Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-10-20
TELEGRAPHEC NEWS.
The Miners, Convention.

all the local orders of the United Mine
Workers in the three anthracite districts,
met in convention at 10 o'clock this
morning, at the Nesbitt Theatre to declare
off the coal strike. Some opposition, liz
expected when President Mitchell offers
the proposition submitted by the coal
operators to effect settlement, for
adoption by the convention, but this VIII
melt away under the influence OF the
leaders who have without exception
favored it. The convection will spend
most of its time today in organlz-
ing and it may be tomorrow be-
fore the main question is taken up.
President Mitchell will address the con-
vention today and as the majority OF
the delegates have been instructed to
follow his suggestions, his speech Will
foreshadow the action to be taken.
| Mitchell is in favor of resumption OF
work. Here and there objection Is
heard to certain features of the operators
proposition but there is no bitterness.
| That Mitchells counsel will prevail
is the general opinion even by the
djscontents.
A national board member of the
United Mine Workers said this morn
ing: ~ have seen most of the dele
gates and they are with Mitchell. ="
When the whistles blow next Thursday
morning in the region, 147, 900 men will
go to work again after strike lasting
since last May. Work is now in pro-
gress at the mines and collieries are pre-
pairing for resumption"
The convention was called to order at
1922 a. m. by T. ID. Nichols, President
of the District No. ], President Mitchell
having decided to wait until the perma-
nent organization has been completed.
The report of the committee on creden-
tials having been read and the COM
mittee having stated that the report
was not thoroughly complete, the
committee adjourned to perfect an
organization so that active work could
be commenced this afternoon. The
convention then enjoyed itself listening
to songs. A delegate set the convention
in an uproar with an original song en-
titled ''The Strike that we have Won"
The convention adjourned until CLOCK.
President Mitchell in his speech after
the Resembling of the convention
gave a resume Of the strike issue, the
relations of capital and labor and the
right of the latter to organize, adm spoke
of the sympathy which had been extended
the miners in the recent struggle. lie
alleged that the miners entertained no
malice toward their foes, and that the
former were ready to hold out to them
the hand of friendship and ask them to
join the miners in providing such rela-
tons as shall for all time establish peace
and tranquility in the coal fields. In
the closing of his speech Mr.. Mitchell
said: ''The grave question which you
have been called upon to consider today
demands and must receive your most
careful thought. Personally, should
have preferred an adjustment of the diff
fculty existing in the anthracite field by
conference with the anthracite mine
owners and without the intervention of
agencies not directly involved, but !
recognize the fact that the relations be-
tween ourselves and the mine operators
have become so strained as to render
direct negotiation at this time impossible.
| If the consequences of this strike affected
only the interests of the operators and
/ Al. ha
reason for the Intervention of the third
party, but the fact that coal famine
was upon the people of the eastern sea-
board States and threatened to become
a national calamity, justifies the action
of the Chief Executive of our nation in
his earnest effort to bring about an early
resumption of mining. The proposition
submitted for your consideration may
not meet with the unanimous approval
of our people, but it is immeasurably
better as now presented than when
originally offered by the representatives
of coal corporations. | am firm in my
conviction that the prompt acceptance
of this proposal will secure to the an
thracite mine workers and those DEEPEN
dent upon them a greater measure Of
justice than they could attain by con-
tinuing the conflict; l believe that the
prompt acceptance of this proposition
will secure to the mine workers great
err degree of justice than they have en-
joyed in the past. The people await
with anxious expectancy the results of
your action today, the eyes of the nation
are centered upon you, and friends and
foes alike demand the submission of the
issues involved in this strike to the tri-
bunal named by the President of the
United States. That there are discor-
dant elements in this convention; that
there are dissatisfied ones at home, |
am fully aware, hut, gentlemen with all
the earnesiness of which am possessed,
urge that you give approval to the
action Of your executive officers who
have recommended acceptance of the
proposition that the strike be declared
off, and all men return to work in the
positions and working places occupied
by them prior to the Inauguration of the
strike, and that all questions at issue be
submitted for adjustment to the tribunal
selected by the President of the United
States"
Disorderly Strikers Arrested.
HazeIton, Pa, Oct. 20.-Ludwig
Meyer, non-unionist, and Arthur Don
ahoe, mine foreman, were brutally
beaten by a mob of strikers last night,
while on their way to Sheppton. The