The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-21

Wilkesbarre Pa, Oct. ci-With the
prospect that President Roosevelt's pro-
posal to arbitrate would be accepted by
a good majority, the convention OF
United Miner Workers resumed its work
today in the Nesbitt theater. While
final vote of the delegates on the motion
before them a adjournment yesterday
the acceptance of the settlement pro-
posal embodied in President Mitchell's
speech-may possibly be reached early in
the afternoon it is believed that the
steam delegates of the convention who
are opposed to any resumption of work
unless they get their places back at once
with the rest of the strikers, have not
had their full say and may delay the
final vote. Nor have the leaders. except
Mr.. Mitchell, spoken to any extent. For
this reason the entire first session today
may be devoted to speeches, in which
case the final polling of the delegates
will proceed during the latter part OF
the afternoon.
A formal announcement to the pub
lie, prepared last night by the reSOlu-
tions committee, which included Mr.
Mitchell and other high officers of the
mine workers, awaits the result of the
voting on President Roosevelt's pro-
pOsal. There is almost no doubt that
/ this announcement anticipates a settle
ment Of the strike and among other
things it will thank the public for its
aid in the struggle. 1t was evident when
the delegates assembled today that they
were in most hopeful mood.
Some said that the arbitration commit
tees would be of even more benefit to fu-
ture generations in the fields than the
present and anyhow it would put before
the, public the whole situation in detail
as between the miners and operators in a
fair and thorough way.
In reading the local morning papers the
miners were confronted with the adver-
tSements of merchants announcing that
| the strike was settled.
The opposition of the steam men is
neither belittled nor exaggerated by Mr..
Mitchell. He simply maintains that this
element of diSSa tiSfa ctiOn will be settled
satisfactorily. A delegate said today that
when it comes to voting against the earn
est recommendation of the leader, few, il
any, engineers viii vote against the arbi-
tratton proposition, though they may not
vote at all. An official of the mine work
ers supplemented this statement by say
Yes. and after the big majority fol
ending the strike has been recorded. the
vote Will be made unanimous. though only
a majority vote is needed"
The committee on resolutions held {
final meeting before the convention as
sembled at which resolutions to be pre-
sented were revised and finally passed
upon. They will not be given out unit
formally presented to the delegates.
The delegates were prompt in getting
down to work AS soon as President
Mitchell arrived in the hall. at 1905 a
m, he called the delegates to order. The
committee on resolutions was called on
but 1t was not ready to report
The debate on reinstatement of al
men IN their former positions was Inn
medlately resumed. The question be
lore the house was a motion to acceo
? the recommendations of the officers Il
call off the strike and submit all ques
tons at isue to the arbitration commit
tee. A delegate from the HazletOn re
j, gion asked how the individual OPERATOR
stood on the arbitration plan. He called
attention to the fact that the arbitration
= py the railroad operators did not con
1 tam the name of John Markle or tn
2 name of any other individual concern.
n In reply Mr.. Mitchell said that whil
II no individual operators had signed tn
:, plan he did not understand that the,
2 We're against it.
Z A delegate from WiIkesbarre said tn
superintendent of the Kingston Goa
: company had promised to give work t