The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-21
NO DECISION MADE
uT ACCEPTANCE OF ARBITRA-
TON PRACTICALLY ASSURED.
COAL STRIKE AT AN END.
TODAY THE STRIKING MINERS
WILL CAST VOTES FOR PEACE.

Appointment of Committee on Res
olutiOns Only Practical Result of
conventions First Day-Committee
VIII Declare Miners Position to
the WOrId-President Mitchell the
Hero of the HOur-ElOquent Adj
dress. Urging Acceptance of Ar
filtration, Greeted With Cheers.
steam Men Only in Way.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 20.-The anx-
,fuslv awaited convention of the $4,000
striking miners met to-day, but did not
reach a vote on the proposed plan of
settlement. 1t is expected to do so to-
morrow.
There were 662 delegates present in
the Nesbitt Theater. where the con-
yention was held and they were en-
powered by their local unions to cast
S67 votes for or against President
Rcosevelt's proposed plan of arbitra-
ten. The great majority of the dele
gates were uninstructed, the few who
were being engineers, firemen and
pumpmen, who fear that the 5000
strikers of those classes may not get
back their places now held by non
union men.
This question of the engineers, fire..
men and pumpmen proved the only
stumbling block in the way of almost
Immediate adoption of the Presidents
plan, which carries with it declaring
the strike off, and general resumption
of work through the 175 mile strip of
hard coal mining region.
Heard the Steam Mems Plea.
At one time to-day it seemed certain
that the convention was about to adopt
the recommendation of President
Mitchell to end the strike, but the
steam mems plea was too earnest and
the final vote went over until to-mor-
row, when it is next to certain the
vote to declare the strike off will show
big majority for it. The leaders of the
strikers, except Mr.. Mitchell, were
hardly heard at all in the convention
to-day, the anxious engineers being al
lowed to give full expression to their
feelings. But tomorrow, it is predict
ed, the leaders will be heard, and one
of them, a high district officer, said
to-day that there would not be more
than Is votes recorded against the plan
which the President of the United
States has proposed to them, and
which all the highest officials of the
mine workers in this region have earn
estly recommended.
Mitchell the Central Figure.
There were two sessions, forenoon
and afternoon to-day, and the net re-
suit as regards the progress of the con-
Ventlon toward its great object was a
permanent organization with Mr.
Mitchell in the chair, his speech Law
ing the Presidents plan before the del
egates, his eloquent impromptu speech
advocating its adoption, and the APP
polntment of a committee on resolu-
tons. This committee, as Mr. Mitch
ell said to the delegates, would pre-
pare formal statement to the public
telling fully and carefully why the
convention decided to continue the
strike, II it should so decide; and why
the strike was declared off, if that was
the outcome of their deliberations.
The question before the con-
Ventlon when it adjourned for
the day. was on the adoption of the
resolution embodied in President
MltchelIs opening speech to call off
the strike and leave all questions to
ACSlOeHl , COMMISSION.
The surprise of the convention to-
day was the decision to admit news
paper men to all the sessions, open or
executive, when even union miners,
eagerly waiting by the hundreds out
IN the streets, could not get into the
theater. Twice the newspaper men
won victory by big majorities. First,
When on a petition from them asking
10 be allowed to remain, a motion to
-in1.
later, when motion was made to re-
consider the first vote to admit
representatives of People.
The pleas which won were that the
reporters represented the people; that
public opinion had helped the strikers,
and that the best way to get an ac-
curate report of this convention of i'm
mediate and vast national import, was
70 let the press representatives stay
mere on the spot. Even the sugges-
tloh OF a press committee of delegates
70 give the news to the correspondents
was turned down by the convention.
= district President T. d. Nich0ls of
scranton called the convention into
session at 1920 twenty minutes after
me tlme set for its beginning. On ac-
Sount of the pressure of
business at strike headquarters,
resident Mitchell was unable to he
PesenC until the afternoon session.
Inc morning session was taken up
with reports on credentials and adj
Journed at 11:45 until p. M.
Inc afternoon session began at 2:10
o'clock with only the accredited dele
gates and a small army of newspaper
men present. The proceedings for a
while moved rapidly. Without any
Speechmaking Mr.. Mitchell was elected
permanent chairman and National Sec
retary and Treasurer w. B. Wilson
was selected as the permanent secre-
AIRY Just as the cheering for the
giectlon of the two officials was ended,
resident Mitchell walked on the stage.
Inc instant the delegates saw him
SIhey rose en- masse and cheered their
leader for several minutes.
lewas f1zez shrdlu cmfwy pvbgkqj vb
!, Inc first question to come UP was
mat of admitting reporters, and when
ms had been settled, the strike leader
oegan reading his carefully prepared
opening address. Mr.. Mitchell said in
part:
Arbitration the Only Way.