The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-08
WAS Principal Matter Of Discussion.
Question Of Place and Repre- q
=. sentation Considered.

HAZLETON, Pa. Oct IA confer
ence which is believed to mark the be-
ginning Of the end OF the miners strike
which enters upon its fourth week to-
morrow, was held at the headquarters
OF the United Mine Workers here this
afternoon. Those present besides Pres
ident Mitchell were Fred Dllcher Of
Ohio. a member of the executive board,
and Presidents 7. D. Nichols. of Dis
trlct No. ]. Lackawanna and Wyoming
valleys, James Duffy, District No. Z,
Iehigh valley and John Fahy, District
no. ., schuylklll valley. Although no
Information was given out 1t is, known
that the question of issuing u call for
joint convention was the principal mat
ter discussed. The Associated Press is
able to announce that the coming con-
rentIon will be held at Scranton unless
something unforeseen should arise be-
tween now and the time OF Issuing the
call. Besides taking up the matter OF a
convention call, 1t is understood that
the question of representation was also
considered. The three district presI.
dents made full reports as TO the condi-
tious as they now exist In the respective
districts.
Something to Say To-day.
President Mitchell after the confer
ence, said he would have something to
say tomorrow in regard to the con-
vention. II the date has been fixed only
Mr.. Mitchell and his colleagues know It.
OF course the principal matter to
come before the miners will be the ac-
ceptance or rejection Of the ten per cent.
net increase offered by most of the op-
orators. President Mitchell said to-day
that not one official of the U. NJ. W.
I will take a hand in any actor the con-
vention might take as the men must
! themselves settle everything tina. comes
before them. How long the convention
will be in session depends on the
amount of business that may be pre-
sented. The belief is general tha. the
miners will accept the Increase. Most
of the mine owners who have granted
the wage concession do. not specify.in
their notices how long the advance shall
remain in force and 1t Is not unlikely
that an attempt Will be made by the
miners In convention to open negotia.
tions with the operators, looking to-
ward an understanding in the matter.
President Mitchell and the other labor
leaders are strong advocates OF annual
wage scale arrangement similar to that
in force In the bitum!nous coal district.
Yearly Scale Fixed.
The operators In these regions meet
their employees each year and fix the
wage scale. II this proposition and that
relating to the abolition of the sliding
scale are brought before the convention
and negotiations with the mine owners
nre opened, 1t might considerably delay
the settlement of the strike.
Sheriff James Harvey, of this county.
who has been kept busy during the past
three weeks, owing to the marching OF
large bodies Of strikers. called on Presl-
ueHt mitchell at neauluurttrS tnlS al
ternoon. Neither would disclose the
purpose of the meeting except to say
that 1t was merely a social call on the
part Of the sheriff. 1t is understood,
however. that the sherlff's purpose In
calling was to ask aTr. Mitchell to use
his Influence as president OF the United
Mine Workers to have the strikers re-
frain from further marching .on the
grounds that the gathering of large
crowds has tendency to create dis
turbances. 1t is said that Mr.. Mitchell
informed the sheriff that as the orders
for the marching did not emanate from
headquarters he could not stop the men
from walking the roads.