Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-30
At THE WHITE HOUSE
A Significant Confere nee
Held This Afternoon.
MAY MEAN BEEF TRUST
MEssRs. MOODY, METCALF AND
WRIGHT WERE IN IT.
Gossip About an Assistant Secretary
Of Agriculture-Predictions as to
Illinois and Indiana.

What was probably significant CONFER
ence took place at the White House TINS
afternoon. With the President were At
torney General Moody. Secretary Metcaif
of the Department of Commerce and Labor
and Carroll D. Wright Of the bureau OF
labor. They did not remain over three
quarters of an hour with the President, but
when they went away they carefully de-
clined to comment upon their conference.
Absolutely nothing could be gathered, but
the presence of these three men at one time
with the President Is considered as having
a significant meaning. The probability, II
is conceived, is that the administration Is
upon the eve Of legal proceedings. either
against the beef trust or the coal trust or
probably both. Mr. Wright's active con-
nection with the settlement of the coal
strike. when he was called into consulta-
ton with President Roosevelt. is recalled.
and among some there Is prevailing opin-
ion that it is the coal trust that Mr.. Moody
is about to begin action against. AS Sec
rotary of Commerce and Labor Secretary
Metcalf would be fully acquainted with the
facts that have been gathered by the bu-
reau' of corporations against both the beef
trust and the coal trust The department..
1T is stated. several months ago began an
investigation into the business and methods
Of the beef trust. and the Information that
has been accumulated is no doubt in pos
session of the legal department Of the gov
eminent. to be utilized at some time or
other. Whether the administration consid-
ers the facts sufficient to start proceedings
at this time can not be stated. A decision
may possibly have been reached to delay
legal action until after the November
an important decision was reached at the
conference today.
Illinois by Big Majority.
\
conferences with republican leaders. the
first visitors today being Senators Hopkins
and Cullom of Illinois. Despite the ap-
parent sanguine views of the republicans
as to political prospects In Illinois the
democrats will make fight In that state,
1t being the announced purpose Of Chair
man Taggart to make the republicans In
both Illinois and Indiana hustle for what
they get in November. The two Illinois
late yesterday afternoon talking politics.
and. incidentally. the beef strike.
Did you discuss the beef strike this
morning." Senator Cullom was asked when
the two senators went away
I'VE did not mention beef. and there
was no meat in what we talked about. -
said Senator Cullom, with a twinkle in his
eyes. He admitted. however. that he and
his colleague did talk politics with the
President. the political outlook in Illinois
being practically the sole topic. .
I'VE will carry Illinois by 100000 ma
jority." said Senator Hopkins. in the most
matter of fact way. and Senator Cullom
approved this prediction.
The only way in which the beef strike
was touched upon by the Illinois senator's
yesterday and today was as to its applica-
ton to the republican prospects In the
state. There has been some fear that the
strike may affect seriously the republican
chances Of carrying the state. but this is
declared to be nonsenscal. The senators
were of the opinion that the strike would be
over soon and that 1t would be forgotten
by the time of the November election. ',-
The President was informed that so far
no politics has entered into the strike, and
that it is simply a fight between the pack
and the labor organizations with the
strikers not receiving the encouragement
financially or otherwise, that they ex-
pected.
There is not the slightest idea. so far
as known. that the President will make any
investigation of the beef strike at this
time with the view to action. The strike
has not gone far enough for that. and The
reports the President has received have
been for the purpose of keeping himself In
formed as to the facts and the situation.
Yesterday afternoon the President was in
conference with Attorney General Moody
and Secretary Metcalf Of the Department
OF Commerce and Labor, and 1t Is believed
they discussed some of the features OF
the status of the beef trust under the trust
laws Of the country. 1t is regarded as ex-
tremely probable that Attorney General
Moody will begin legal operations against
the beef trust in the course of the next few
months. Such action has been in contem-
plation by the Department of Justice for
a number of months. but Attorney General
as to his intentions.
Mr.. Cannon is Optimistic.
Soon after the departure of the Illinois