The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-08-03
ROOSEVELT WANTS TO INTER
FERE.
Very Anxious to Butt Into the
Strik-.
washington Special to New York

World.
President Roosevelt will await a
1aVorabIe opportunity to extend his
good offices to arrange a settlement of
differences between the meat packers
and their employees and to adjust ..le
mining troubles in Colorado.
He has exhausted every possible line
Of action on which he might interfere
as Chief Executive or private citizen.
He will take no further steps until the
price of meat products has become ex-
orbitant or riots follow the suspension
OF martial law in Colorado.
Despite the evasion of high officials
and the blunt denials of those in a po-
sltion to be acquainted with the facts
II IS known tonight that the Presi-
dent came from Oyster Bay to this city
fully determined TO take a prominent
part in bringing both the meat strike
and the miners troubles to a terminal
ion.
He believed some authority could be
found on which he might interfere.
lie called Attorney General Moody
and SECRETARIES Morton ana Metcalf into
consultation. He advanced suggest
ION after suggestion for legal advice
He was told in every instance that
nothing could be done.
Article XIV. Wouldn't Do.
me President strenouously conten-
ded that he could take action in the
Colorado mining situation under Ar
ticle XIV, of the Constitution section
l of which provides:
"All persons born or naturlized in
the United States and subject to the jur-
isdlction thereof, IRE citizens of the
United states and Of the State wherein
they reside. No state shall make
or enforce any law which shall abridge
the privileges or immunities of citi-
zens of the United States, nor shall
any State deprive any person of life
liberty or property without due pro-
cess of law; nor. deny t" any person
within Its Jurisdiction the equal pro-
lection of the "a
The President insisted that under
this article he could afford protection
to such miners as had been deported
from Colorado. 1t was made plain to
The act creating the Department
of Commerce and Labor was held by
the President to give him ample au-
thority to become me, participant in the
1t was explained to him that the
utmost limit of this act gave the de-
partment the right to make investi-
cations and report facts to Congress
terfered with interstate commerce OF
blocked the free trahsmissfon " of the
mails he could not interfere.
No Precedent, Either.
When the Presid snt found that nc
constitutional provision and no sta!ulu
gave him authority to become a par
ticipant in the labor troubles, he de-
clared there must be some precedent
lie sent for Col. Carroll d. Wright
chief of the Labor Bureau, and interro-
gated him at great length on past ex-
periences, but was informed that nc
warrant existed for such action US he
contemplated.
Conferences were subsequently held
with Senators Cullom, Hopkins and
other politicians, at which the advisa-
bility of establishing precedent OF
his own was discus ed. The President
was advised to do nothing in that dir
ection. He then declared that he will
await the opportunity to offer his good
ceS.
Must Await Supreme Court.
Attorney-General Moody in this dis
cussion around the Cabinet table took
the ground that Federal interposition
had gone as far as 1t could in the pro-
secution of the Beef Trust through the
proceedings brought by former Attor-
ney-General Knox. which were now
Court of the United States and that
every advantage gained by the in
junction of Judge Grosscup was Sc
cured to the Government Until this
case was prosecuted to finality. he
commended, there was no remedy save
the prosecution of the Beef trust off,
Gals for contempt in violating the
terms of their injunction, if such vio-
lation was shown 30 exist, through
the investigation now being made by
the Department of Commerce and La
Dor under the instructions contained
in the Martin resolution, passed by
the House of Representatives, last
1t is known that this investigation
is well under way under the personal
supervision OF Commissioner of Cor
porations Garfield. out not sufficiently
tar advanced to justify a report upon
which the Attorney General believes
his department could act with hope
uf success.
Proceedings under the Martin resolu-
tlon nave been suggested as one ave-
nue. open for the Department of JUS
tice in again attacking the trust, but
Acknowledgement Moody is known to
have said to the President that con-
tempt preceding could not be main
tanned until the Department of Com
merce and Labor had thoroughly mar
shalled all it's facts
Meat Strike and Coal Strike.
IT is also known that in the con-
sideration of that phase of the case
involving the personal interference OF
the President in the present strike the
Attorney-General drew a fine distinc-
ton between the present and the am
thracite coal strike The coal strike
presented situation that threatened
great public calamity; winter an
proachinG and schools and public
butldinggs without means of beiny
heated; the people liable to suffer for
me warmth essential in cold climates
IN winter; a great Public unility OBJ
talhable only within Il restricted area
absolutly tied up
The strike of the meat packers
from the view point of the Attorney
General presented no such cumbi.
nation OF circumstances threatening
public calamity. 1t is understood thai
he contended that the President had
no more cause to interfere in that
strike than in the strike of the tex
tile workers at Fall River.
GOODYEAR SAID To RE TANNyANy,S