The Holly chieftain., 1902-10-10
PRIVATE CONFERENCE.
THE PREs,oEhr TAKES COUNSEL

THE PRECEDENT TAKES COUNSEL
Belief That Roosevelt Will Appeal to
Miners to Go to Work Under Prom
leo Of Congressional Investigation.
Washington. Oct 6.-There was an
other important conference on the coal
strike situation at tho White House
yesterday. The result may be summed
mp In paragraph
The administration still regards the
coal famine - something with which
Govenor Stone Of Pennsylvania has
full authority to deal. 1t hopes he will
be able to demonstrate whether the
claim Of the operators that they can
run their mines full of men who are
willing to go to work II they are CIV
en- protection is we'll founded.
1t is hopeful that some good viii
come out Of It But the administration
has no plan, definite or indefinite, for
attempting to do anything under Unit
ed States authority.
Yesterdays conference was attended
by Attorney General Knox, rs the lawt
representative in the Cabinet; by Sec-s
retaries Root and Moody, rs represen-
tattves Of land and naval forces ok the
United States; by Postmaster General
Payne. as the Presidents trusted po-
lftical adviser. and by Carroll D.
: Wright, commissioner of labor .
The conference began about 10
O'Clock and lasted for nearly three
hours. There was very full discus
sion of all the possibilities Of the sit
uation.
President Mitchell is planning to-
continue the strike as before and pre-
vent the operators from breaking the
ranks of the strikers.
From Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania.
came more stories of violence and also
the suggestion that the deadlock is.
now in such . condition that nothing
can break 1t but the possibility Of hun.
ger eventually driving the men back to-
work.
John Mitchell derided this view. say
ing the strikers were more determined
than ever never to yield.
1t WAS announced yesterday that the
$4,000 tons Of coal which is to be pro-
vided for New York by J. Pierpont
Morgan is to be sold to those in need
ut cost price. There will be no pro1t,
whatever in the transaction.
Labor men passed resolutions at q
union mass meeting in this city yes
terday calling on the President to calf
an extra session Of Congress. and min
listers in their pulpits in the city de-.
manded the settlement of the strike at
the earliest possible moment
When the presidential conference
adjourned. few minutes before Ii
o'clock, all those who had Joined it de-
clined to talk. Every member Of the
Cabinet and Colonel Wright. the only,
outsider who was present. was pledged;
by the President to absolute secrecy as,
to what had occurred within the con-,
ference room. The utmost efforts were
made to guard against publicity Even
the presidential summons to the con-.
ference had been made In very quiet
and carefully guarded way. Not since
the Spanish War has there been such
retfcence shown at conference Of this
character as was observed yesterday.
The known facts are that the Presi-
dent has reached the conclusion that
he has nothing to expect save refusal
from further appeal to the coal op-
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 IQ6 63cr1uCe OF all OF Jnelr con-
tentions without holding out at least
. promise Of some return, and the
question before him is as to his abili-.
ty to do this.
He can pledge himself to appeal to
Congress to examine into the justice
of the miners complaints and remedy
them 80 far as lies in the power Of the
Legislative branch, backed by the earn
est good will Of the executive.
Also he can suggest to Governor
Stone of Pennsylvania that he cause
the Pennsylvania Legislature likewise
to make an inquiry, perhaps fastening
the usual method by calling an extra
session. But these pledges would b.
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 adopt this
course means the continuance OF the.
policy of exerting moral suasion to
end the strike.
General Booth In New York.
W