The Elk Mountain pilot., 1902-10-07
PRIVATE CONFERENCE
THE PRESIDENT TAKES COUNSEL
Belief That Roosevelt viii Appeal to
Miners to Go to Work Under Prom
ise of Congressional Investigation.

ise of Congressional Investigation.
Washington, Oct 6.-There was an
other important conference on the coal
strike situation at the White House
yesterday. The result may be summed
up in paragraph.
The administration still regards the
coal famine as something with which
Governor Stone of Pennsylvania has
full authority to deal. 1t hopes he will
be able to demonstrate whether the
claim of the operators that they can
run their mines full of men who are
willing to go to work if they are CIV
en- protection is well founded.
1t is hopeful that some good will
come out of it. But the administration
has no plan, definite or indefinite. for
attempting to do anything under Unit
ed States authority.
Yesterdays conference was attended
by Attorney General Knox. as the law
representative in the Cabinet; by Sec
retaries Root and Moody, as represen-
tatives of land and naval forces of the
United States; by Postmaster General
Payne, as the Presidents trusted po-
litical adviser. and by Carroll ID.
The conference began about 10
O'Clock and lasted for nearly three
hours. There was a very full discus
sion of all the possibilities of the sit
uation.
President Mitchell is planning to
continue the strike as before and pre-
vent the operators from breaking the
ranks of the strikers.
From Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania,
came more stories of violence and also
the suggestion that the deadlock is
now in such a condition that nothing
can break it but the possibility of hum
ger eventually driving the men back TO
work.
John Mitchell derided this view, say
ing the strikers We're more determined
than ever never to yield.
It was announced yesterday that the
$4,000 tons of coal which is to be pro-
vided for New York by ]. Pierpont
Morgan is to be sold to those in need
at cost price. There will be no profit
whatever in the transaction.
Labor men passed resolutions at a
union mass meeting in this city yes
terday calling on the President to call
an extra session of Congress, and min
listers in their pulpits in the city de-
manded the settlement of the strike at
the earliest possible moment.
When the presidential conference
adjourned. a few minutes before l
O'Clock. all those who had Joined it de-
clined to talk. Every member of the
Cabinet and Colonel Wright. the only
outsider who was present, was pledged
by the President to absolute secrecy as
to what had occurred within the con-
ference room. The utmost efforts were
roo do tf f,it
the presidential summons to the con-
ference had been made in very quiet
and carefully guarded way. Not since
the Spanish War has there been such
reticence shown at a conference of this
character as was observed yesterday
The known facts are that the Presi-
dent has reached the conclusion that
he has nothing to expect save refusal
from further appeal to the coal op-'
orators, and therefore has decided to
look for relief from the situation to-
the miners side. He feels that he
hardly can expect the miners to
make the sacrifice of all of their con-
tentions without holding out at least
a promise of some return, and the
question before him is as to his abili-
ty to do this.
He can pledge himself to appeal to
Congress to examine into the justice
of the miners complaints and remedy
them so far as lies in the power of the
legislative branch, backed by the earn
est good will of the executive.
Also he can suggest to Governor
Stone of Pennsylvania that he cause
the Pennsylvania Legislature likewise
to make an inquiry, perhaps fastening
the usual method by calling an extra
session. But these pledges would be-
given only on condition that the men
go at once into the mines and get out
with all speed the coal for which the
peopIe are suffering. To adopt this
course means the continuance OF the
policy of exerting moral suasion -
end the strife.