The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-10-17
SEEKING A SOLUTION.
Delegates to the Joint Convention
of Anthracite Miners in
Secret Session.

| Scranton, Pa, Oct. 13.-The joint con-
vention of the anthracite miners which
began yesterday, again went into eXecu-
tive session shortly after 8 o'clock this
morning. It is believed the convention
will get through its work tonight. There
were numerous conferences between OIL
Gals of the United Mineworkers and also
among the delegates, but when the con-
vention went into session today no def
mite plan had been decided upon. as far
as could be learned, as to what action
should be taken in regard to the opera
tors wage advance. The two plans Sug-
gested yesterday, one that the whole mat
ter be left to a committee, and the other
that the national officers be instructed
to find solution of the complicated prob
lem, still finds favor among some OF the
delegates.
President Mitchell declined to give an
opinion as t. what the outcome of the
convention would be, but said he thought
it would reach a decision this afternoon.
None of the national officers is making
any effort to influence the action OF the
DELEGATES. No word has reached the con-
vention from the operators.
May Tie UP Railways.
Unless West Virginia coal operators
discontinue the shipment of coal from
that field to the former consumers OF an
thracite the railroads carrying that coal
may be tied up by a strike. Nj. w.
Gurnsey, an organizer for one of the
railroad brotherhoods, is in Scranton, and
has held several conferences with PreSl-
dent Mitchell of the miners union.
Whatever promise the railroad man made
is kept secret, but Mr.. Mitchell says that
the time was at hand when the West
Virginia coal would have to be stopped
and that the miners were in position to
accomplish that end
Action in Secret Session.
The press committee, of which Mr..
Mitchell is chairman, made public the
following report Of what took place at
the executive session yesterday:
"At 3 O'Clock the convention went into
executive session and the password Of
the organization was taken up. after
ycntion proceed to the discussion Of the
proposition made by the officers through
notices posted at their mines. The con-
vention decided that each delegate who
desired could speak three minutes. The
question was asked if all the operators
mad posted notices advancing the wages
10 per cent, and it was ascertained that
a large number of the individual opera
tors had not yet notified their men of
their willingness to pay an advance.
During the entire session the question
at issue was debated by the delegates in
an earnest, conservative manner, and the
opposition to the proposition of the oper-
ators appeared to be unanimous. There
appeared also to be intense desire to have
the organization officially recognized"
Telegram from Gompers.
Chairman Mitchell read a telegram
from Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, as fol-
lows:
"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 lust; miners their wives and chill
dren and humanity will be the gamer
Kindly convey to the assembled dele
gates the sincerest sympathy and coop
GRAFTON of every union member and Off
Ger of the American Federation of La
Dor. We all pray and work for your sue
cess"
Prepare Resolutions.
The convention Immediately after be-
inc called to order plunged into the dis
cussion of the 10 per cent. net increase,
and the wage scale in all its various
phases was thoroughly gone into by the
delegates, Finally motion was adopted
that a committee on resolutions be ap-
pointed for the purpose of presenting to
the convention something tangible on the
wage scale and also on the other grley-
1nC0S. line delegates WE'RE luNll0u 10
give the committee suggestions. The res
buttons committee was made up of thir-
teen members, as follows: President
Mitchell. the three district presidents,
Nichols, Duffy and Fahey, and three del
egates from each of the three districts.
The convention shortly before noon
took a recess until 1 80 p. m. in order to
allow the resolutions committee to pre-
pare a set of resolutions to be presented
at the afternoon session.
An Agreement Probable.
w. d. Ryan, secretary-treasurer of the
United Mineworkers of Illinois, adj
dressed the convention during the morn
ing session and informed the delegates
that the bituminous miners are willing to
render them financial aid, if necessary.
From what can be learned from the
delegates, it is believed that most of them
favor the acceptance of the operators
offer Of a 10 per cent net advance, pre-
viding they will make some concessions
in the other grievances. Many of the
delegates feel that an agreement will be
reached before night.
The resolutions committee adjourned
shortly before o'clock and Immediately
went to the convention hall, where the
committees report was presented to the
delegates. What the report contains was
not made public.