The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-06
TO END The STRIKE
PRESIDENT WILL MAKE STILL AN
OTHER EFFORT.
SECOND CONFERENCE HELD.
THIS TIME BETWEEN ROOSEVELT
AND HIS CABINET.


ton of Measures for Their Relief
Into Congress as Soon That
Body Meets.
Washington, Oct. Sin an earnest
effort to expedite the adjustment of.
the coal strike problem, another con-
ference over the situation was held
at the White House to-day and adj
iourned after three hours of delibera-
ton. No statement was given out as
to the conclusions reached, and every
PARTICIPANT absolutely refused to dis
cuss what had taken place during the
meeting. The conference was called
for to-day, although it was Sunday, in
view of the extraordinary Importance
to the American people of a speedy
solution of the question. Beside the
President there were present Secre-
taries Root and Moody, Attorney Cen
eral Knox, Postmaster General Payne
and Carroll d. Wright, United States
Commissioner of Labor. The last
named was summoned to attend the
conference on account of his expert
knowledge. Only four members of the
cabinet were present. Three of these
four were lawyers, and the issue in
volved was one which called for the
deliberation of trained legal minds. The
fourth Cabinet officer, Postmaster Gen
eral Payne, has taken a prominent part
in the preliminary conferences over the
coal situation, and besides has had
lifelong identification with corporate
interests which are involved in the
present question. The conference be-
gan shortly after 10 o'clock this mora
ing the time fixed by the President
When those who were to participate
arrived at the White House they were
delayed a few minutes owing to The
physiC 'ans making their morning call
When the two physicians left it was
reported that the Presidents condi-
ton was progressing satisfactorily, and
that there were no untoward develop
ments.
President showed Deep Feeling.
The President, in expressing his
views at the outset of to-day's confer
ence, talked earnestly and showed a
deep feeling. His voice at times could
be heard down stairs. Several times
during the conference Secretary Cor
telyou was summoned into the room
and directed to prepare certain mat
tiers for the considerable OF the Presi-
dent and his advisers. This was taken
to indicate that some action was about
to be consummated.
When the conference adjourned a few
minutes before 8 o'clock all those who
had joined in it declined to talk all
being pledged to the President to alb
soiute secrecy. The utmost efforts were
made to guard against publicity. Not
since the Spanish war has there been
such reticence shown at a conference
OF such character as was observed
to-day.
1t is therefore almost impossible to
do more than draw the most general
OF conclusions as to the nature of the
proceedings, based upon what preced-
ed the meeting. The known facts are
that the President has reached the
conclusion that he has nothing to ex-
pect save refusal from a further appeal
to the coal operators and therefore has
decided to look for relief from a stu
alton which in his view is fast growing
lntolerable to the miners side. He
leels that he hardly can expect them
TO make the sacrifice of all of their con-
tentionS without holding out at least
promise of some return. and the ques
uon before him is as to his ability to
90 this. He can pledge himself to ap-
peal to Congress to examine into the
justice of the miners complaints and
remedy them so far as lies in the pow
er of the legislative branch, backed by
the earnest good will of the executive
lie can also suggest to Gov Stone of
pennsylvania that he cause the Penn
sylVania Legislature likewise to make
an inquiry, perhaps fastening the US
uaI methods by calling an extra ses-
SION. 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 people
are suffering.
To Exert Moral Suasfon.
To adopt this course means the con-
unuance of the policy of exerting NOR
al suasion to end the strike. 1t is GER
tam that thus far the President has
not found a single one of his consti-
luuonal advisers. who could suggest
any departure from this policy; no one
could find a method sanctioned by law
or constitution which promised relief
ana involved the use of duress against
the operators or the miners. So it is
believed that to-day's conference was
called by the President with the pur-
pose of putting in exact shape the de-
ldlls of plan conceived in its rough
outline even before the departure of
President Mitchell last Friday after
noon from the mixed conference. The
Lhree hours spent in consultation to-
Gay We're none too long to put into
form the twin propositions; one to the
miners organization, and the other to
GOV. Stone and the fact that Secretary
Cortelyou was called to prepare one or
more statements at the direction Of
me President is taken as an indication
mat messages were sent out at the end
Oh the conference to-day and that the
retlcence of all of the parties is ex-
pIainable perhaps by their desire to
avoid the discourtesy of publishing the
nature of these before they are re-
ceiVed by the persons to whom they
are addressed as well as by a wish
20 escape the complication of the ne
EQUATIONS by heated public discussion
az this time. That the parties to the
conference feel that they have accom-
PIlshed something was made evident
ny the expression by one of them of a
oellef that the miners soon will be at
work
Plenty OF suggestions.
One object of the conference was to
consider some of the propositions that
nave been sent to the President for set
ulng the strike. These come from every
section of the country and large por-
uon from men of standing and reputa-
uon. At the same time it is said that
Ahe suggestions are often absurd and