Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-10-11
CONFERENCE PROVES A FAILURE.
Roosevelt Unable to Bring Coal Operators and Mine
Officials to Agreement-Text of
the Presidents Appeal

fected by the situation in the anthra-
cite trade: the operators, the miners
and the general public. I speak for
neither the operators nor the miners,
but for the general public. The ques-
lions at issue which led to the situation
affect imme diately the parties con-
cerned-the opera tors and the miners;
but the situation itself vitality affects
the public. AS long as there seemed to
be reasonable hope that these mat
tiers could be adjusted between the par
ties it did not seem proper to me to IN
tervene in any way. | disclaim any
right or duty to intervene in this way
upon legal grounds or upon any official
relation that 1 bear to the situation;
but the urgency and the terrible ma
ture of the catastrophe impending
over large portion of our people IN
the shape of winter fuel famine i'm
pei me, after much anxious thought,
to believe that my duty re-
quires me to use whatever influence L
personally can to bring to an END
situation which has become literally
intolerable. 1 wish to emphasize the
character of the situation and to say
that it's gravity is such that I I'M con-
strained urgently to insist that each
one of YOU realize the heavy burden of
responsibility upon him. We are upon
the threshold of winter with an already
existing coal famine the future ter
rors of which we can hardly yet appre-
ciate.
"The evil possibilities are so far
reaching, so appalling, that it seems to
me that you are not only justified in
sinking but required to sink for the
time being any tenacity as to your re-
spective claims in the matter at issue,
between you. In my Judgment the
situation imperatively requires that
YOU meet upon the common plane of
the necessities Of the public. With all
the earnestness there is in me / ask
that there be an immediate resumption
of operations in the coal mines in
some such way as will without days
unnecessary delay meet the crying
needs of the people.
ST do not invite discussion of your
respective claims and positions. ap-
peal to your patriotism, to the spirit
that sinks personal considera tions and
makes individual sacrifices for the gen
eral good"
Morgan to Import Coal.
New York, Oct. 6.-J. Pierpont Nor
gan, acting through the international
Mercantile Marine company, the ship
ping combin alton, has decided to pur-
chase $4,000 tons of coal in Wales and
ship it to this city as rapidly as posi-
BILE for distribution to the poor and
public institutions. If more coal is
needed to relieve the famine that will
result if the strike is continued, Mr..
Morgan will bring it from Wales. News
of the Morgan gift was given out in
statement issued Saturday afternoon
at the Morgan banking house by Mr..
Steele, one of Mr.. Morgan's partners.
From the statement it would appear
that the international Mercantile Ma
rine company is the donor of the coal,
but there is no doubt that Mr.. Morgan
personally is going to the expense of
perhaps $500,00O to relieve the coal sit
uation.
While all who heard of the project
agreed that the coal, which should ar
rive here before the very cold weather
sets in, would avert much distress,
there were manyei in the financial dis
trict, as we'll as in other parts of the
city, who wondered whatha prompt
ed Mr.. Morgan to do this. In some cir
cles it is believed to be slap at the
presidents of the coal roads. who have
SO obstinately refused to consider any
terms for the settlement of the strike
save unconditional surrender on the
part Of the miners. On the other hand
1t is believed that Mr.. Morgan is sup
porting the mine operators in their
stand, and that his distribution of coal
to the poor and to public institutions,
such as hospitals and schools, is really
clever coup to disarm in a measure
public opposition.