Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-10-04
DISCUSSED COAL STRIKE
The President and Members of Cab
met Review the Situation.
ROOSEVELT CANNOT INTERFERE


Every Phase Of the Situation Was
Discussed. and II Is Stated constl.
tuition Does Not Afford Means to
End the Strike.
Washington. Oct 1.-The president
yesterday took initiative steps to ascer-
tain what II anything could be done by
federal authority TO settle the coal
strike. The result was rather gen.
eral expression of opinion by the advis-
ers OF the president that the federal
Laws and constitution ala not AFFORD
means Of federal interference to end
the strike. but another conference was
held today and President Roosevelt will
DO all he can properly and legally TO
bring about a settlement.
At the temporary White House con-
ference was held with three cabinet Of
feers, Attorney General Knox, Secre-
tary Moody and Postmaster General
Payne. Governor Crane, of Massachu-
sets, also was present These gentle
men met with President Roosevelt first
and after the subject had been consid
cred for some time they adjourned to
another room and conferred together
for an hour. They all returned later
In the day and held another conference
with the president and the strike stu
alton was discussed further.
During the conference every phase of
the situation was discussed. The gem
eral opinion Of the advisers of the
president was that the situation did
not present a case in which there could
be federal interference by any process
of law. There has been no interference
with federal authority In the mining
region, either by stoppage Of the mails
or resistance of United States court
process. 1t was pointed out that there
was no occasion for the use of federal
troops, as Governor Stone, of Pennsyl-
wanna, 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 appointment of receivers
for the mines in order that they might
be operated was discussed, but neither
In the constitution 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
consideration of how the properties
could be relinQuished and control sur
rendered after the object OF supplying
coal had been accomplished, assuming
She federal government could inter-
vene through receivers. The tenor of
the whole discussion was TO the effect
that thore was lack OF power I'm the
federal administration 20 take any nc
ton at the present stage of the strike.
although the seriousness of the coal
famine now and the much greater evils
soon TO follow were considered nj
length and with y wish to discover
some method OF ending the Industrial
deadlock.
Advices were received. that the strike
might DO settled By the operators and
the miners themselves. and Il was sug-
eested that hasty interference OF anv
kind by the federal government might
prevent the contamination OF the
plans for a strike settlement, II any
such were maturing
The conference was resumed TODAY
az which Secretary Root who spent
Yesterday In New York, was present
II Is understood that the visit of Score
tary Root TO New York was for the
purpose OF consulting prominent bust
ness men on the subject II has been
intimated that President Roosevelt
may send for the managers OF the coal
properties. but this will not be done
until after the conference today and
perhaps not then.