The Indianapolis journal., 1902-10-06
situation Thoroughly Gone over Dur
ing Nearly Three Hours of Meeting,
All Information Being withheld.
DISORDERS IN THE COAL FIELD
MILITIA SENTRIEs ARE STONED AND
ONE SHOT IS FIRED.
Bridge blown Up Near Tamaqua-Non-
union Miner Beaten at Shenandoah
Outlook for Coal Supplies.

WASHINGTON, Oct. SIN an earnest
effort TO expedite the adjustment of the
coal strike problem another conference
over the situation was held at the White
House to-day. and adjourned after three
hours of deliberation. No statement was
given out as to the conclusions reached and
every participant absolutely refused to dis
cuss what had taken place during the
meeting. The conference was called for
to-day. although it was Sunday in view of
the extraordinary Importance to the Ameri-
can people of a speedy solution of the ques-
tiOn. Besides the President, there were
present at the conference Secretary of
War Root, Secretary of the Navy Moody.
Attorney General Knox, Postmaster Gen
eral Payne and Carroll d. Wright United
States commissioner of labor. The last
named was summoned to attend the con-
ference on account of his expert knowl-
edge of the situation in the anthracite coal
fields, and because of his personal investi-
cation of the conditions there, which he
made some months ago at the instance of
the President
1t was notable that only four of the
members OF the Cabinet were present. This.
however. was significant only of the fact
that three of these four were lawyers and
that the issue involved was one which
called for the deliberation of trained legal
minds. The fourth Cabinet officer, Post
master General Payne, had taken promi-
nent part in the preliminary conferences
over the coal situation which led up to the
conference with the coal operators and
miners representatives Friday, and
besides, had lifelong Identification with
corporate interests which are involved in
the present question. The fact that Mr..
Payne also has been of the closest
advisers for many years. in the national
councils of his party, likewise is impor-
tant in connection with the personnel of
the conference. 1t began shortly after 10
o'clock this morning, the time fixed by the
President. When those who were to par
ticipate arrived at the White House, in a
drzzling rain, they found Surgeon General
Rixey, of the navy, and DR.. Lung, the
Presidents physician, already there max
ing the morning call the distinguished
patient This caused a delay Of few min
utes. When the two physicians left it was
reported that the Presidents condition was
progressing satisfactorily and that there
were no untoward developments.
The President, in expressing his views at
the outset of the conference. talked earn
estly and showed deep feeling. His voice
at times could be heard downstairs. Sew
eraI times during the conference Secretary
Cortelyou was summoned into the room
and directed to prepare certain matters
for the consideration of the President and
OF his advisers. This was taken to indicate
that some action of one nature or another
was about to be consummated.
When the conference adjourned, a few
minutes before l o'clock, all those who had
Joined in it declined to talk. Every men,
ber Of the Cabinet and Colonel Wright,
the only outsider who was present, was
pledged TO the President 10 absolute Sc
crecy as to what had occurred in the con-
ference room. The utmost efforts We're
made to guard against publicity. Even
the presidential summons TO the confer
ence had been made in a very quiet ana
carefully guarded way. Not since the
Spanish war has there been such reticence
as was observed to-day.
In this state of absolute reticence or the
parties to the conference il is almost i'm
possible TO do more than draw the most
general OF conclusions as to the nature OF
the proceedings, based on what preceded
the meeting. The known facts are that the
President has reached the conclusion that
he has nothing to expect save refusal from
a further appeal to the coal operators and,
therefore has decided to look for reller
from a situation to the miners side
He feels that he hardly can expect them
to make the sacrifice OF all their conten-
tions without holding out at least a prom
ise OF some return, and the question be-
fore him is as to his ability to do this. He
can pledge himself to appeal to Congress
TO examine into the Justice OF the miners
complaints and remedy them so far as hes
IL the power of the Legislative branch,
backed by the earnest good Will or the
executive Also he can suggest TO Governor
Stone OF Pennsylvania, that ne cause tne
Pennsylvania Legislature likewise 10 Elake
an inquiry; perhaps hastenlng the uSuaI
hV
these pledges would be given only on con
otiOn that the men go at once INTO the
mines and get out, with all speed, the coal
/ for which the people suffering To
adopt this course means the continuance
OF the policy of exerting moral suasion
to end the strike. II is certain that thus
| far the President has not found single
| one of his constitutional advisers VINO
could suggest any departure from this
4 policy; no one could find a method sane
/ toned by law or Constitution which prom
ised relief and involved the use of duress
against either the operators or the miners
So IN IS believed that to-day's conference
was called by the President with the pur-
pose of putting in exact shape the details
OF a plan conceived In its rough outlines
even before the departure of President
Mitchell last Friday from the mixed con-
ference. The three hours spent in CONSUL
into form the twin propositions-one 10 the
miners organization and the other TO Gov
ernOr Stone-and the fact that Secretary
COrtelyou was called on TO perpare one or
more statements at the direction or the
President is taken an indication that
messages were sent out az the eno OF tne
conference to-day and that the reticence
OF all OF those present Is explainable per-
maps, by their desire to avoid the discour-
.,esy Of publishing the nature OF these De,
lore they are received by the persons 70
whom they are addressed. as well as be-
ton OF the negotiations by heated public
discussions at this stage
That the parties to the conference feel
'ney have accomplished sometninR "as