The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-10-22
MINERS IN CONVENTION
Serious Question Over Engi.
neers, Firemen and Pumpmen.

Mr.. Mitchell Laid Presidents Plan Be
fore the Convention and Advocates
1t In an Eloquent Speeeh-Newspa
per Men Admitted Despite Some
Opposition.
Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 21.-The anxi.
ously awaited convention of the 145..
900 striking miners met Monday but
did not reach a vote on the proposed
plan of settlement. 1t is expected tc
do so some time today
There were 662 delegates present in
the Nesbitt theater, where the con.
vention was held, and they were EN-,
powered by their local unions to cast
S67 votes for or against President
Roosevelt's proposition of arbitration.
The great majority of the delegates
were unlnstructed, the few who were
being engineers, firemen and pumpmen
who fear that the 5000 strikers of those
classes may not get back their old
places now held by non-union men.
This question of the engineers.
fremen and pumpmen proved the only
stumbling block in the way of almost
immediate adoption of the presidents
plan, which carries with it the de.
claring oil Of the strike and a general
resumption of work through the 175
mile strip of hard coal mining region.
At one time it semed certain that
the convention was about to adopt the
| recommendation of President Nit
| chell to end the strike, but the steam
mems plea was too earnest and the
final vote went over until today. 1t is
practically certain, however, that 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, the engineers being
allowed to give full expression to
their feelings. But today it is pre-
| dictei the leaders will be heard and
one Of them, high district officer,
said there would be no more than 10
votes cast against the plan which the
proposed to them and which all the
highest officials of the mine workers
| in this region earnestly have recon-
mended
Committee on Resolutions Appointed
There were two sessions yesterday
forenoon and afternoon and the net re
suit as regards the progress of the
convention towards its object was a
| permanent organization with Mr.. Nit
chell in the chair his speech laying
| the presidents plan before the dele
gates, his eloquent impromptu speech
advocating its adoption and the ap
pointment of a committee on resolu
tions.
This committee. as Mr. Mitchell said
TO the delegates, would prepare for
NAL statement to the public telling
fully and carefully why the convention
decided to continue the strike if it
should so decide and why the strike
was declared off, If that was the out
come of their deliberations.
The question before the convention
when it adjourned for the day was on
the adoption Of a resolution embodied
in President Mitchels opening speech
| to call off the strike and leave all
| questions to the presidents commits
sion.
The convention decided to admit
newspaper representatives. TO all its
sessions, open and executive, so that
the public whose opinion and symp.
athy had helped the strikers so much
in their fight might have an accurate
report Of the occurrences at the con.
vention
District President Nichols, OF Scran.
ton, called the convention to order at
1920 o'clock. On account of pres
sure of business at strike headquarters
President Mitchell was unable to be
present until the afternoon session.
The call for the convention was read
and three district secretaries. John r.
Dempsey of Scranton John p. Gallagh
er Of Hazleton and George Harteln OF
Shamokin were appointed a commit
tee on credentials.
Owing to the late arrival of some OF
the delegates, the reports were not
luite complete and it was decided to
proceed no further until the reports
were corrected and passed on finally
ty the convention.
Sweet Welsh Singers.
The routine proceedings were fol
lowed by singing, the suggestion hay
ing been made that the convention be
entertained for a while by some of the
Sweet Welsh singers" Of the organi
zation. A delegate from the Wyom
ing Valley caused a storm of enthus.
iasm by singing a song entitled Give
three cheers for Mitchell for the strike
that We have won" Song and short
speeches by other delegates followed
and the striking mine workers for the
time being seemed to have forgotten
their troubles. At 11:45 adjournment
was taken until afternoon.
The afternoon session began at p
The final reports Of the three d.s.
trict secretaries comprising the ere.
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