The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-02
He Sends w ord to the President That
He Approves His Effort and
Hopes for Its Success.
The Railroad Presidents Were Cross
at First, but Finally Decided
to "Come Down." ~~
A Guess at What the President Plans
to Propose at To-morrows
Conference.

Chicago, Oct. 2.-Walter Wellman, in |
a Washington special to the Record-Her- !
aid. discussing President Roosevelts In
vitation to the heads Of the coal roads.
and to John Mitchell head Of the strik-
ers. to meet in conference at the White
House, Friday, says: President Roose-
welt may be able to settle the great coal
strike. There is fair chance for sue
cess. History has been written at a
rapid pace during the last few hours
Morgan Rises Above Petty Considerations.
J. P. Morgan has sent word to Presi-
dent Roosevelt that he fully approves of
his effort to settle the strike and hopes
1t will be successful. Your correspond
ent has seen the messenger who brought
Mr.. Morgans approval to Washington.
He was present in Mr.. Morgan's office
when the news Of the president action
came and Mr.. Morgan at once exclaimed:
That Is right The president is doing
just the right thing in the right way.
Tell him so for me-
The significance Of this Is very great.
1t means that Mr. Morgan, as the strong
est factor in the anthracite corporations,
will add the weight Of his influence to
that OF President Roosevelt in the effort
| to bring about a settlement. AS I have
already stated upon full information, Mr.
Morgan has for several weeks been trying
to secure an adjustment of the trouble
and it Is not his fault that he has not
been unsuccessful
There had been fear that because Of
Mr.. Morgan's dislike Of President Roose-
velt's attack on the Northern Securities
company, he would not wish to have the
president gain the honor Of settling the
strike. But Mr.. Morgan rose above any
such narrow considerations He stands
| ready to cooperate with the president
and has already thrown his tremendous
force upon the side Of peace regardless of
! who may win credit therefor.
Acceptance of the presidents invitation
by the coal railway presidents Is an
other great step toward peace. 1t is not
conclusive, OF course, but it looks well.
There had never been any doubt Of Prest-
dent Mitchells willingness to accept. He
has at all times been ready to do any
thing that is reasonable, to go more
tina nhalf way with the, olive branch in
| hand. 1t was hardly conceivable that
the presidents of the railways and mining
companies would have the hardihood to
refuse to meet the President of the United
States when publicly invited to do so, but
those gentlemen had up to this time fol-
lowed course Of such persistent stub,
bornress, always procIaiming stl1a tsStfey-
would consent to no outside interference.
that there weuld1rot have been great sur
I prise had they declined to come to Wash
ington to participate in the conference.
In fact, when the news of the presidents
action was first received In New York
before the presidents telegram. had
reached them. two or three Of the coal
magnates publicly declared they would
not meet John Mitchell for President
Roosevelt or any one else"
Happily they thought better. of 1t a few
hours later and accepted the situation.
The Presidents were "sore'' at First
PRESIDENT Roosevelt's action was not a
welcome one to majority OF the rail-
road presidents. A gentleman who was in
New York gave vivid picture of the
manner In which corporation chiefs re-
ce1ved the news. They were Thoroughly
angry They denounced the president for
interfering. and characterized his act as
a political trick" Several a. of them
rushed to Mr. Morgans office to talk it
over. but got no consoa ton there. Mr..
Morgan told them they must accept. and
that In accepting they would do we'll to
try to meet the situation in a conciliatory
spirit.
Though the railway presidents fuxned
and fretted. they could see no way out
OF the dilemma. Provoked as they were
they knew full we'll they were forced to
bow the knee and take part in the con-
ference which the president had called
| They realized that If they went before
the country with a refusal>to confer. they
would lose the few friends and sympathiz-
ers who have stood by them. President
| Roosevelt had cut the ground from under
| their feet and left them nothing to stand
on. Thoroughly disguised. and yet a
| little chastened in spirit in realizing that
| they had encountered a force stronger
than their own stubborn pride they de-
| cided to accept the situation with as good
grace as possible.
The Presidents Plans. -
What are the chances of success in the
presidents effort to make peace? This is
the allimportant question. Itmust be con-
fessed that the spirit Of the railway presi-
dents Is not promising But with thirty
six hours In which to cool off and to reach
a further realization of the position which
| they will occupy before the country if they
persist In their stubborn refusal to do
anything, some result may be achieved
1t Is not known that the president has
any definite plan to suggest on Friday.
lie will appeal to the disputants to con-
slider the subject in a conciliatory spirit
| Then If neither side offers a worka BILE
plan of settlement 1t is understood the
president will propose that the strike be
called off and that both sides agree to
leave the new scale Of wages to his de-
cision. he to be assisted by competent
commission of business men. There is
reason to believe President Mitchell will
accept this, though any engagement en-
tered into by him must receive the in
dorsement Of a delegate convention of
miners before 1t can become binding upon