The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-10
INTERSTATE CONFERENCE
President and Pennsylvania Governor
Urged to Heroic Acton.
By Associated Press.)

DETROIT, MICH, October 9--The del
egates representing eleven States who at
tended the interstate conference OF the coal
situation here to-day adopted resolutions
after much debate urging the President
TO institute civil proceedings looking to
ths enforcement Of the interstate conf
uerce act against the coal companies
and criminal proceedings against their
officers; petitioning the Governor of Penn
sylvania to call special session of the
LEGISLATURE of that State to condemn
all the coal carrying roads and sufficient
Of the mines to supply the demands Of
the people.
4 supplemental resolution offered by
Judg e Frank E. Garvin. of Indianapolis
was also adopted and ordered attached
to the main resolutions. 1t urges that
the President institute proceedings to dis
scive 1.-THE present combination of the coal
operators and to dave a receiver ap-
PORTED to operate the mines. The sup
Elemental report urges a special session
OF Congress If it is impossible at pres
ent for the President to take this action
The radical element, represented by Vic
tor L. Berger, of Milwaukee, wanted more
radical resolutions; wanted them to de-
clare for sizure and operation Of the mines
by the government and government own
ership.
John C. Nelson, OF Loganspcrt, Ind.
contended that the government should
send in a force of men headed by some
conservative man like General Leonard
Wood to open the mines Immediately
and give the country coal.
Mr. Berger offered minority report
requesting the President to call an ex-
ira session of Congress and seize and
operate the coal mines.
VIC. P. Breckinridge, of Kentucky,
do ~ fa, -
the majority resolutions. He contended
that there was no possibility OF doing
what the minority resolution proposed.
I'VE know he said, that even if Con-
gress were called in extra session the
Senate would not permit the President
to seize the mines There can be no
question as between violence and force
and appealing to law.
We are a law-maHng and 1aw-abiding
race -
When a vote was taken the minority
resolution was overwhelmingly voted
down.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Mayor Maybury was made chairman Of
committee to forward tho resolutions
to President Roosevelt. The resolutions
follow in part:
Resolved, That this conference, having
been advised by eminent counsel that un-5
der the various acts Of Congress, known
as the Interstate Commerce act. the Sher.
man antitrust acts and other statutes,
there are sufficient remedies for this
present condition, We urge upon tn Prest-3
dent the necessity and expediency OF in
strucdng the Acknowledgement to insti-
tute civil proceedings looking to the en-
fOrcement of both the Interstate Com
merce act and the act of July 2, 1880
Second, OF instituting criminal pro-
ceedings In the proper courts against
the managers. directors, officers and
agents OF all such corporations for VIC
larion of both the aboye-naIned acts
Third, To direct the Interstate Com
merce Commission to at once inquire
into the reasonableness Of the rates OF
the transportation OF coal transportation
companies, and any other violation Of the
Interstate Commerce act, and cause that
tribunal to make application to the courts
for an injunction to restrain further.
exercise Of such abuse and violation.
Fourth. To have Congress confer
upon the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion the absolute power to fix and deter
mine the rates Of transportation upon
interstate commerce.
5..Resolved, That the Government that
possesses the right OF eminent domain
can and should exercise that right In
behalf OF the people hen by such ex-
5ercise great public wrong can be righted
and great public suffering averted
..Resolved, That we respectfully pett-.
ton the Governor Of Pennsylvania un-
less the strike is speedily settled. TO- call
for = special session Of the Pennsytvania
Lasislk41o and recomna1n6 % & s III
s:ssss