Evening journal., 1902-10-06
PRESIDENT To
ASK MITCHELL
TO END STRIKE
By Members Of Cabi-
net He Can Take No
Official Action
ANOTHER CONFERENCE HELD TODAY

Hopes in the Labor Leader Bring
ing Peace for His countrYs Sake.
Result Awaited Anxiously
Washington. oct. Elm an earnest
effort to expedite the adjustment of
the coal strike problem. another con-
ference over the situation was held
at the White House yesterday, and
adjourned after three hours OF delib-
GRAFTON. No statement was given out
as to the conclusion reached, and
every participant positively refused TO
discuss what had taken place during
the meeting. 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 COM
missioner Of labor.
The president in expressing his
views at the outset Of the conference.
talked earnestly and showed a deep
feeling. His voice at times could be
heard down stairs. Several times dur
ing the conference Secretary Cortel-
you was summoned into the room and
directed to prepare certain matters
for the consideration of the president
and his advisers. This was taken TO
Indicate that some action of one ma
ture or another was about to be con.
summated.
When the conference adjourned
those who had joined in II refused TO
talk. Every member Of the cabinet
and Colonel Wright, the only outsider
who was present was pledged to alb
Eolute secrecy as to what had occurred
within the conference room. Not since
the Spanish war has there been such
reticence shown at a conference of
such a character as was observed yes
terday.
In this state OF absolute reticence
of every one of the parties to the con-
ference. it is almost impossible TO do
more than draw the most general
conclusions as to the nature of the
proceedings. based upon what preced-
ed the meeting. The known facts are
that the president has reached the
conclusion that he has nothing to ex-
pect save a refusal from a further ap-
peal to the coal operators, and. there
fore, has decided to look for relief
from a situation which in his view is
fast growing intolerable, to the min
ers' side He feels that he hardly
can expect them to make the sacrifice
Of all Of their contentious without
holding out at least a promise Of some
return, and the question before him as
to his ability to do this. He can
pledge himself to appeal to congress
to examine into the justice Of the min
ers' complaints and remedy them so
far as lies in the power Of the legisla-
tive branch, backed by the earnest
/ good will OF the executive. Also, he
can suggest to Governor Stone, Of
Pennsylvania, that he cause the Penn
| sylyania legislature likewise to make
an inquiry, perhaps Fastening the
usual methods by calling an extra ses-
sion. But these pledges would be
given only on condition that the men
20 at once into the mines and get out
with all. speed the coal for which the
peQple are suffering
To adopt this course means the con-
tinuance Of the policy Of exerting
moral suasion to end the strike. II is
certain that thus far the president has
not found a~single one of his consti.
tutienal advisers who could suggest
any departure from this policy; nc
one could find a method sanctioned by
law or constitution which promised
relief and involved the use OF duresi
against the operators or the miners.
So 1t is believed that yesterday:
conference was called by the presi
dent with the purpose OF putting int
exact shape the details Of plain con
ceived in its rough outlines even be
fore the departure of President Mitch
ell last Friday afternoon from tn
mixed conference. The three hour
spent in consultation yesterday wer
none too long to put into form tn
} twin propositions; one to the miners
( organization and the other to Gov
e ernor Stone. and the fact that Secre
o tary Cortelyou was called on to pre-
] pare one or more statements at tn
direction OF the president is taken a
, an indication that messages were sen
Z out at the end Of the session yestel
. day, and that the reticence Of all tn
parties is explainable perhaps by thei
desire to avoid the discourtesy o
Il publishing the nature Of these befor
k they are received by the persons I
J whom they are addressed as well a