The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-04

President Mitchell and three of his
district leaders represented the miners
and five railroad men and an independ-
ent operator the employers. With the
president were Attorney General
Knox, Commissioner of Labor Wright
and Secretary Cortelyou.
Cabinet Members Come In.
All the cabinet save the attorney
general, kept aloof during the confer
ence, but between the two meetings
and afterward several of the presi-
dents advisors called upon him to talk
over the situation. What took place
at the meeting is set out in ample
statements made by each side and
given out to the press by themselves,
and also officially at the White house.
During the conference the president
listened to both sides with the greatest
eagerness. Immediately after it's ad-
journement his physicians, Surgeon
General RiXey and DIR. Lung, insisted
on making an examination of his
wound, and redressing it. Apparently
no i'll effects had resulted from the
excitement Of the day, and after a
later call at 8 o'clock DR.. Lung an
nounced that the presidents condition
was satisfactory.
Course OF the Conference.
Foday's conference began few
minutes after IL o'clock. President
Mitchell and his three district presi-
dents of the miners union were the
first to put in an appearance at the
temporary White house, where large
crowd had assembled to witness the
coming of the chief participants in
the coal strike. Their arrival was a
few minutes in advance of the hour
named for the conference. The oper-
ators reached the temporary White
escorted to separate rooms on the first
floor, and soon after they were ushered
up stairs, the miners representatives
being ahead. In the front room the
president awaited them. 1t is the
place in which he has transacted all
business since he returned from his
Western trip. He was in a roller chair
and had on dressing gown. After
the introductions he smilingly ex-
planned his inability to receive his
guests in a more formal manner.
Those present at this time were:
President Roosevelt, Attorney General
Knox, Secretary Cortelyou, Carroll d.
Wright, commissioner Of labor; Presi-
dents Baer, of the Reading; Thomas,
of the Erie; Truesdale, of the Della
ware, Lackawanna & Western, and
Foyler, of the Ontario & Western
railroad; Daniel Wilcox, vice president
Of the Delaware & Hudson railroad,
representing President Olyphant; John
Markle, representing the Independent
coal operators, and President Mitchell,
Of the Mine Workers union, with
Thomas Duffy, T. D. Nichols, John
F'ahy, presidents of Districts Nos. q, l
and 8, of the Miners union, being the
districts where anthracite coal is
mined. Later Assistant Secretaries
and RarnaG who StQnnQr1nh.
ers, came into the conference room.
President Reads His Statement.
The president entered at once on
the business in hand by reading a
statement which he had carefully pre-
pared, urging settlement of the
strike in the interests of the public.
His manner was exceedingly serious
and his voice showed deep feeling.
Almost Immediately after the presi-
dent had closed, Mr.. Mitchell arose and,
on behalf of the miners, offered to sub
NIT the differences to arbitration. The
operators looked surprised, but before
any reply could be made President
Roosevelt said he desired that both
parties take the matter under consid-
Grafton and meet him again at o'clock.
The first session of the conference had
lasted less than fifteen minutes. The
operators were driven to their private
cars in the railroad yards and Mr..
Mitchell and his party returned to their
hotel. Both parties Immediately set to
work to prepare statements in reply to
the presidents suggestion.
The operators decided to make separ-
ate responses, but before doing so had
discussion of the general tenor of the
statements they would make 1t Is
understood that President Baer COM
municated his statement to parties in
New York over the long distance tele-