Waterbury Democrat., 1902-10-01
COAL STRIKE TALKS
President and Cabinet Off,
 cers In Long Conference.
SEEKING MEANS TO END STRUGGLE.
Situation Seems to Present No Case Whic. Warrants Federal Inter- ference-Question of Re-
 cefvershfp Considered.

ce1VershtP Considered.
 WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-The presi- dent has taken initiative steps to as- certain what if anything can be done by federal authority to settle the coal strike.
 The result was a rather general ex- precision of opinion by the advisers of the president who were parties to the conference to the effect that the fed eral laws and constitution did not af- r0rd means of federal interference to cad the strike, but another conference VIII be held, and the president will do all he can properly and legally do to bring about settlement.
 At the temporary White House a conference was held with three cabi- net officers, Attorney General Knox, Secretary Moody and Postmaster Gen. era1 Payne. Governor Crane of Mas sachusetts was also present. These gentlemen met with President Roose- welt first, and after the subject had been considered for some time they adjourned to another room and con- ferred together for an hour. They all returned later in the day and held an- other 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 a coal famine imminent and the distress and suffer ing that must ensue unless coal be- comes available, presents a situation which he thinks should receive the at tention of the administration if there IS anything that can be done by the government. Many appeals have been made to him, and many suggestions have been received by hiih, and it was with view to ascertain what if a1fy- thing could be done that the confer ences were held.
 During the conference every phase of the situation was discussed. The general opinion of the advisers of the president 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 region either by stoppage of the mails or resistance of the United States court process. It was pointed out that there was no occasion for the use of federal troops, as Governor Stone of Pennsyl- vania had not called on the govern ment 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 ap- pointment of receivers for the mines in order that they might be operated was discussed, but neither in, the con- stitution nor in any known. law could any legal warrant be found for such action, though the discussion on such lines even went so far as the consider ation of how the properties could be relinquished and control surrendered after the object of supplying coal had been accepted, assuming the federal government could intervene through receivers. + :---.
 The tenor of the whole discussion was to the effect that there was a lack of power in the federal administra- ton to take any action at the present stage of the strike, although the seri- business of the coal famine now and the much greater evils soon to follow were considered at length and with a wish to. discover some nl&Ihod of end ing the industrial deadlock.
 Governor Cranes presence naturally brought into prominence the proceed ings begun in the Massachusetts courts to secure the appointment of receivers for the coal properties, but the opin- ion was expressed that the situation could not be met successfully by this mpfhod