Evening star., 1902-03-19
MINERS GET TO WORK
IMPORTANT MATTERS BEFORE
CONVENTION AT sHAMoKIN.
Strike May Be Declared Which Will
Tie Up the Anthracite
Region.

SHAMOK1N, Pa, March 19.-The miners
convention today began the consideration
of the important matters which will de-
eide whether the notices posted by the
operators at the various collieries, an
nouncing continuance of existing condi-
tfons. shall be accepted or rejected.
The committee on rules and order Of
business met at $50 o'clock, a half hour
previous to the assembling Of the conven-
tion. and completed the details of their
work. The delegates this morning dis
played much interest in the expected pre-
sentation by President Mitchell Of the let
ters from the presidents of the operating
companies declining conference with off,
cials of the United Mine Workers These
letters constitute one of the most import
ant subjects to be considered by the con-
Vention. but the delegates, having nothing
but general knowledge of their contents.
declined to discuss their probable action
concerning the communications.
President Mitchell today reiterated his
denial that the visit of Secretary Ralph NJ.
Easley of the Civic Federation concerned
the situation in the anthracite coal region.
When asked it he would make any further
effort to see j. Pierpont Morgan Mr..
Mitchell said he had made no arrange
ments looking to that end.
Ready to Fight for Concessions.
the first time officially expressed during the
morning session of the convention. Presi-
dent Nichols Of District No. 1, speaking on
the question of a scale committee, said
1.-The men of our district want their coal
weighed, and they want it weighed SO bad
ly that they are ready to fight for 1t II
necessary" This assertion elected vigor-
Gus applause, which is taken as an indica-
ton that most of the delegations have come
to the convention with instructions to in
sist on concessions by the operators.
This mornings session began promptly at
o o'clock with President Mitchell in the
chair.
A letter signed by several victims of the
Lattimer strike appealing for aid was read
and motion a collection was taken up
for the benefit of the sufferers.
A Polish delegate suggested that as many
of the delegates could understand but lit
tie English, interpreters be appointed to
report the proceedings to their colleagues.
motion to this effect was carried and the
vice president of the three districts were
appointed to serve.
The credentials committee made their
final report, which showed the total num-
ber of delegates present to be G31, with 92j
votes. District No. has 80 delegates and
445 votes; district No Z, 1O1 delegates and
151 votes; district No. Q, 21S delegates and
$50 votes
Firemen Admitted to Convention.
A request for admission to the convention
from delegates of the Firemen's Union met
with some opposition. but motion admit
ting them was finally carried
The convention decided to appoint scale
committee Of twenty-one members, seven
from each district. and a committee on
resolutions, consisting of three members
from each district. The vice presidents of
the districts were authorized to select the
members of the committees. President
Nichols asked whether the scale commit
tee would draw up uniform wage rate or
whether several scales would be presented
by each district.
Conditions are different In each district -
said Mr.. Nichols. "and it would be difficult
to arrange a uniform rate. Some regions
desire pay by the yard and others want to
be paid by weight. In our district we want
the coal weighed"
The next business in order was the report
of the special committee, consisting of
President Mitchell and the district presi-
dents appointed at Indianapolis, to seek a
conference with the operators. President
Mitchell announced that letters had been
received from the operators, and he deemed
it advisable for the convention to consider
them in executive session. His suggestion
was adopted, and at 1890 am. the conven-
tion went into executive session