Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-03-30
The presidenl and lhe Coal strik.,.

Washington, March 30.-The coal
strike seems to be up TO President Roose-
Welt. This morning he received the tel
egram sent by the operators at Indian
apois containing the resolutions passed
there last night requesting that he APP
point commission TO investigate tie
bituminous coal situation in Ohio, In
diana, Illinois and western Pennsylvania
and to report to the President its finding
OF facts and recommendations. The
President will give the matter earnest
consideration, but it is likely that before
he shall take any definite steps toward
the creation of such commission he will
ascertain the desires of the miners in the
premises. If the President follows
the precedent established in 1902
he will now proceed to obtain the con-
sent of President Mitchell aud the other
representatives of the miners to this
method Of settling the pending contro-
yersy which threatens to become even
more serious than the strike of 1902
In the former case, the President acted
in an unofficial capacity in bringing the
operators AMI miners together. ln toe
present, he will doubtless be able to act
under the law creating the Department
Of Commerce and Labor which was not
in existence when the Anthracite Com
mission was appointed. This law sets
forth that the province aud duty OF the
Department sball be, among other things,
20 develop the mining, manufacturing
and labor interests of the United States.
Further the law imposes upon the head
of the department the duty of making
''lrom time to time such special inyesti-
cations aud reports as he may be re-
quired to do by the President" As the
law was passed in the winter following
the anthracite strike, 1t is assumed that
the Legislators had in mind the posi-
bility of another great strike taking
place, aud thus made provision for the
contingency.
The President this morning gave out
the following telegram received from
President John Mitchell, of the Nine
workers Union, and Francis l. Robbins,
one OF the Operators.
eIn'Iianapois, Ind, March 80
''Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, Washing
ton, ID. G.
Responding to your suggestion, we
have fulfilled our highest duties as citi-
zens OF our country by advocating BIZ
luminous coal scale ON reasonable COM
promise. We understand that tele-
gram has been sent to you tonight pur-
porting to speak for so per cent. of the
btuminOus tonnage. That telegram does
not represent the real facts. At least
one half of the total tonnage in western
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and ILL
hois is produced by operators who are
willing to pay the compromise scale.
"JoHN MITCHELL
"FRANCIs l. ROBBINS"
7 he telegram received from the opera
tors, to which the above message re-
ferred. was as follows:
indianapolis, March 30.
"The President, Washington.
81 have the honor of transmitting to
you the resolution, passed by coal opera
tors assembled in this city.
(signed) John H WINDER,
Chairman.
The President was busily engaged this
morning preparing a reply to the tele-
gram of the operators aud arranging for
further development of the situation.
He decided 10 take no steps whatever
until after consultation with the members
of the Cabinet. At the regular semi
weekly meeting this morning he went
over the entire matter with his official
advisers.
The Cabinet today was 10 session two
hours and halt, most of which time
was occupied in discussing the coal
strike situation. Secretary Loeb an.
aounced that the President had not yet
answered the telegram received from the
operators, and that probably there would
be no definite step taken by the President
in The matter today.
II the President follows the advice
given him by members of the cabinet at
today's meeting, he will not interfere 10
the coal strike situation at this time
He was counselled by some of the most
astute members of that body, so it is un-
derstood, that it would be highly mad
visable for him To appoint commission
now. 1t was pointed out that The miners
and operators have not yet exhausted all
the means at their disposal of preventing
strike
To interfere at this time, it was ar
gued, would establish bad precedent
aud might encourage future strikes, as
it would give the impression that no
matter how just might be the cause of
either side, the President would be
ready at any time TO enter the situation
and attempt to effect settlement. 1t
ris believed that these arguments had
considerable weight with the President,
as the announcement was made officially
after Ioday's meeting that nothing had
been determined upon as yet.
Miners Rescued.
Lens, France, March 80 Eighteen