Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-10-09
THES7RIKE PROBLEM
Another Conference At the White
House Over the Situation.
PRESIDENTS ADVISERS PRESENT.


s~~'s0sV s0~ why OoueE8l CO0CSVolOne
Can BE Drawn % to the
Proceedings.
Washington, Oct. Gin an earnest
effort to expedite the adjustment o.
the coal strike problem another con.
ference over the situation was held
at the white house yesterday and ad.
journed after three hours delibera-
tion. No statement was given out
as to the conclusions reached and
every participant absolutely refused
to discuss what had taken place dur
ing the meeting. The conference
was called for yesterday, although it
was Sunday, in view OF the extraor-
diary Importance to the American
people Of speedy solution Of the
question. Besides the president
there were present at the conference
Secretary Of War Root, Secretary Of
the Navy Moody, Attorney General
Knox, Postmaster General Payne
and Carroll d. Wright, United States
commissioner of labor. The last
named was summoned to attend the
conference on account of his expert
knowledge of the region Of the an
thracite coal fields and because Of
his personal investigation Of the
conditions there which he made some
months ago al the instance Of the
president. 1t began shortly after ten
o'clock in the morning, the time fixed
by the president. When those who
were to participate arrived at the
white house in drizzling rain they
found Surgeon General Rixey, Of the
navy, and DR.. Lung, the presidents
already there, making the
morning call on the distinguished pa
tient. This caused a delay Of few
minutes. When the two physicians
left it was reported that the presi-
dents condition was progressing sat
lsfactorily and there were no unto
ward developments.
Expressing his views at the outset
Of the conference, the president
talked earnestly and with deep feel
ing. His voice at times could be
heard down stairs. Several times
turing 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
vas taken to indicate that some ac-
ion of one nature or another was
lbout to be consummated.
When the conference adjourned a
ew minutes before one o'clock all
hose who had joined it declined to
ak. The utmost efforts were made
o guard against publicity, even the
presidential summons to the confer
nee had been made in very quiet =,
nd carefully guarded way.
In this state of absolute reticence
It the parties to the conference it is |
lmost impossible to do more than
raw the most general of conclusions
S to the nature of the proceedings,
ased upon what preceded the meet
1g. The known facts are that the
resident has reached the conclusion
hat he has nothing to expect save
efusal from further appeal to the
oal operators and therefore has de-
ided to look for relief from the situa-
ON to the miners side. He feels
hat he hardly can expect them to
lake the sacrifice of all Of their
without holding out at
'ast a promise of some return and
le question before him is as to his
bility to do this. He can pledge
lmself to appeal to congress to ex-
mine into the Justice Of the miners
and remedy them so far
, lies in the power Of the legisla-
We branch, backed by the earnest
bod will Of the executive. Also he
IN suggest to Gov. Stone, Of Penn
vlvania, that he cause the Pennsyl-
mia legislature likewise to make an
quiry, perhaps Fastening the usual
ethods by calling an extra session.
at these pledges would be given
,ly on condition that the men 60
once into the mines and get out
It'll all speed the coal for which the
,ople are suffering. To adopt this
,urse means the continuance Of the
,licy Of exerting moral suasion to
I'd the strike.
So it is believed that yesterdays
Inference was called by the presi-
mt with the purpose Of putting
exact shape the details Of plan
,nceived in its rough outlines even
fore the departure Of President
itchell last Friday from the mixed
inference. The three hours spent in
yesterday were none too
NO to put into form the twin
One to the miners or
.nization and the other to Gov.
ione.
That the parties to the confer
ice feel that they have accom-
ished something was made evident
: the expressed belief Of one Of
10 conferees that the miners soon
III be again at work.