The Van Buren press., 1902-10-04
DISCUSSED THE STRIKE
Gravity of the Coal Situation APP
peals to the President and
His Advisers.
CONFERENCES HELD At The CAPITAL
Power Lacking In the Federal Admins
tration to Take Any Radical Action to
Relieve the situation. But Means FOL
Breaking the Disastrous Deadlock Were
Canvassed.

Relieve the situation. But Means foI
Breaking the Disastrous Deadlock Were
Canvassed.
Washington, Oct. 1.-The president,
Tuesday, took initiative steps to as
certain what, if anything, could be
done by federal authority to settle
the coal strike. The result was
conclusion that there was no law
warranting federal interference in the
strike. At the temporary white house
a conference was held with three cab
met officers, Attorney-General Knox,
Secretary Moody and Postmaster
General Payne. Gov. Crane of Massa-
chusetts was also present. These
gentlemen met with President Roose-
welt first and after the subject had
been considered for some time they
adjourned to another room and con-
ferred together for an hour. All re-
turned later in the day and held an
other conference with the president
and the strike situation was discussed
further.
President Deeply Concerned.
President Roosevelt is deeply con
cerned over the situation. The 6p-
proach of winter, with "A coal famine
imminent and the distress and suffer
ing that must ensue 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. A great many APP
peals have been made to him and
many suggestions have been received
by him, and 1t was with view to as
pertaining what powers the federal
authority could evoke that caused the
conference to be held,
The situation Discussed.
During the conference every phase
Of the situation was discussed. The
general opinion of the advisers of the
president was that the situation did
not present case In which there
could be federal interference by any
warrant Of law. There has been no
interference with federal authority in
the mining region, either by stoppage
Of the mails or resistance of the Unit
ed States court process. Ii was point
ed out that there was no occasion for
the use of federal troops, as Gov,
Stone Of Pennsylvania had not called
on the government for assistance, nor
had he even exhausted the resources
Of the state by calling out the full
strength Of the state militia.
The Question of Receivers.
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
surrendered after the object OF sup
plying coal had been accomplished,
assuming the federal government
could intervene through receivers.
The tenor Of the whole discussion was
to the effect that there was lack
Of power in the federal administra-
ton to take any action at the pres
ent 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 wish TO discover some method
Of ending the industrial deadlock
Secretary Roots Mission.
II is understood that Secretary
Roots visit to New York was for the
purpose of consulting prominent bust
ness men on the strike subject, The
secretary left for New York, Monday,
after a short conference at the White
House, when the same men were pres
ent who were at Tuesdays confer
ence. II has been intimated that the
president may send for the managers
Of the coal properties, but this VIII
not be done until after another con-
ference, and perhaps not then.
Some confidence IL expressed in the
report which Secretary Root may
bring from New York, though IL
could not be learned what commune.
cation, IL any, had been received by
the secretary while In New York lie
reached Washington from there about
ten o'clock Tuesday night, but denied
himself TO newspaper men and others
seeking information
Coai Merchant Attempts suicide.
New York, Oct, In financial dif.
,culty M n result Of the coal strike,
Henry G. Schacl, n coal merchant Of
this city tried to Kill himself, Tues.
day, by shooting. The doctors say
there is little hope for him, Mr..
Schce Is IS years of nge' He lives
with his wife and three children In n
...lI.,,n Al,