Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-10-04

ence.
Washington, Oct. 3.-The second
step in the presidents efforts to effect
a settlement between the anthracite
coal magnates and the miners was
taken today.
At 11:10 o'clock, ten minutes after
the hour fixed for the conference.
every person who had been invited 70
participate with the exception of Pres
ident Olipnant, of the Delaware and
Hudson, who sent as personal repre-
sentative David Wilcox, vice president
and general counsel of the road, and
President Cassatt, of the Pennsylvania
road, was present in the second story
front room of the temporary execu-
tive mansion, where the president has
been since his return from Indianap'
oils
the president during the conference
was seated in a large invalid chair,
his left leg extended at full length,
resting on a cushion. The president
greeted most cordially, each of his
guests when they appeared, and when
all were assembled he stated to them
In brief preliminary way his object
In calling them together me pre,l-
dent, fully realizing the importance
Of the communication that he was t1
make, had prepared a carefully word
ed paper setting forth in detail his
position on the pending controversy.
The president said:
President States His Views.
Il wish to call your attention to the
fact that there are three parties af,
fected by the situation in the anthra.
cite trade-the operators, the miners
and the general public. I speak for
neither the miners nor the operators,
but for the general public. The ques.
tion at issue which led to the situa.
tion affect Immediately the parties
concerned-the operators and the min
ers; but the situation vitality affects the
public. AS long as there seemed tJ
be reasonable hope that these mat.
ters could be adjusted between the
parties it did not seem proper to me
to intervene in any way. | disclaim.
ed any right or duty to intervene in
this way upon legal grounds or upon
any official relation that | bear to the
situation, but the urgency and the ter.
rible nature of the catastrophe impend-
ing over a large portion of our people
in the shape of winter fuel famine
impels me, after much anxious thought,
to use whatever influence | personally
can to bring to an end situation
which has become literally intolerable.
/ wish to emphasize the character Of
the situation and to say that its gray.
ity is such that l am constrained ur.
gently to insist that each one of you
realize the heavy burden of responsible
ity upon him. We are upon the thresh.
ing coal famine, the future terrors of
which we can hardly yet appreciate
The evil possibilities are so far-reacn.
ing, so appalling that it seems to me
that you are not only justified in sink
ing. but required to sink for the time
being any tenacity as to your respec.
tive claims in the matter at issue De-
tween you. In my judgment the sit.
uation imperitatively requires that you
meet upon a common plane of the ne.
cessities of the pubnc. With all the
earnestness there is in me. ask that
there be an immediate resumption Of
operations in the coal mines in some
such way rs win be no unnecessary
delay, meet the crying needs of the
people
I do not invite 4 discussion Of your
respective claims. I appeal to your
patriotism, to the spirit that sinks
personal considerations and makes in.
dividual sacrifices for the public
good"
Long before the hour fixed for the
conference a large crowd had assem-.
bled outside the White House. The
first official at the White House was
Hon Carroll D. Wright, commissioner
of labor He has made an investiga.
tion of the strike situation and the
president desired to obtain from him
what he considered important feat.
ures of the condition between the oper.
ators and miners.
Secretary Root called and remain.
ed for short time and about 1880 g..
m. Attorney General Knox went to the
presidents room.
Mr. Mitchell and his party were first
to arrive at the White House, and
they came few minutes before the
time fixed. They rode to Jackson
Place ON an avenue car and walked
IN to the White House