The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-13
STRIKERS TEMPER
YET UNY|ELDINC.
e.. !
Coal Barons' Offer Will Hard
Iy be Accepted.
THE CONVENTION OPENS
Day Spent Mostly in Organizing and
Making Speeches.
THE CONVENTION OPENS
MEN WANT SLIDING SCALE ABOLISHED
They Also Desire Guarantee From the O. ca
tors That the Ten Per Cent Increase
Will BE- Paid For Speci-
fsd Time.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press)
Scranton, Pa, Oct. 12-Eight hundred
and ffty-seven miners, who hold in their
hands the power to end or continue the
anthracite coal miners strike which has
been in progress for more than three
weeks. met in convention here today
for the purpose of considering the ten
per cent. net advance lin wages offered
rrow without taking any action on
employers proposition. Both of to-
sessions were devoted to organi-
HIKING the convention and to speeches l'y
many of the delegates on the mine own
ers' concession. 1t was not expected
that anything would be done today out
side of a general exchange of views.
The convention, after it was permanent
ly organized, went into secret session,
but it was learned from authoritative
sources that nothing of a definite nature
was suggested which would lead to So
luton of what is, to the miners, knotty
problem.
- From the trend of the remarks of the
delegates, it was gathered that the ten
per cent. proposition as 1t now stands,
has very little chance of being accepted.
The delegates, ut was learned, to be al
most unanimous that the operators
should first make concessions on the
n other grievances before the increase is
accepted by the mine workers Great
stress was laid on the necessity of abol-
ishing the sliding scale and substituting
90 which
fix the rate of wages. The proposition
y of having the operators guarantee
fixed time for paying the advance was
also thoroughly discussed, while not
few delegates said they would be salts
fed with nothing but a more liberal in
crease in wages.
~ The mode of procedure is a matter
= which is now occupying the attention or
the labor leaders. In case the conven-
ton comes to a definite understanding
on some proposition. the question has
been asked how the operators will be adj
vised in view of the fact that the latter
have repeatedly said they would not
recognize the union. President NitcheH
will not discuss that phase of the cues
tion and none of the other labor leaders
will venture an opinion.
That the present convention will not
eral belief tonight. 1t is the opinion of
several of the labor leaders that the con-
vention as at present constituted is a
little unwieldly. There was a movement
on foot today having for it's object the
submission of the various propositions as
they are suggested by the delegates to
a committee appointed by the convention
for consideration, this committee to re-
r.vnf - NfN1 I, ovad
tion. This movement, however, did not
gain much of a start. Some of the dele
gates think that the whole subject should
be left in the hands of the national Off
GERS as limited at by President Mitchell
in his brief remarks just before the con-
vention went into secret session. Mr..
Mitchell is very popular among the miners
as was shown by the enthusiasm displayed
as he delivered his opening address.
THE ADDRESS BY MITCHELL.
President Mitchell called the convention
TO order at 1925 o'clock and addressed
the delegates, saying:
For the first time in many years the
operators have recognized your demands
for better conditions Of employment and
have offered an advance of 10 per cent
in your wages. / am well aware that this
advance is not satisfactory to you. You
have felt and with Justice that a defin-
lite period of time should be named dur
ing which this advance shoull remain in
force. Your experience where wages are
based on a sliding scale has been SO I'M
satisfactory to you that you believe that
the sliding scale method of determining
wages should be abolished, you also be-
lieve that the laws of Pennsylvania should
be obeycd by the coal companies. and
wages be paid twice each month, you re-
serving the right of spending your earn
ings wherever you choose. Whether it is
better at this time to insist upon COM
pliance with all your demands is ques-
tion which you. who are most interested.
are called upon to decide. Personally, 1
have hoped that we should be able at
some time to establish the same method of
adjusting wage differences as now exists
in the bituminous coal regions, where en-
ployers and miners delegates meet in joint
interstate convention and like prudent.
sensible business men, mutually agree
upon scale of wages which remains in
force for one year.
Permanent organization was effect9 I'd by
the election of President Mitchell as
chairman, and John T. Dempsey as secre-
tary.
Chairman MitchelPs first act was to read
a telegram from Samuel Gompers, presl-
dent of the American Federation of Labor,
as follows:
1.-THE cause Of the miners is the cause
of humanity. Whatever the decision
reached regarding the operators offer, the
future must be brighter. better and more
Just for the miners, their wives and chill
dren, and humanity will be the gamer.
Kindly convey TO the assembled dele
gates the sincerest sympathy and CO.
operation of every union member and Off