Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-03

ment of the strike without his advisory
council being here with him. AS the coal
operators were fully represented in this re-
spect, no objection was made to Messrs.
Nichols, Duffy and Fahy taking part in the
conference. The presence of Attorney Cen
eral Knox and Carroll D. Wright was de-
cided upon yesterday. inasmuch as that
would make ali three sides to the contro-
versy about equally represented. Secretary
Cortelyou being one of the Presidents ad-
visers, the same the other two.
Consequently the ope ming conference con-
sisted of President Roosevelt and three ad-
visers; six coal operators and representa-
tives of the coal interests; four representa-
tives of the thousands of striking miners, a
total of fourteen men, all keenly alert to the
possibilities and to the proprieties of the
occasion.
The four representatives of the strikers
appeared to regard the occasion as the most
solemn and important. Their faces bore
evidence of the seriousness Of the problems
that would undoubtedly confront them as
an outcome of the meeting. The faces Of
the trained business men and managers of
property worth millions gave not the slight
est indication of anything out of the or
dinary. The occasion meant something to
them, of course, but their business lives had
been trained to look upon everything with
the same composure.
A Significant Feature.
One feature regarded as significant was
that the greeting of the coal operators
and miners in the room of Secretary Cor
telyou was cordial. 1t was not strained,
neither was it effusive. The men bowed
to each other pleasantly and passed an oc-
casional word Of comment as to the weather
or any other insignificant thing. All ten
men knew each other well and needed no
Introduction. 1t was the first time they
had ever come together, however, in an
official conference, and the first time the
coal operators had paid even this much
recognition to the representatives of the
Miners Union. Heretofore they had re-
fused to treat with the union or it's repre-
sentatives In any form.
The brief conference over, President
Mitchell and his three advisers walked
around the north side of Lafayette Square
on their way to the place they had agreed
to meet when the first conference had con-
cluded The coal operators entered their
carriages and drove away to the place they
had appointed for a meeting.
President Cassatt of the Pennsylvania
railroad. who had been invited to come,
could not reach Washington because of ex-
tremely important matters in connection
with the tunnel franchise in New York, and
upon explaining the matter was excused
People began to gather around Lafayette
Square hour before the time for the
conference. They formed a fringe to the
west side of the square. Standing on the
sidewalk, on the curbing, on the grass, sit
ting in the seats and in all possible atti-
tudes the watchers kept their eyes open for
developments. Just in front of the White
House was assembled the largest gathering
of newspaper men seen at any one spot
since the days of the Spanish war, when
news bulletins al either the White House
or the War or Navy Department caused
them to gather most rapidly. The dozen
or so photographers were required to keep
on the east side of the street land con-
sequence mighty few good pictures of the
arrival of the parties to the conference
were secured.
Address Considered by the Cabinet.
The address of the President to the con-
ference today was prepared yesterday and
was duly considered by the members of the
cabinet in the city before it was delivered
at the White House today. 1t met with
the hearty approval of all.
Secretary Root Optimistic.
At 1870 o'clock Secretary Root terminat-
ed an hours private conference with the
President. The Secretary was In an optl-
mistic mood when he left the White House.
He said he could not communicate anything
further than that given to the press. but
he did not hesitate to express his individual
opinion to the effect that the prospects were
bright for some satisfactory outcome to the
negotiations instituted today. He thought
that the strong point of the situation was
that for the first time the conflicting ele-
ments had been brought fairly face to face
in the bull ring, as he expressed it-and
they were now in a position where it was
incumbent upon them to do something. In
other words, the ice had ben broken as be-
tween the parties, and he was hopeful that
when they came together again the way
would be paved for some sort of a compro
mise
Secretary Moody dropped in to see the
President about noon. He stayed, however,
but few moments, and while he stated
that it was purely naval business that
borusht him to the White House, he did not
deny that he had acquainted himself with
the coal strike situation.