The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-25
STRIKE is IMMINENT
ANTHRACITE WORKERS ADOPT
DECLARATION.
Mr.. MITCHELL'S STATEMENT.
HE GIVES SYNOPSIS OF POSITION
OF MINERS.

lnere Is n
to the Resolution, However, and
the National Civic Federation
Will BE Appealed tO-Presidents of
Coal Carrying Railroads Refused
President MitcheITs Last Appeal
for Conference.
Shamokin, Pa, March 24.-Unless the
efforts of the Civic Federation are eff
fective with the coal operators it is
more than likely that a repetition of
the struggle of 1900 will occur in the
anthracite region. In that year, 100000
employees of the anthracite mines were
out on strike for six weeks. The con-
vention to-day of Districts Nos.1, and
8, United Mine Workers of America,
which districts comprise the entire
anthracite field, made a provisional
strike declaration, leaving the date to
be decided by the executive boards of
the three districts. This was practically
the last official act of the delegates,
and the convention adjourned sine die
at o'clock this afternoon.
The adoption of the resolution con-
tanning the utimatum of the mine
workers was followed by a scene of
wild enthusiasm and the opera house
rang with the acclamations of the
delegates, who, with lusty cheers, APP
proved the work of the special resolu-
ton committee and expressed their
confidence in President Mitchell.
Before completing the draft of the
resolution, President Mitchell tele-
graphed the presidents of the coal
carrying roads making a last appeal
for a conference.
The telegram was as follows:
"By direction of Miners Convention,
I wire to ascertain if your company
will join other anthracite coal COM
panies in conference with a committee
representing anthracite mine workers
for the purpose of discussing and adj
justing grievances which affect all
companies and all employees alike.
Please answer"
He received several replies, one of
which was from President Baer of the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
Iron Company, and all of which re-
fused to meet the representatives of
the union. Others made no response.
The text of the replies was not made
public.
This resulted in the formulation of
the resolution presented to-day and ac-
cording to President Mitchell, it was
adopted without a dissenting vote. The
resolution provides for the appointment
of committee by the Third District
executive boards who will carry the
mine workers demands to the concilia-
ton committee of the Civic Fedora
ton with an appeal to that organiza-
ton for assistance. This committee,
which consists of fourteen members,
was appointed tonight
During the day President Mitchell
was in communication by telephone
with Secretary Ralph NJ. Easley of
the Civic Federation, to whom he an
nounced the decision of the convention.
This organization is empowered by it's
constitution to use its good offices to
prevent strikes when appealed to by
one of the parties to the proposed rup-
ture.
President Mitchell said tonight
there had been Misrepresentation con-
corning the sentiment of the conven-
ton. All of the delegates favored con-
servatism, he said, but they We're
unanimous in their demands for an
adjustment of their grievances.
President MitcheIPs Statement.
Shamokin, Pa, March 24.-The reso-
luton presented at to-day's session of
the convention of the United Mine
Workers of America by the special
committee appointed Saturday, made
provisional strike declaration, and was
unanimously adopted.
After it's adoption President Mitchell
made this statement:
"Our convention to-day unanimously
adopted the recommendations submit
ted by a special committee composed
of the district presidents and vice pres
idents and myself.
"The resolution recites the efforts
made by the representatives of the
anthracite mine workers to secure a
joint conference; calls attention to the
repeated violations of the promises
conveyed in their notices, posted one
year ago, as well as their failure to
carry out the verbal understanding
reached with the representatives of
the coal carrying railroads last March.
"The resolution also calls attention
to the wage scale which was drafted
and unanimously adopted by the con-
vention, the essential features of which
are: A shorter work day, a minimum
day wage scale, uniform increase in
wages and the weighing of coal
wherever the physical conditions of
mining would make it practicable.
TT further explains that upon in
vestigation it is found that the aver
age annual earnings of the anthracite
mine workers is considerably less than
in any other important American in
dustry. while the number of fatalities
and injuries in proportion to the num-
Der of persons employed, is greater
than any other industry.
1.-THE resolution then declares that
the mine workers cannot with honor to
themselves or in justice to those de-
pendent upon them continue at work
during the coming year, under the
present low wages and indefinite con-
ditions of employment, and provides
for a general suspension of work to
take effect upon a date to be desig-
tricts 1, Z and 9.
One More Effort for Peace.
eft provides, however, that before re-
sorting to such drastic measures, and
with a lingering hope for a peaceful
solution of the perplexing problem, an
appeal be made to the executive COM
noittee of the industrial department of
the National Civic Federation. Should
the Civic Federation refuse to act, or
should they fail in their efforts to ef-
feet a satisfactory adjustment prior
to April l, and If after that
date negotiations are still pending. all
anthracite mine workers, except those
necessary to keep the mines in repair,
shall remain away from the mines,
strippings, washeries and breakers on
tuesdays. Thursdays and Saturdays OF
eoch week. Should a strike take place
no settlement viii be made Ia any sem