The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-03

Washington, Sept. 30.-The president
what. if anything. could be done by
Federal authorities to settle the coal
strike. The result was a rather gen.
eral expression of opinion by the ad-
visors of the president, who were par
ties to the conference today, at the
White House, to the effect that the
Federal laws and constitution did not
afford means of Federal interference to
end the strike, but another conference
will be held tomorrow and the presi-
dent will do all he can properly and
legally TO bring about a settlement.
At the temporary White House a
conference was held with three cabinet
officers. Attorney General Knox, Sec
rotary Moody and Postmaster General
Payne. Governor Crane, Of Massa-
chusetts. also was present. These gen.
tlemen met with President Roosevelt
and as the subject had been considered
for some time, they adjourned to an
other room and conferred together for
an They all returned later in the
day and held another conference with
h president and the strike situation
was discussed further.
President Roosevelt is deeply on
cerned over the situation. The ap-
proach of winter with a coal famine
imminent and h 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 tina can be o m by the
government. Many appeals have been
made to him AID many suggestions
have been receiN ID by him and it was
with a view to S~Scertaining what pow
er the Federal authority could evoke,
that caused the conference to be held.
During the conference, every phase
OF the was discussed. The
general opinion of the advisors of the
president was that the situation did
not present a case in which there could
be Federal interference by any war
rant of law. There has been no inter-
ference with Federal authority in The
mining region, either by stoppage of
the mails of 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 Pennsylvania had not called on the
government for assistance nor had he
even exhausted the resources of the
state, calling out the full strength OF
the state militia. The question of the
right to seek appointment of receivers
for the mnas 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 con-
sideration of how the properties could
be relinquished and control surrender
ed after the object Of supplying coal
had been accomplished, 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 Fed
eral administration to take any action
at the present stage of the strike, al
though the seriousness of the coal
famine now and the much greater evils
soon to follow, were considered at
length and with a wish to discover
some method of ending the industrial
deadlock.
Governor Cranes presence naturally
brought into prominence the proceed
ings begun in the Massachusetts: court
to secure the appointment of receivers
for the coal properties, but the opinion
was expressed that the situation would
not be met successfully by this method.
The conference will be resumed to-
morrow at which time Secretary Root,
who spent the day in New York, will
be present. 1t is UNDERSTOOD thal the
visit of Secretary Root to New York
was for the purpose of consulting prom
inent business men on the subject. The
secretary left for New York Monday
after a short conference at the White
House, when the same gentlemen were
present who were at today's confer
ence. 1t has been intimate6 that the
president may send for the managers
of the properties, but this will not be
dopa until after the conference tOrnOr-
row perhaps not then.