to the nature of the pro-
ceedings, based upon what preceded
the meeting. The known facts arc
that the president has reached the
conclusion that he has nothing to ex-
pect save refusal from further a p
peal to the coal operators, and there
fore has decided to look for relief from
a situation which in his view is fast
growing intolera BILE, to the miners
side. He feels that he hardly can ex-
pect them to make the sacrifice of all
of their contentious without holding
out at least promise of some return,
and the question before him is as to
his ability to do this. He can pledge
himself to appeal to congress to exam
inc into the justice of the miners COM
plants and remedy them so far as lies
in the power of the Legislative branch,
backed by the earnest good will of the
executive. Also he can suggest to Gov.
Stone, of Pennsylvania, that he cause
the Pennsylvania Legislature likewise
to make an inquiry, perhaps fastening
the usual methods by calling an extra
session. But these pledges would be
given only on condition that the men
go at once into the mines and get out
with all speed the coal for which the
people are suffering.
Many Propositions Considered.
One object of the conference was to
consider some of the propositions
that nave been sent to the president
for settling the strike. These came
from every section of the country,
and a large proportion from men of
standing and reputation. At the
same time it is said that the sugges-
lions often are absurd and impractic-
able. Others, offering a possible so
luton, already have received atten-
ton. Some of the impracticable
propositions are offers to lease coal
mines IN other sections of the coun-
try to the government so that it may
furnish coal to the people.
Will Not Use Force.
Two constantly recurring PROPOSE
tions for federal interference-one
that United States troops be sent
into Pennsylvania for the protection
of the men the operators employ, and
the other that the mines be seized
by the government-are rejected, no
matter by whom urged. The first
conference developed the fact that no
federal interference by force was
possible, and to that conclusion the
president has firmly held.
1t is also said that the president
will propose that each company ar
bitrate differences with its own en-
ployes, decisions being accepted in
the form of a contract.
Break Jail.
Jonasboro ILL.,, Oct. 6. = Patsy
Flaherty. alias George Burns, and
Charles Denny, alias Jacob Myers,
who are awaiting trial on the charge
of attempting to rob the First ma
tional bank of Golden on the night
of the 18th of last January, escaped
from Jail here Friday night by saving
through the outside grating of their
cell with the assistance of confed-
crate on the outside. They have been