The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-15
IN SECRET
CONFERENCE.
President Mitchell Again Visits
the National Capital
At the Solicitation of the Chief
Magistrate.
OBSTACLES ARISING.
Settlement of the Strike Still
Seems to Be Far Away.
Mitchell Objects to Limitations
Put Upon the President.

Washington, Oct 15.-John Mitchell
president of the United Mine Workers
association, arrived in Washington az
11:27 o'clock today in response to an IN
Vitation of President Roosevelt TO meet
him in conference relative to the pro-
posal of the anthracite coal mining op
orators for the appointment Of a COM
mission to investigate and settle lne
coal strike. Mr.. Mitchell was hot ac
companied by the district preSluehls aS
he was upon hiA~former trip: 49,
Mr. Mitchell. upon the arrival OF .ne
train, proceeded leisurely with otngI
passengers to the waiting room I1c
was met there by no one except dele7
cation OF reporters whom ne recelETu
with a somewhat melancholy smile. he
shook hands with all of them, put VOL
unteered no remarks. He remained IN
the railroad waiting room about 10 ihll-
utes but absolutely declined TO reply
to any question the answer to when
might throw light upon MS present IN
tentions or future noEements-
Can you say anything at all bearing
upon the situation?'
Il Cannot" was the reply, and II
should have anything to say later VIII
make my statement to all alike.
Leaving the railroad station, Mr.
Mitchell proceeded to pennsylvania
avenue where he took an electric car
Tor the Wnlt6 mouse. 011 lA6 SlICCb NeNA
he was not only reserved, but apparent
" his mind was much preOccupled. lie
chewed an unighted cigar and repned
to questions in mOnosyllables. When nc
alighted from the street car at jackson
Place and saw a crowd of about 20 or
80 newspaper men in front of the tenn
pCrary White house, he asked, Are
they always there?
The journey from Wilkesbarre was
without incident. Mr.. Mitchell received
a message inviting him to Washington
about II o'clock last night The train
leaving Wilkesbarre at 3 o'clock was the
first one out. and he took it. On the
train re talked very little and declined
positively to discuss the strike situa-
tion.
Mr.. Mitchell reached the temporary
White house at n:50 a m He was
shown directly into the office of Secre-
tary COrtelx1Ou.
After the exchange of greetings, Sec
retary Cortelyou invited Mr.. Mitchell TO
proceed with him into The parlor Of
President Roosevelt on the second floor
of the mansion. 1t was stated on auth
ority that Mr. Mitchell received last
night an invitation by telegraph from
President Roosevelt inviting him to
Washington at his earliest convenience
Prior 10 the arrival of Mr.. Mitchell the
president was engaged busily in confer
ences with his advisors. Secretary Root
was an early caller and was in confer
ence with the 1resident for about an
Root, while taking generally an opti-
mistic view of the situation. said some
obstacles had arisen in the way of a set
tlemenu OF the strike. These he believ-
ed, would be overcome. Just how they
were to be overcome he did not indicate
and he did not say what the nature of
the obstacles was.
subsequently Col Carroll D. Wright.
commissioner oe labor. and Mr.. Frank
P. Sargent, commissioner of immigra-
tion, went into conference with the
president Commissioner Sargent re-
mained only a brief time When he left
the White House he declined to discuss
his interview with the president
Representative Payne. of New York.
had brief interview with the president
but except incidentally it had no rela-
ticn to the coal strike.
Col. Wright had not left the White
House when Mr.. Mitchell arrived
Speaker Henderson arrived at the
White House just after the coming of
Mr.. Mitchell. he was shown to the
presidents room and there was intro
duced to the miners president. He re-
mained less than five minutes saying as
he departed, that he called only to pay
his respects to the president.
President Roosevelt and Mr. Mitchell
were in conference until 1885. The lat
ter left the presidents office and de-
scended the stairs unaccompanied
AS he passed out of the White House
he announced that he had no statement
or sign what had passed between him
and the president.
Upon leaving the mansion he said he
was going to the office of Mr. Frank p
Sargent commissioner of immigra ton
Mr. Sargent was until recently DreSi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
F'iremen. He is personal friend OF
NIr. Mitchell and has been prominent il
efforts to end the coal strike
Mr.. Mitchell walked to the Treasury
dpn9 Tfmenf where he inf 10 90
ence with Commissioner of Immigration
Sargent. He appeared to be more cheer.
ful than when he entered the White
House. but still maintained his reti
cence. He declined to say whether h,
had submitted any counter proposition
to the president. or to indicate whether
or not he would make a statement
He said. however. that he expected t.
see the president again al o'clock ant
hoped to be able to return to Wilkes
barre on the 4:50 o'clock train.
No statement will be given out at tn
White House of the progress of In
conference thus far It is expected tina
before any definite announcement i
made. Mr.. Mitchell will return Il
Wilkesbarre and consult with the othe
representatives of the miners
After Mr. Mitchell left. Chairman
Babcock, of the Republican congression
al campaign committee called at tn
White House and saw the president
At 2.20 the conference between NJ,
Mitchell and Commissioner Sargent wa
still in progress.
1t is understood that at the confer
ence with the president Mr. Mitchell
main objection to the acceptance of tn
proposition of the operators was tn
limitations placed upon the president i
the matter of the selection of the arbi
tration commission. He was especial
opposed to the restriction limiting tn
selection of a federal Judge to a par
ticular Jurisdiction. It is understoo
that the miners are willing to waive tn
technical recognition of the union a
they will get a recognition of the ger