The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-06
LATEST SCHEME
OF ROOSEVELT
Nothing Practical Evolved at the
White House.
PROSPECTS NOT FAVORABLE
MINERS MAY BE ASKED TO PUT
THEIR crust IN CONGRESS.

w nest effort TO expedite the adj
justment OF the coal strike prob
lem, another conference over the sit
uation was held at the White House
today and adjourned after three hours
deliberation. No statement was given
out as to the conclusions reached. and
every participant absolutely refused to
discuss what had taken place during
the meeting. The conference was
called for today. although it was sun
day. in view of the extraordinary inn
portance to the American people OF a
speedy solution of the question
Besides the president there were
present at the conference Secretary ~
War Root, Secretary of the Navy
Moody, Attorney General Knox, POST
master General Payne and Commits
sioner Of Labor Carroll ID. Wright.
The last named was summoned TO at
tend the conference because Of his eX-
pert knowledge Of the region of the
anthracite coal fields and because Of
his personal Investigation OF the con-
ditions there. which he made some
months ago at the instance OF the
president.
Legal and Political.
II was notable that only four of the
members of the cabinet were present
This, however, WAS owing TO the fact
that three of these four were lawyers
and that the issue involved was one
which should be for the elaboration
of trained legal minds. The fourth
cabinet officer, Postmaster General
Payne has taken a prominent part in
the preliminary conference over the
coal situation which led UP to the con-
ference with the railroad presidents
and miners representatives Friday;
and, besides, has had a lifelong tden-
tification with corporate interests
which are involved in the present Ques-
ton. The fact that Mr.. Payne also
has been one of the closest advisers
for many years in the national coun-
ellis of his party likewise is important
in connection with the personnel Of the
conference.
Conference Began Early.
1t began shortly after 10 O'Clock this
morning, the time fixed by the presi-
dent. When those who were to par
tieipate arrived at the White House in
a driZzling rain they found Surgeon
General Rixey of the navy and DR..
Lung, the presidents physician. al
ready there. making the morning cali
or 4he distinguished patient. THIS
caused a delay of few minutes. When
the Two physicians left it was reported
that the presidents condition was pro-
crossing satisfactorily and that there
were no untoward developments
Expressing his views at the outset
of the conference. the president talked
earnestly and with deep feeling. His
voice at times could be heard down
stairs. Several times during the con-
ference Secretary Cortslyou WAS sum-
moned into the room and directed to
prepare certain matters for the con-
sideration OF the president and Of his
advisers. This was taken to indicate
that some action Of one nature or an
other was about to be consummated.
Pledged to Secrecy.
When the conference adjourned,
few minutes before i O'Clock, all those
who had Joined In il declined TO talk.
Every member of the cabinet and Col
onel Wright was pledged by the presi-
dent to absolute secrecy as TO what
had occurred within the conference
room.
The utmost efNrts were made to
guard against publicity. Even the pres
identiaI summons to the conference
had been made in a very quiet and
carefully guarded way. Not since the
Spanish war has there been such reti-
cence shown at a conference Of this
character as was observed today.
Ia this state of absolute reticence on
the part of the parties to the confer
enee it is almost impossible to do more
than draw the most general Of conclu-
sions as TO the nature of the proceed
ings. based upon what preceded the
meeting
Appeal TO Miners.
The known facts are that the presi-
dent has reached the conclusion that
he has nothing to expect save refusal
from a further appeal TO the coal OPP
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 contentious
without holding out at least a promise
of some return and the question before
him is as to his ability to do this. He
can pledge himself 10 appeal TO con-
gress 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
earnest good viii Of the executive.
Also he can suggest 10 Governor Stone
| OF Pennsylvania that he cause the
| Pennsylvania legislature likewise to
make an inquiry. perhaps Fastening
the usual methods by calling an extra
| session. But these pledges would be
given only on condition that the men
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