The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-02
NO LIGHT ON PROBLEM
They Can Find no Warrant for
Federal Interference.
ANoTtER CONFERENCE SET FOX TODAY
Root Goes 10 New Yok 10 Consult Business
M,n on the Sui CT He Will be
Present at the Conference
Today.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated GTeSS.)
Washington, Sept. 3O-The President
today took initiative steps to ascertain
what, if anything could be done by Fed
| eral authorities to settle the coal strike.
The result was a rather general express
sion of opinion by the advisers of the
President, who were parties to the con-
| ference today at the White House, to the
effect that the Federal laws and Consti-
tuition did not afford means of Federal
| interference to end the strike, but
another conference will be held tomor
| row and the President will do all he
can properly and legally to bring about
settlement
At the temporary White House a con-
ference was held with three Cabinet
officers Attorney General Knox, Secre-
| tary Moody and Postmaster General
Payne Governor Crane, of Massachu-
sets. was also present. These gentle
| men met first with President Roosevelt,
| and after the subject had been consider
ed for some time they adjourned to
another room and conferred together for
an hour. They all returned later in the
|
| the President.
President Roosevelt is deeply concern
| ed over the situation. The approach of
| winter with coal famine imminent and
the distress and suffering that must ensue
unless coal becomes 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.
During the conference every phase of
the situation was discussed. There has
| been no interference with Federal au-
| thority in the mining region, either by
stoppage of the mails or resistance of
United States court process 1t was
pointed out that there was no occasion
| for the use of Federal troops as Cover
nor 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 ques-
| tion of the right to seek appointment of
| receivers of 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 discus
| sion on such lines, even went so far as
| the consideration of how the properties
could be relinquished and control sur
| rendered after the object of supplying
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 a lack of
power in the Federal Administration to
| take any action at the present stage of
| the strike, although the seriousness of
| the coal famine now and the much
greater evils soon to follow were con-
sidered at length, and with wish to
discover some method of ending the in
| dustrial deadlock.
The conference will be resumed tomor-
row, at which time Secretary Root, who
spent today in New York, will be present.
| 1t is understood that the visit of Secre-
tary Root was for the purpose of consult
| ing prominent business men on the sub
ject. The Secretary left for New York
| Monday after a short conference at the
| White House, when the same gentlemen
were present, who were at today's con-
| ference 1t has been intimated that the
President may send for the managers of
| the coal properties, but TINS VIII HoI %
done until after the conference tomor-
row, If then.
| Some confidence is expressed in the re-
| port which Secretary Root may bring from
New York though it could not be learn
ed what communication, if any, had been
received from the Secretary while he
was in New York. He reached Washing
ton from there about 10 o'clock tonight,
but denied himself to newspaper men
and others seeking information.
An intimation was given that some
statement might follow the conference
tomorrow.