Evening journal., 1902-10-01
PRESIDENT TALKS
ON COAL Strike
He ard the Members Of the
Cabinet Review the
Serious Problem
ROOSEVELT CANNOT INTERFERE

Every Phese Of the Situation Was
Discussed, ard Z Is Stated consti-
sutton 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 gem
eral expression of opinion by the adsis-
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 n settlement.
At the temporary White House a con-
ference was held with three cabinet Of
flcers. Attorney General Knox, Secre-
tary Moody and Postmaster General
Payne. Governor Crane, of Massachu-
sets, also was present These gentlo-
men met with President Roosevelt first
and after the subject had been consid-
cred for some 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 president and the strike situ-
alton was discussed further.
President Roosevelt is deeply con-
cerned over tho situation. The ap.
proach Of winter, with a coal famine
imminent and the distress and suffer
ing that must onsue unless coal be-
comes available, presents a situation
which he thinks should receive the
attention of the administration If
there is anything that can be done by
the government. Many appeals have
been made to him and many suggcs-
tions have been received by him, and
it was with a Wow TO ascertain what
power the federal aUthoriii g could
evoke that caused tho conference to
be hold.
During the conference every phase of
the situation was discussed The gem
( eral opinion OF the advisers of the
president was that the situation did
not present 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. It was pointed out that there
-tsls no occasion for the use of federal
troops. as Governor Stone, OF Pennsyl-
yania, had not called on the govern
ment for assistance nor had ne 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 70 take any nc
tion at the present stage Of the strike.
although 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.
Adyices were received that the strike
might be settled by the operators and
the miners themselves. and il was sur-
gested that hasty Interference of any
kind by the federal government might
prevent the consummation Of the
plans for strike settlement, if any
such We're maturing.
The conference was resumed today
at which Secretary Root, who spent
yesterday in New York, was present
II is understood that the visit Of Secre.
tary Root 10 New York was for the
purpose Of consulting prominent busi-
ness men on the subject It has been
} intimated that President Roosevelt
may send for the managers of the coal
properties, but this will not be done
until after the conference today and
perhaps not then.
4"