The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-13
STRIKERS BEGIN
BIG CONVENTION.
Continued from Page one.

IOnllEutu iTO1n f-tSc Ohc.
duty not only to obey but assist In en-
forcing the law. -,
When this strike was put into enec,
we declared that IL would not enc uaiiSs-
a majority of the delegates representing
the anthracite miners agreed 20 ~ yer
niination. We repeatedly announcer usae
we would not undertake TO declue, t nr Voc zoe
ture happiness or misery. the wear OF "oe
OF the five hundred thousand persons ae-
pendent upon the anthracite coal inuus.ry
for a livelihood. We believe that the men
who mine COAL that the men who VOTE
in the collierfes. that the boys who work
In the breakers should all pc consuiteo
before the officers Of your union oeciare
the strike at an end. Learning that the
operators had posted notices at their mines
Offering an advance OF 10 per cent II
wages formerly paid, we deemed IL our
duty 10 call convention ana perm. IN, ,ns
miners 10 pass Judgment on the question
OF its acceptance or rejection.
Urged TO He Calm.
"in considering the proposition of the
operators / want the delegates attending
this convention to be calm and dispas-
phases, 20 measure carefully the chances
OF success and the possibilities OF oeteat,
should the strike be continued. You mus,
not reach your conclusions nas,lIy, sudd
must not overestimate your strength, anu
on the other hand. you should take every
precaution to protect yourselves asains'
the viciousness of your employer, WIZ
4 u
ton to treat you fairly In the past ana
who have never shown any regard lot ,ne
welfare OF those who produce their We", ~
For the first time In many years n "a
operators have recognized your deiuahuss
for better conditions Of employment anu
have offered an advance of 10 per cent. ia
your wages. | am we'll aware that xtls
advance Is not Satisfactory 70 youd asntte
have felt. and with justice, that dennIte
period of time should be named durins
which this advance should remain IN
force. Your experience where wages az
based on sliding scale has peen - ~
satisfactory TO you that you believe that
the sliding scale method OF determining
wages should be abolished. you also per
iieve that the laws OF rennsS sr,s,,ss
and wages be paid twice each month.
YOU reserving the right of spending your
earnings wherever you choose. -
aNVhether IL IL believed wise al TINS
time TO insist upon a compliance with ali
your demands Is question wnicn you
as most interested, are called upon 20 ue
eide. Personally ! have hoped we snouln
be able at some time to establish tne
same method of adjusting wage diHer.
ences as now exist In the bitumlnous coal
regions where employers ana miners
delegates meet In joint interstate conven-
tion. and like prudent, sensible business
men. mutually agree upon scale OF
wages. which remain In force Tor one
year thus removing the cause OF Strikes
and lockouts. ard even yet believe that
In future the anthracite operators VIII ac.
cent this humane and progressive method
OF treating with their employees
Labor Organizations.
Labor organizations. like labor saving
machinery, are here to stay. Capital may
for a time refuse to deal with them, may,
because OF It's great power. retard the
growth OF organizations for time. but
like Truth crushed to earth they viii
rise again and will give battle In defense
of the poor and oppressed.
Now gentlemen, permit me to adj
monish you to consider seriously the
course you intend to pursue. The eyes
OF the American people are conferred ON
the city Of Scranton today, anxiously
awaiting the result Of this convention.
do not wish you to accept one cent less
for Your labor than II is possible for you
to secure. | do not wish the great orga-
nlzation which has been built among You
TO be wrecked and ruined through any
mistake Of mine or yours. II you iegis-
late wisely and tndiciously can see q
destiny brighter and happier for you and
for those who will take your places when
you have passed away: | can see future
where the little boys will be In attendance
at the school instead of wasting their
young lives away In the breakers. helping
to earn a livelihood for their parents:
can see future where pleasant homes
and happy faces of the wives and moth
ers will be in vivid contrast with the con-
dltions Of today"
President Mitehell's address was well
received. The next order OF business was
the appointment OF a committee on Gre
dentials. The committee consists OF nine
members three from each OF the districts.
William Davis, OF Pottsville. known as
the Golden miner" by reason OF being
the oldest working miner In the anthra-
cite region was introduced and read a
short poem
Tho convention at II O'Clock took re-
cess until 40 p m. TO allow the commit
tee 10 examine the credentials.
President Mitchelrs noncommlttai
speech has not helped the bringing about
OF settlement OF the questions which
Will come before the convention. A can
vass OF many delegates today shows that
n settlement Of the strike by this eonven.
ton is improbable.
Afternoon session.
The frs, business q the afternoon ses-
sion was the receiving Of committee re-
ports. a matter 81 routine.
During the roll call upon the adoption
Of the reports, President Mitchell ruled
that IN compliance with the promise
made 70 the nonnnlon mine workers. all
uncrganiged men on strike could be rep
resented In the convention. For instance.
II = union has membership OF s00, and
Z there are 10 men ON strike at tho coiiiery
where the union Il i0catctd then Il Is
Z entitled 10 seven votes instead 81 I'VE. The
( reports Of the committee were accepted
President Mitchell read the following
teiegrsnn from Samuel Gompers. president
% the American Federation 81 Labor.
The cause ~ the miners d the cause
" humanity Whatever the decision H.
L regarding the operators nffer. the future
must be brighter. better and more lust
Miners thelt wives and chil6ren and hui
mruiiV viii b. the gamer Kindly con
Yey "a n. assembled delegates the SIN.
ctrest sympathy and cooperation OF
every union member and ofncpr ~ the
American Federation Of Labor We ali
pray and work far Your success
Thsn President Mitchell again addressed
the niuera In taa coarse q his speech
Z he said.
Remarkable Gathering.
''Thl. ~ probably enc af the mos, re-
Z markahte conventions that h2S ever be~n
[ my good fortune "a attend You are
called here q pBss Judgment on = prope-
: sitieu FnHta 20 N0M TIE operators made
I % proposition tn the miners They uost-
{ - notices ~ adxancs n wages over thnss