Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-01
PRESIDENT 1|SIURGEN1,
HE TAKES INTTIAToRY STEPS TO-
WARD SETTLING COAL
STRIKE.
CONFERENCE.-THE WHITE. HOUSE.
Discussion of Federn1 Authority to
End the Trouble.
AsorHrR oosrnnrson TO-DAY.
Chief Executive viii Do All He Can
Properly and Legally to Bring
About n settlcment-No Legal War
rant for Seeking Appointments of
Receivers for. the Mines-No Call
for Federal Troops.


WASHINGTON, September 30-The
| President to-day took the initiatory steps
| to ascertain what, if anything, could be
| done by Federal authority to settle the
coal strike. The result was rather gen
ers Of the President, who were parties to
! a conference to-day at the White House,
to the effect that the Federal laws and
Constitution did not afford means of
Federal interference to end the strike,
but another conference will be held to-
| morrow, and the President will do all he
can properly and legally to bring about
a. settlement.
At the temporary White House con-
ference was held with three Cabinet
officers-Attorney-Gen Knox, Secre-
tary Moody. and Postmaster-General
Payne. Governor Crane, of Massachu-
sets, also was present. These gentlemen
met with the President first, and after
the subject had been considered for some
time. they adjourned to another room and
conferred for an hour. They all returned
later In the day and held another confer
ence with the President, and the strike
situation was discussed further.
Deeply Concerned.
President Roosevelt is deeply concern
ed over the situat ton. The approach of
winter, with a coal famine imminent. and
the distress and suffering that might
ensue unless coal becomes available. pre-
Sents a situation which. he thinks, should
receive the attention of the adminstra-
ton, if there is anything that can be
done by the government. Many appeals
have been made to him and many sug-
reSfionS have h,,l
it was with view to ascertaining what
power the Federal authority could evoke
that caused the conference to be held
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 a
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 by
resistance of United States Court pro-
cess. 1t was pointed out that there was
no occasion for the usa of Federal troops,
as Governor Stone. of Pennsylvania, had
not called on the government for assist
ance. nor had he even exhausted the
resources of the State by calling out the
full strength of the State militia The
question of the right to seek appointment
OF receivers for the mines, in order that
they may be operated. was discussed
but neither in the Constitution tnor any
known law could any legal warrant be
found for such action. though the dis
cusston on such lines event went $50
far as the consideration of how the
properties could be relinquished, and
control surrendered. after the object OF
supplying coal had been accomplished.
assuming the Federal government could
intervene through receivers
No Federal Power to Act.
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 consid-
cred at length. and with wish to dis:
cover some method of ending the in
dustrial deadlock.
Governor Cranes presence naturally
brought into prominence the proceedings
begun in the Massachusetts courts to Sc
cure the appointment of receivers for the
coal properties. but the opinion was ex-
pressed that the situation would not be
met successfully by this method
The conference will be resumed to-mor-
row, at which time Secretary Root, who
spent to-day in New York. will be pres
ent- II is understood that the visit of
Secretary Root to New York was for the
purpose of consulting prominent business
men on the subject. The Secretary left
for New York Monday. after a short
conference at the White House, when the
same gentlemen were present who were
at to-day's conference. It has been in
timated that the President may send for
the managers of the coal properties. but
this will not be done until after the
conference. and perhaps not then.
Hope In Root Mission.
Some confidence is expressed in the re-
port which Secretary Root may bring
from New York, though it could not be
learned what communication. if any, had
been received from the Secretary, while
ne was In New York. He reached Wash
lnston from there about 10 O'Clock to-
night, but denied himself to newspaper
men and others seeking information.
No official statement was made regard !
ing the conference to-day though an in |
tlmation was given that some sta tement |
might follow the conference Tomorrow. |
AS heretofore stated. the main fact made |
to-day was that the President |
Will make every effort he can exert prom |
srly and lawfully to stop the strike and |
avoid fuel famine
A SECRET CONFERENCE