The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-05-20
elTUMlNous MINERS MAY ALSO
BE INVOLVED.
FOR LONG SIEGE
Anthracite Workers Have Petitioned
For a General Convention Of
Coal Miners Of Country.

LN ra- #mI-#-. Me- aEN-
Hazelton, Pa, May 16.-The miners
convention adjourned sine die at 11:45
a. m. The delegates voted to leave
the question of calling out the engi-
neers, fremen and pump to
the district officers.
Steps were taken by the convention
to involve in the strike all the btu
minous and anthracite coal miners in
the United States. According to the
rules of the union it requires five
districts to call a national conven-
ton. The three anthracite districts
will Immediately get into correspond
ence with the bituminous districts
with the hope of gaining the consent
of two Of them for a call for a nation
al convention at which the question
of involving all the bituminous miners
in the United States in the present
struggle will be discussed.
The officials hope, if this conven-
ton is called, which is not unlikely,
they will be able to bring out the
nonunion bituminous miners in Vir.
ginia, West Virginia and central Penn
%sylvania. Other plans of campaign
were discussed by the delegates, but
o these the members of the conven-
ton would not talk.
After the adjournment President
Mitchell issued the following state
ment: >
"At this mornings session of the
convention the convention petitioned
the national committee to issue a call
for a national convention of all coal
miners employed in the United States
for the purpose of considering the sit
uatien in the anthracite field. If the
desire of the anthracite miners is car
ried into effect a national suspension
of coal miners will be effected. All
details Of the direction of the strike
in the anthracite field were referred
to the district and national officers.
Definite plans will be outlined within
the next few days. For the present
the engineers, firemen and pump run
ners will continue at work. All mine
workers were advised to remain at
their homes, abstain from frequenting
saloons and under all circumstances
observe the law"
At the present time the United
Mineworkers' union is at variance
with the bituminous mine operators
in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky
and Michigan and if the national con-
vention meets and decides to assist
the anthracite miners the men in
these four states would probably be
the first to be affected.
Mr. Mitchell said if a general strike
lid take place, it would involve alto
gether $4,000 men who are employed
in and about the coal mines of the
United Statess.
President Mitchell stated most en-
phatically today that the report that
a telegram from Senator Hanna was
read in the convention before a vote
was taken o. the strike declaration is
absolutely untrue.
President Mitchell also brands as
false the statement that he had been
visited by a representative of Senator
Hanna, with a proposition that the
miners accept five per cent increase
in wages. The great strike is in full
swing.
Reports from all parts of the an
thracite region show that the men are
determined to stand by the strike or
der. Local unions throughout the reg
ion are in session preparing for a
long strike. The coal and iron police,
who are sworn in by the state of Penn
slyvania but who are paid by the COM
panies, are now more active and alert,
but their services are hardly needed
at this time, because of the fact that
the strikers are keeping away from
the colleries.
The Associated Press has it from
the highest authority that Michigan
district and the West Virginia dis.
trict will probably make up the five
districts needed to call the special
national convention and the special
convention will be held as soon as
the machinery can be set in motion.
In each there r about 5000 men
now on strike.
The same high authority says the
$4,000 men in West Virginia and Vir-
ginia and from $4,000 to 10000 men
in central Pennsylvania will, without
doubt, be on strike within a few days.
unless demands that have been laid
before the bituinous operators are
granted.
These men can strike without the
sanction Of the special convention.