Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-10-03
Presidents Patriotic Remarks to
Operators and Miners.
APPEALS TO THEM FOR THE PEOPLE
Prospects Are Bright for Resumption
Of Coal Mining.
THE new ORLEANS STREET CAR STRIKE,

o'clock, when the conference over the
coal strike situation had been in pro-
gress but fifteer minutes, the railroad
representatives left the conference
room and were closeted in a room on
the lower floor of the white house.
The general supposition was that
they had either received a proposition
and had retired to consider it or had
retired to prepare one of their own.
Soon after retiring to their room the
railroad Representatives left the white
house.
They refused to say anything except
they were coming back at o'clock for
further conference.
President Mitchell and his party left
the white house soon after the railway
presidents.
The following statement was made
public at the white house:
Remarks of President Roosevelt at
the opening of the conference, October
8, 1907 wish to call your attention
to the fact there are three parties af-
fected by the situation in the anthra-
cite trade-the operators, miners and
general public. speak for neither
operators nor miners, but for the gen
eral public, Questions at issue which
led TO the situation affect Immediately
the parties commemorative operators
and miners: but the situation itself
vitally affects the public. AS long as
there seemed to be reasonable hope
that these matters could be adjusted
between the parties it did not seem
proper for me to intervene in any way.
| disclaim any right or duty to inter-
vene in tnis way upon legal grounds or
upon any official relation that bear to
the situation, but urgency and the ter
rible nature of the catastrophe impend-
ing over a large portion of our people
in the shape of a winter fuel famine
impel me, after much anxious thought,
to believe that my duty refers me to
use whatever influence | personally
can bring to affect a settlement of the
situation which has become literally
intolerable. | wish to emphasize the
character of the situation and to say
its gravity is such that | am con-
strained urgently to insist that each
one of you realize the heavy burden of
responsibility upon him. We are upon
the threshold of winter with an al
ready existing coal famine, the future
terrors of which we can hardly yet APP
preciate. The evil possibilities are so
| far reaching, so appalling, il seems to
me that you are not only justified in
sinking but required to sink for the
time being any tenacity as TO your re-
spective claims in the matter at issue
between you. In my judgment the
| situation imperatively requires you TO
meet upon a common plane the neces-
stiles of the public. With all earnest
ness that there is in me, | ask that
there be an immediate resumption OF
operations in the coal mines in some
such way as WILL without days un-
necessary delay, meet the crying needs
of the people.
Il do not invite a discussion of your
respective claims and positions. | ap-
peal to your patriotism, to the spirit
that sinks personal considerations and
makes individual sacrifices for the gen
eral good"
AT 1890 o'clock, Secretary Root ter
minated nearly an hours private con-
ference with the president. The secre-
tary was in an optimistic mood when
he left the white house. He said he
could not communicate anything furth-
er than what had 1een given TO the
press, but he did not hesitate to eX
press an individual opinion to the
effect that the prospects were bright
for some satisfactory outcome TO the
negotiations instituted today.
Secretary Moody dropped in to see
the president about noon. He stayed,
however, but a few moments and while
he stated that it was purely naval
business that brought him to the white
house, he did not deny that he had ac-
quainted himself with the coal strike
situation.
At 1888 the conference was still in
session without result. The news that
came from the inside TO the effect that
the coal presidents had prepared state
ments which they intended for the
public caused a feeling of depression,
for it was taken to mean that they had
resolved to maintain their position
public their reasons or so doing After
the conference had been in progress