The Canton times., 1902-05-16
A Provisional Strike Ordered to Be<
gin Monday, May II, in
Pennsylvania.
OPERATORS DECLINED TO ARBITRATE.
The Executive Committees of the varioua
Districts, After a Conference at Scran-
ton, Thereupon Ordered a Strike, Sub
ject to Ratification by a Convention, at
Hazelton, Wednesday.

region has Deen OfueTeu loI MoAdoy
next. but the order has a reserve
qualification attached. The question
as to whether the strike is to he
made permanent is left to the decl-
sion of convention of delegates OF
all the local organizations.
The miners executive committees
of three districts met yesterday
morning and had a three hours ses-
sion. At it's conclusion President
Mitchell gave out the following:
"Replies to our proposition to sub
nit the entire question in dispute to
an impartial board of arbitration
have been received from President
Baer, of the Philadelphia & Reading;
Chairman Thomas, of the Erie rail-
road; President Truesdale of the
Lackawanna and President Olyphant
of the Delaware & Hudson, all OF
whom refuse to join US in the adjust
ment of the differences between ua
by the methods we propose.
1.-THE executive committees are now
considering the chances of success or
possibilities of defeat should a strike
be inaugurated.
"a decisive vote on the question
will be taken this afternoon"
At 4:3O p. m. the committeeman
again assembled and remained in ses-
sion until 1880. When the session
was concluded, President Mitchell
prepared a statement, and assem-
bling the newspaper men at the ST.
Charles hotel, read to them as fol-
lows, from typewriter paper:
"To the Anthracite Mine Workers OF
Pennsylvania:
"GENTLEMEN: The executive COM
mittees of the anthracite mine work
ers who were delegated by the
Shamokin convention to represent
YOU in the negotiations with the rant
road presidents and mine operators
| for the purpose of obtaining In
| creased wages, shorter hours and bet
| fer conditions of employment, have
exhausted all peaceable, concillatory
| and honorable means at their COM
mand, and have failed to secure any
| concessions of tangible nature, and
while under the resolutions adopted
nv the Shamokin convention author
itv was vested in the executive COM
mittees, should they fail in the ne
ootiations, to inaugurate strike at
whatever time in their judgments
| held out the greatest promise OF sue
cess. the committees, after three
| davs' serious deliberation, feel thas
in Justice to the anthracite nine
workers and those dependent upon
them. before general strike is IT,
augurated, the question should be
further considered by delegate con-
yention, in which representatives
from the various local unions shall Ge
fully instructed by their constituents
and prepared to vote in favor OF or IN
opposition to complete cessation OK
| work.
'In the meantime all persons en-
ployed in or around the collieriess
strippings, washeries and breakers
are instructed to temporarily abstain
from working, beginning with Mon
day, May ~, and continuing there
after until final decision is reached
by delegate convention. which Will
convene Wednesday morning, May IA,
! at Hazelton, Pa.
"The basis of representation in this
| convention shall be one vote for each
| 100 members, and one vote for each
| additional 100 members or majority
| fraction thereof.
| raaOm-
mend that special meetings of all
| local unions be held on Monday af-
ternoon. May IL, for the purpose "f
selecting delegates and considering
| the question involved; and it 5 espe-
cially recommended that specific in
structions be given to delegates as to
how they shall vote on the proposi-
ton to inaugurate a strike or con-
tinue work under present conditions
"The instruction for all men to sus-
pend work on Monday does not in
clude firemen, engineers, pumpmen
and other labornecessaryto preserve
the properties of the operators.
The order is signed by all the dis
trict presidents and secretaries.
There was big crowd about the
ST. Charles when the order was given
out, and the proverbial dropping of a
pin would have been audible at any
time. President Mitchell, standing IN
the center of the crowd on a chair,
read the statement.
Immediately upon the conclusion
of President Mitchell's reading the
crowd scattered, and in an incredibly
short space of time the news had
i - L.. ....,rd Of month and mes