The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-03-25
COAL STRIKE IMMINENT.
4 PROVISIONAL DECLARATION
 ADOPTED BY THE MINERS.

mittee-If There Is No Settlement by
 April l, but if, However, Negotiations
 Are sttll Pending, the Men WiiI Stay
 Out Three Days Every Week Until an
 Adjustment or Strike Is Declared.
 Shamokin, Pa, March 24.--Unless
 the efforts of the civic federation are
 effective with the coal operators it is
 more than likely that a repetition of
 anthracite region In that year 140O00
 employees of the anthracite mines were
 out on strike for six weeks. The con-
 vention to-d day of districts Nos. i, and
 g, United Mine Workers of America
 comprising the entire anthracite field,
 made provisional strike declaration
 leaving the date to be decided by the
 executive boards of the three districts.
 This was practically the last official
 acts of the delegates and the convention
 adjourned sine die at 1 o'clock this morning.
 The convention from the first session
 showed a disposition to insist upon an
 adjustment of the mine workers griev- ances but the delegates were willing to relinquish the question of recognition providing other more important conces- sions were granted This fact is evil denced in the resolution adopted to-day which states as the chief demands a shorter work day, minimum day wage scale, a uniform increase in wages and the weighing of coal where ever practicable.
 The civic federation is regarded by the delgates as the last hope of the mine workers in their demands for im- proved conditions and the gravity of the cituation is manifest in the words of President Mitchell: T am free to say that to me strike seems imnlin- ent"
 The resolution adopted to-day was the result of a difference of opinion among the delegates as to the methods to be pursued in enforcing the mine workers demands. Resolutions had been presented to the convention for all of the districts but none of them were satisfactory to the entire body of delegates. It was then decided to place the matter in the hands of President Mitchell and the district presidents and vice presidents. Before completing the drafts os the resolution President Mitchell telegraphed the presidents of the coal carrying roads making last appeal for conference,
 He received replies, one of which was from President Baer, of the Philadel- phia and Reading Coal and Iron com rany, and all of which refused to meet the representatives of the union. Others made no response.
 This resulted in the formulation of the resolution presented to-day and &C., cording to President Mitchell it was adopted without dissenting vote. The resolution provides for the appointment of committee by the three district executive boards who will carry the mine workers demands to the con- ciliation committee of the civic federa ton with an appeal to that organiza- tion for assistance. This committee, | which consists of fourteen members, was appointed tonight.
 During the day President Mitchell | was in communication by telephone with Secretary Ralph M. Easley, of the | civic federation, to whom he announc- l ed the decision of the convention. This l organization is empowered by i5s con- l stitution to use it's good offices 10 pre- 1 vent strikes when appealed to by one | Of the parties to the proposed rupture |
 In the event of their failure to secure 1 concession the committee appointed tonight will report to the iii hoarHc " Jya | by the convention to dec clare the strike.
 The purpose of the convention in sus- pending work at the mines three days l in eacl. week after April 1. # negotia- tions are then pending, is to prevent the storage oe coal by the companies by producing an amount sufficient only to supply the existing needs of the mar ket
 President Mitchell said tonight there had been misapprehension concern ] ing the sentiment of the convention All of the delegates favored conserva- tism, he said, but they were unanimous in their demands for an adjustment of their grievances.
 President Mitchell after the conven- ;ion gave out this statement
 "Our convention to-day unanimously adopted the recommendations submit ed by a special committee.
 'The resolution recites the efforts made by the representa- of the an ,hracite mine workers 10 secure a joint conference; calls attention to the re- ,eated violations of the promises con- eyed in their notices posted one year tgo as well as their failure to carry ut the verbal understanding reached with the representatives, of the coal car ying railroads last March. "The resolution also calls attention to he wage scale which was drafted and , adopted by the conven $ ion, the essential features of which ] re: A shorter work day; a minimum ! 7, ay wage scale, uniform increase in $ wages, and the weighing of coal wher- yer the physical conditions of mining ' would make it practicable. Ut is further explained that upon in estigation it is found that the average i, nnual earnings of the anthracite mine f yorker is considerably less than in any a ther important American industry, 5hile the number of fatalities and in lries in proportion to the number of a ersons employed is greater than any 2 ther industry. q I