Evening star., 1915-03-01
WILSON WOULDEND
OHIO COAL STRIKE
Representative Francis Says
President Is Willing to Aid
When Possible.
REFERS SEAMEN'S BILL
TO STATE Department
If 1t Conflicts With Treaties Will Be
Vocabulary Measures to
Be Signed.

! President Wilson may be asked to
take a hand in the attempted adjust
ment of the strike in the bituminous
| coal fields of Ohio. Representative
Francis of that state, who saw the
President today, said that the people
| of his district earnestly hoped that the
| strike can be settled. Secretary Will
| son of the Department Of Labor rs
| scheduled to see a number Of the
officials interested in the trouble to-
| day. in an effort to seek the basis for
| a settlement.
| Daniel j. Keefe and Hywell Davies.
| the mediators who were appointed to
| investigate the situation and endeavor
| to secure settlement, have reported
| to Secretary Wilson that the prospects
are not bright. and 1t now lies with
| the administration to find means to
! end the strike, If possible
| The President is willing to give what
ever aid is in his power, bit he will
| take no steps pending the negotiations
Secretary Wilson will carry on.
Will See Both Sides.
The first conference Secretary Wilson
will have this afternoon will be with
John P. White, president of the United
Mine Workers of America; Frank J.
Hayes, vice president; William J..
Green, secretary-treasurer. and John
Moore, president of the Ohio district
organization.
Secretary Wilson also expects to con-
fer with representatives of the opera
tors in the next few days. He has not
made appointments for these visitors.
but understands some of the operators
are in Washington and will be glad to
see them. Secretary Wilson said today
that he has not yet exhausted all ei-
forts to end the strike->and that 1t Is
not likely the President will be asked
to exercise his good Offices within the
next few weeks.
Invited to Chattanooga.
President Wilson today received an
invitation to address the Southern Con-
ference for Education and Industry at
Chattanooga, Tenn, April 81 to 80. The
invitation was presented by delegation
consisting of Senator Camden of Ken
lucky, vice president of the conference;
Representative Aswell of Louisiana.
member of the executive committee;
Representative Abercrombie of Alabama.
Senators Lea and Shields. representing
the governor of that state and officials
and Organizations of Chattanooga; SEN
ators Simmons and Overman Of North
Carolina, representing the state govern
ment. and ]. Y. Joyner. president OF the
conference.
The President said that the gathering
appealed strongly to him and that he
would like very much to go. but he
could not make promise now If he
Commercial Congress at Muskogee
Okla he would try to visit the Chatta-
nooga conference.
Confers With Davies.
The President conferred for some
time today with Joseph Davies. who
probably will head the new federal
trade commission. about the organiZa-
tion and initial work of the commits
sion. which 1t is presumed the Senate
will confirm. in spite of talk about de-
lay. In the event the Senate fails to
act upon the nominations the Presi-
dent will promptly give recess appoint
ments to the five men he has chosen
to carry on this work. There is no
law that would prevent this action on
his part. although 1t is not likely that
some of the members. whose conf1rma
tion might pc in doubt when the Sen
ate again meets, would relish the idea
Of giving up important business con-
nections on an Uncertainty. The Presi-
dent has been informed that it is prob
able the nominations will be confirmed
before Congress adiourns Thursday.
May Delay Pacific Trip.
The White House has not made definite
plans for the Presidents trip to the San
Francisco exposition. He Is scheduled to
! reach there March 81 but there are
strong intinlations that owing to the
European situation he may postpone the
| trip until later time. The President is
reluctant to leave Washington with the
| foreign situation delicate as at present
"A with
| for adjustment. He would be in close
| touch with the White House throughout
his journey to and from Washington, but
that would not be right on the job, ac-
cording to his idea and there Is much
! doubt today whether he will make the
trip at the time originally fixed
| The President has made few engage
ments for the present week lit the ex-
pectation that he will be kept busy
with work incident to the close of the
present Congress Thursday He will
be in almost constant communication
with Senate and House leaders over
pending legislation.
May Veto Seamen's Bill.
The most pressing legislative ques-
whether to sign or veto the seamen.s
bill passed by the Senate.
| The bill reached the White House to-
day and will be referred to the State
Department for report as to whether it
violates certain existing treaties If
that department reports that it is in
conflict with treaties the President is
expected to veto it, Mr. Wilson has
not read the bill and will depend upon
the report from Secretary Bryan.
Many Bills to Sign.
| The President must sign this week.
| with little opportunity for personal in
vest igation, appropriation bills carry
ing many millions of dollars. He has
already signed some of the supply bills,
and others have reached the White.