Milford chronicle., 1902-10-03
DISCUSSED COAL STRIKE
The President and Members of Cab
met Review the Situation.
ROOSEVELT CANNOT INTERFERE
Every Phase Of the situation Was

Every Phase Of the Situation Was
Discussed, and 1t Is Stated consti-
tuition Does Not Afford Means to
End the Strike.
Washington. Oct. 1.-The president
yesterday took initiative steps to ascer-
tain what if anything could be done by
federal authority to settle the coal
strike The result was a rather gen
eral expression of opinion by the advis-
ers of the president that the federal
laws and constitution did 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 a con-
ference was held with three cabinet Of
ficers, Attorney General Knox, Secre-
tary Moody and Postmaster General
Payne. Governor Crane, of Massachu-
sets, also ' as present. These gentle
men met with President Roosevelt first
and after the subject had been consid-
cred for soI 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 pre- iident and the strike stu
alton was discussed further
During the conference every phase of
| the situation was discussed. The gen
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-
vania, had not caned 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
the federal government could inter-
vene through receivers. The tenor OF
the whole discussion was to the effect
that there was a lack of power in the
federal administration to take any ac-
ton at the present stage of the strike
although the seriousness of the coal
famine now and the much greater evils
soon to follow we're considered al
length and with a wish to discover
some method of ending the industrial
deadlock.
Advices were received that the strike
might be settled by the operators anC
the miners themselves, and it was sug.
gested that hasty interference of any
, kind by the federal government nigh
prevent the consummation of tn,
plans for a strike settlement, if am
such were maturing
p The conference was resumed today
at which Secretary Root, who spen
yesterday in New York, was present
1t is understood that the visit of Secre
e tary Root to New York was for tn
= purpose of consulting prominent bust
l. ness men on the subject. 1t has BEEF
] intimated that President Roosevelt
S may send for the managers of the Goa
+ properties, but this will not be don
I until after the conference today an
2 perhaps not then.