Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-10-02
THE COAL STRIKE.
Conference Held At the Temporary
White House on the Matter.
ROOSEVELT ANXIOUS At SITUATION.


Washington, Oct. 1.-The president
yesterday took initiative steps to as
certain what, If anything, could be
done by federal authorities to settle
the coal strike. The result was
rather general expression Of opinion
by the advisers Of the president who
were present to the effect that the
|. federal laws and constitution did
not afford means of federal interior
ence to end the strike, but another
conference will be held to-day and
the president will do all he can prop
erly and legally to bring about a set
Element. The temporary white house
conference was held with three cabi-
net officers, Attorney General Knox,
Secretary Moody and Postmaster
General Payne. Gov. Crane, Of Massa-
chusetts, also was present. These
gentlemen met with President Roose-
welt and, after the subject had been
considered for some time, they ad-
journed to another room and con-
ferred together for an hour. They
all returned later in the day and
held another conference with the
president and the strike situation
was discussed further.
President Roosevelt is deeply con-
cerned over the situation. The ap-
proach Of winter with coal famine
imminent, and the distress and suffer-
ing that must ensue unless coal be-
comes available, presents situation
which, he thinks, should receive the
attention Of the administration, II
there is anything that can be done
by the government. Many appeals
have been made to him and many
suggestions have been received by
him and it was with view to ascer-
tain what power the federal author
ity could evoke that caused the con-
ference to be held,
During the conference every phase
Of the situation was discussed. The
general opinion Of the advisers was
that the situation did not present
case in which there could be federal
interference by any warrant of law.
There has been no interference with
federal authority in the mining re-
| gion, either by stoppage of the mails
or resistance Of the United States
court process. 1t was pointed out
/ that there was no occasion for the
use Of federal troops, as Gov. Stone,
Of Pennsylvania, had not called on
the government for assistance, nor
had he even exhausted the resources
Of the state by calling out the full
strength Of the state militia.
The question of the right to seek
the appointment of receivers for the
mines in order that they might be
operated was discussed, but neither
in the examination nor in any known
law could any legal warrant be found
for such action, though the discus
sion of such lines even went so far
as the consideration of how the
properties could be relinquished and
control surrendered after the object
Of supplying coal had been accom-
plished, assuming the federal govern
ment could intervene through re-
ceivers. The tenor of the whole dis
cussion was to the effect that there
was lack Of power in the federal
administration to take any action at
the present stage Of the strike, al
though the seriousness Of the coal
famine and the much greater evils
soon to follow were considered at
length and with a wish to discover
some method Of ending the industrial
deadlock. Gov. Cranes presence
naturally brought into prominence
the proceedings begun in the Massa-
chusetts courts to secure the appoint
ment Of receivers for the coal proper
ties, but the opinion was. expressed
that the situation could not be met
successfully by this method.
During the day advices were re-
ceived that the strike might be set
tied by the operators and the miners
themselves, and it was suggested that
hasty interference of any kind by the
federal government might prevent
the consummation Of the plans for q
strike settlement. II any such were