The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-13
The POWER IS IN
HANDS OF MINERS
Ne Action Taken on Oper-
ators Proposition.
CAN END THE STRIKE.
The Ten Per Gent. Increase Stands
Little Chance of Being Accepted.
NO SLIDING SCALE WANTED.
President Mitchell Addresses tho Con-
sen,tos and Says Terms Are Not
Satisfactory-SamucI Com
pcrs Sends Message TO
The Convention.
Secret Session.
NO SLIDING SCALE WANTED.
fgv associstes, Press. )

{By Associated Prcss.)
SCRANTON. PA. October Eight
handrcd and t,f.y-seven miners, who hold
In their hands the power To end or con-
1inue The anthracite coal miners sl!ihe
which has been in progress Tor more iAah
three weeks, met in convention here 10
day for the purpose of considering me zen
per cent. net advance in wages ohefeo pS
the operators, and adjourned until 10
morrow without taking any acton on their
employers proposition.
Both OF to-day's sessions were GeToke0
10 organization of the convention ana 10
speeches by many of The delegates on the
mine owners concession. II was not eA-
pected that anything would be done to-day
outside OF general exchange OF views.
The convention, after il was permanently
Organized went into secret session. but Il
was learned from authoritative sources
that nothing of definite nature was sug-
sested which would lead 10 "A solution OF
s what is, 10 the miners, knotty problem.
BUT LITTLE CHANCE.
From the trend of the remarks of the
delegates it was gathered that the ten per
cent. proposition. il now stands, mas
very little chance of being accepted Inc
delegates seemed, it was learned, 10 be
almost unanimous that the operators should
first make concessions on the other grey
a.1ces before the increase is accepted by
1 on the necessity Of abolishing the sliding
scale and substituting therefor a tonnage
sis on which to fix the rate Of wages.
The proposition OF having the operators
guarantee a fixed time for paying the ad-
vance was also thoroughly discussed,
while not a few delegates said they would
be satisfied with nothing but Z more libe-
raj increase in wages.
Tne MODE OF PROCEDURE Is a matter which
is now occupying the attention OF the
labor leaders. In case the convention
comes 10 a definite understanding on some
proposition. the question has been asked
how the operators will be advised in view
of the fact that the latter have repeatedly
said they would not recognize the Union
President Mitchell Will nnt discuss that
phase of the question and none OF the
other labor leaders viii venture an opinion
That the present convention VIII not
come to a definite conclusion is the gen.
eral belief tonight. It is the opinion OF
several of the labor leaders that the con-
ven,ion as at present constituted Is
little ,inwieldiy. There was movement
on foot to-day having for its 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-
port to either this or a second convention.
This movement. however, did not gain
mach of a start Some of the delegates
think that the whole su5iec; should be left
, in the hands of the national officers as
h.nted at by President Mitchell in his
brief remarks just before the convention
went into secret session.
NiTCIELL.S ADDRESS.
Mr. Mitchell is Very popular among the
miners as was shown by the enthusiasm
rsien1ayed as he delivered i1is opening adj
dress
president Mitchell called the convention
10 order at 1885 O'Clock and addressed the
delegates, saying:
..tsor the first time in many years the
operators have recognized your demands
for better conditions of employment and
have offered an advance Of ten per cent
III your wages. j am We'll aware mat TINS
advance is not satisfactory to YOU You
have felt, and with justice, that a definite
period of lime should be named during
which this advance should remain ~ force.
Your experience, where wages are based on
a siding scale, has been SO unsatisfactory
To you that you believe that the sliding
scale method of determining wages should
be abolished. You also believe that the
laws OF Pennsylvania should be obeyed
by the coal companies and wages be paid
twice each month. you reserving the right
of spending your earnings wherever you
choose.
whether 1t is better at this time to
insist on a compliance with all your de-
mands is a question which you who are
most interested are called upon to decide.
Personally, / 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 employers and miners delegates
meet in joint interstate convention, and
Ike prudent sensible business men, mu-
frailg agree upon scale of wages which
remains in force for one year.
Permanent organization was effected by
the election of President Mitchell as chair
man. and John r. Dempsey as secretary.
Chairman NIitchell's first act was 10
read a telegram from Samuel Gompers,
nresident OF the American Federation of
Labor. as follows:
..I'he 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 children.
and humanity will be the gamer. Kindly
convey to the assembled delegates the sin
cerest sympathy and cooperation of every
Union member and officer of the American
Federation of Labor. We all pray and
work for your success.
The convention went into secret session
and at its close adjourned TO nine o'clock
Tomorrow