The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-05-15
MINERS WILL STRIKE.
Operators Reject Proposition for
Arbitration.

IA, May 1V.-lHcIc Was
little delay in the converting of the
executive committees of the United
Mine Workers Friday morning for the
serious work which was cut out for
them. Shortly after President Mitch
ell had entered the meeting room, a
post office messenger passed up the
stairway with several special delivery
letters in hand. These were the mes
sages from the operators which Presi-
dent Mitchell later announced in an
official statement, was the destinations
to accept the proposal of arbitration.
Afterward a number of kilograms were
also carried in to Mr.. Mitchell. The
whole elaboration of the morning was
given over to the refusal of the opera
tors to arbitrate, together with a can
vass of the entire anthracite field. in
order that there might be a thorough
knowledge of the actual conditions
which the miners will have to face,
should a strike order follow.
President Mitchell Issues Statement.
The morning session adjourned at
1880, and President Mitchell made the
following statement:
"Replies to our proposition to submit the
entire question in dispute TO an impartial
board of arbitration have been received
from President Baer, of the Philadelhia az
Reading company; Chairman Thomas, of
the Erie company; President Truesdale, Of
the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
company and President oiyphant, Of the
Delaware & Hudson company. all OF whom
refuse to join US in the adjustment of the
differences by the methods we proposed.
The executive committees are now con-
sidering the chances of success or possibil-
tiles OF defeat should a strike be declared"
Strike Is Ordered.
At 1880 o'clock the committeeman
again assembled and remained in ses-
sion until 1880 o'clock. When the ses-
sion concluded, President Mitchell
prepared a statement and, assem-
bling the newspaper men at the St.
Charles hotel, read it to them. 1t is
addressed to the anthracite mine
workers of PENNSYLVANIA. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen: The executive committees
of the anthracite mine workers who were
delegated by the Shamokin convention to
represent you in the negotiations with the
railroad presidents and mine operators for
the purpose of obtaining increased wages,
shorter hours and better conditions of em-
ployment have exhausted all peaceable,
conciliatory and honorable means at their
command, and have failed to secure any
concessions of a tangible nature, and while
under the resolutions adopted by the Sha-
mokin convention authority was vested in
the executive committees should they fail
in the negotiations to inaugurate a ssrike
AT UhatPVar Tina In THAR i,tI AfS
out the greatest promise of success, tne
committees after three days serious de-
liberation feel that in justice TO the an
thracite mine workers and those depend
ent upon them, before a general strike is
i~naugurated, the question should be fur
Their considered by a delegate convention,
in which representatives from the various
local unions shall be fully instructed by
their constituents and prepared to vote in
favor of or in opposition to complete ces-
sation of work. In the meantime all per-
sons employed In or around the collieries,
strippings, washeries and breakers are in
structed to temporarily abstain from work.
ing, beginning with Monday May u, and
continuing thereafter until a final decision
Is reached by a delegate convention, which
Will convene Wednesday morning, May IA,
at Hazleton, Pa. The executive commits
tees that special meetings of
all local unions be held on Monday after
noon, May Y, for the purpose of selecting
and considering the question in
VOWED, and 1t is especially recommended
that specific instructions be given to dele
gates as to how they shall vote on the
proposition to inaugurate a strike or con-
tinue work under present conditions. The
instruction for all men to suspend work
on Monday does rot include fremen, engi-
neers. pumpmen and other labor necessary
to preserve the properties of the operators"
Order VIII BE Obeyed.
There is not a particle of question
but that the miners will religiously
obey the order and that on Monday
next not so much as a shovel of coal
will be mined in the Lackawanna val
ley.