The times., 1901-03-14
MINERS CONFER IN SECRET.
Tive Executive Sessions mt the HaEir
ton Convention.

Two Executive Sessions mt the Hazir
ton Convention.
HAZLETON. Pa March i3.-The Mine
Workers Convention settled down to
business this morning by electing John
Mitchell Permanent President; John Gal
lagher. Secretary; George Hartlein. As
sistant Secretary; r. 4. Kapp. Sergeant
alarms. and John sharp. DoOr<eeper.
The Committee on Credentials reported
that there were $40 delegates present.
representing 80 locals This makes the
largest attendance at any convention or
mine workers ever held In the anthracite
field.
Mother Jones. who figured so promi-
neutly In last years strike. made her
appearance and was greeted with great
applause There was only one contest
for a delegates seat. and that was in the
case of Thomas Davis and Hugh James.
who each claimed to be a delegate from
Local l052 of Scranton.
The committee reported that two ses-
sions would be held daily. President
Mitchell then read the call for the con-
vention issued TO the locals of this re-
gion at indianapolis in February.
which stated that the object Of the con
vention was the agreement Of wage
scale for the ensuing year. and asking
the operators to meet the miners in joint
/ conference.
Mr. Mitchell also said that invitations
| had been sent to the presidents of the
niEe anthracite coal carrying roads. ask
/ ing them 10 meet the men in joint con-
| ference Only one reply had been re-
| ceiyed. and that was from the president
Of the Delaware and Hudson Company.
who said that so far as he knew no
in asking for conference: that he saw
no necessity for the holding of one; that
/ if employees of the company had any
| grievances to make they could do so by
/ comforting with it's officials; that he did
| not share President Mitchelrs views on
the mutual benefit TO operators and min
! ers resulting from a conference; that
/ since the settlement OF the trouble last
autumn petty strikes had increased in
! number: that during the last year the
! company had paid to its employees Sl0.
$4,000 and the stockholders had received
s1,500.00 in dividends. tending To show
that the proportionate profits of holders
of stock are small; that conference was
a cause for disturbance I'm the coal trade.
and that the losses incurred through such
disturbances would not be balanced by
the results accomplished
At this point in the proceedings, on mo-
tiOn of a delegate to that effect, the con-
vention went into executive session. Dur
ing the noon recess President Mitchell
was asked whether he believed a strike
would ensue. He replied:
That is a matter which has not yet
| been officially considered by the cOnyen-
tion. therefore | have nothing to say re-
garding the outcome"
When asked whether ne would affirm
the statement attributed to him, to the ef-
feet that the posting of the notices by
the companies agreeing to pay the in
creased wages demanded by the miners
was sufficient recognition of the organ
iZatiOn, he replied:
We want a conference with the opera
tors 50 that an understanding can be
reached for the ensuing year, and that
certain grievances complained OF may be
remedied on an amicable basis A joint
conference is the only up-tO-date method
Of settling labor troubles 1 am pleased
with the unanimous manner in which the
convention placed itself against comDul-
sory arbitration
The afternoon session was also execu-
tive. but a its close it was given out
that the following committees had been
Scale Committee-District No. I. TheO-
dore Pollock, Gleu-LyOn; John Burney
Plymouth: ]. D. Reynolds, Pittston; J. r
| Watkins, Providence. w. Collier. Olg-
phant; Martin Battle. CarbOnGale; j. Brit
! tan and B. Davis. WnkesbaTTe. Jtutes
[ Smith. Dunmora; District No !. w H
Deitein Nuremberg James Cayanaugh.
/ COaIdale Frank Ray, Jeddo: john Ar
bickle. West HaZletoni Daniel Boyle
Freeiand: Thomas Duffy, McAdoo: DIS
/ tricC No o. James FennelI, Lykens;
( Charles Palmer. Shenandoah; Frank G.
Z BOYLE. MaizeyilIe William Tilley, Sha-
/ mokin: Martin Walsh, Glen Carbon
/ Thomas Davis. Pottsville: William Mar
I tin PottsyilIe; John BrickerWicz. Shen-
/ andoah: John Missurkey, St Clair; Leon
/ Tasso MahanOy City.
/ Resolutions Committee - George W
/ Hartlein Tresfield; William Mulcahey, j.
I p. Gallagher. Joseph Gallagher, j. L
/ Dempsey. and Arthur James
/ Press Committee-John Mitchell, George
/ W. Hartlein. and I. 2. Gallagher.
] At the close of this afternoon session
| the convention adjourned until O'Clock
! tomorrow morning to give the scale com
/ mittee an opportunity TO prepare a re-
port for tOmOrrOW's session.
Z President Mitchell tonight issued a
I statement giving out the proceedings OF
the convention as above reported, ana
! adding that the convention adjourned 70
/ hermit the scale committee TO assemble
Z in the han and formulate d scale OF
/ wages for the ensuing year.