The Saint Paul globe., 1901-03-17
MINERS 70 STRIKE AGAIN
ANTHRACITE OPERATORS REFUS-
AL TO RECOGNIZE UNION WILL
PRECIPITATE TROUBLE
THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS
United Mine Workers' Delegates at
HazIetOn Convention All of
One Mind-MitcheI
NOn-COmmittal.

HAZLETON, Pa, March 16-By unani-
nous vote today the delegates to the
United Mine Workers convention, which
has been in session in this city for nearly
week, decided to suspend work at I'll
anthracite mines until the operators agree
to meet the miners executive board IN
joint conference before April |.
A strike seems inevitable
The operators have steadfastly refused
to recognize the miners as a body, and
there is not the remotest indication that
they will pay any attention to the de-
mands made by President Mitchell and
other members Of the executive board.
that they meet the board in joint confer
ence to adjust grievances The conven-
ton adjourned after adoption Of the res
olution to strike. and President Mitchell
and the officers Of the three anthracite
districts held secret conference at
which plans were discussed for bringing
about the desired meeting between oper-
ators and miners. 1t was decided that
President Mitchell and the presidents of
the three districts would hold another
conference on Monday at Scranton when
their plans will be completed President
Mitchell left for Scranton today. and will
make that city his headquarters for the
present. In an interview he admitted the
probability of a strike, but said he would
prefer to make no definite statement in
that respect pending negotiations He
said, however that the delegates were a
unit in their approval Of the action
taken.
MITCHELL DECLINES 10 TALK.
Regarding our chances for success I
prefer not to talk" said Mr.. Mitchell.
The conventions action shows what the
mine workers believe their chances to
be. Every one said last fall that the
miners would not win, yet they won.
Words cannot express how we regret
being forced to consider such a STEP The
miners union stands for peace, but peace
upon a firm foundation
Mr.. Mitchell could not be induced to
make any statement as to hts course In
attempting to arrange a meeting between
the operators and representatives OF the
Mine Workers union, but 1t is expected
that his removal to Scranton Is the result
of a desire to be in close touch with the
mine owners.
T. D. Nichols, president of District No.
1, said tonight:
81 believe the mine workers were
forced into their action this morning. The
operators are wholly to blame If trouble
results. Conditions which are unfair still
S@A1oIJ olAO JOlIll conference VIII De noe.
sary to adjust them. The United Mine
Workers of America represent every
mine in the anthracite coal field, and are
authorized to speak for the miners The
operators should not be afraid to meet
the men in joint conference If their course
or contentious on scale matters are 1ust."
The most important demands which the
miners would make, 1t Is said, is recogni-
tion Of their union, which was not insist
a. 10o In y4rfIy1
uniform wage scale. In order to bring
about the latter condition, slight ad-
vance, it Is said, will be asked for by
the men in the Lehigh, Schuylkill and
Wyoming regions. Considerable bitter
ness has been engendered among the del
egates by the refusal Of the mine officers
to confer with them, and many Of them
claim that last years Scranton agreement
has been violated by the employers On
this account they assert their determine
tlon to insist on a proper adjustment of
their grievances.