Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-11
OPERATORS DIVIDED
BELIEVED THAT THEIR UNANIM-
ITY HAS BEEN BR0KEN.
Information Given to the President
Arbitration Principle Recognized
by Both Sides.

There is a well-grounded belief here this
afternoon in circles that have been con-
nected closely with the efforts to settle the
coal strike that developments are fast tend
ing to arbitration Of some kind as the basis
Of the settlement. Information has reached
here. and has been conveyed to the Presi-
dent. that. despite the apparent solidity of
the coal operators. there are dissensions
among them. and the belief Is held that
these will lead within a short time to an
agreement for settlement by arbitration.
A minority OF the operators, 1t u under
stood, are already secretly pressing for
such settlement. and are unsettling the
bold front that has been maint aimed all
along. How much truth there Is in the
statements given Is not fully known In OFF,
cial circles. but the fact that the state
ments are credited at all by those who par
ticipated in the great coal conference last
Friday shows that something may be ex-
pected.
Arbitration Principle Recognized.
1t is pointed out by a man In excellent
position to acquire early information that
both the operators and miners have recog-
nized the principle of arbitration. the former
by proposing to the President to submit
cases of Individual miners to county judges.
and the latter by the two propositions they
have submitted. The first was the appoint
ment of a commission by the President
while the second was bold proposition to
place the rights and claims of the miners
entirely in the hands of J. Pierpont Morgan.
Recognition having been given to the princl-
pie of arbitration. the main and actual
question is to find a ground upon which the
operators and miners can meet with salts
faction to each. 1t is said that people are
engaged now in trying to find such
ground. The President is not party to
this effort but others Of strong influence
are known to be doing so. Secretary Root
is in New York to find out some things, and
this. it is said, is one of them.
Looking Up the Laws.
President Roosevelt himself is still look
ing around for legal means that would per-
NIT him to interfere with the strike. He
instructed Carroll D. Wright a few days
ago. it is said to continue to search all the
laws that might reach the strike that the
President might apply. Mr.. Wright con-
tinues this investigation and reports to the
President. Attorney General Knox Is en-
gagged in a similar search. So far as ne
knows there is no live law to reach the
question. but he is looking for laws that
are more or less obsolete. 1t is regarded
as certain that If a partially obsolete law
could he discovered the President would di-
rect his legal officials to see what could be
done with 1t.
Outside Of this the President at this time
has no plan for settlement of the strike
This positive statement can be made. He
constantly receives and considers sugges-
tons. but up to this time none Of them
has appealed to him.
Conference With Gen. Goblin.
General ]. p. 8. Goblin and General Thos.
j. Stewart adjutant general of Pennsyl-
vania. called on the President in the after
noon while the cabinet officers were pres
emit They remained home time. General
Goblin said that the call was one of cour-
tesy.
General Goblin was in command Of the
troops in the coal regions before the entire
National Guard of Pennsylvania was called
out A special dispatch to The Star from
Wiikesbarre says that General Goblin was
called here to give his views regarding the
necessity for sending federal troops to the
coal regions, as wanted by the operators.
Discussed by the Cabinet.
For long time yesterday afternoon and
again last night the President discussed
the coal strike situation with members Of
his cabinet After Office hours Secretary
Root Attorney General Knox and Postmas-
ter General Payne went over to the White
House and remained with the President I'M
til nearly o'clock. At night Secretary
Root and Mr.. Payne were with him for
some time Further than to admit that the
coal strike was the subject which brought
them together the members of the cabinet
will not talk except to say that nothing
was done Carroll D. Wright, commissioner
| of labor, also was at the White House in
| the afternoon. His object was to take with
| him copy of the arbitration law of 1893,
which already has been found to be inef-
| fective as applicable to existing conditions.
| Secretary Root left Washington last night
| for New York after the conference with
| the President He announced that his OBJ
| ject in going was to register to be
| able to vote at the coming election, but he
is fully acquainted with every step that has
| 10 tolya +I1 toto, 81 r.
| coal strike, and knows many of the most
| influential financiers in New York.