Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-21

that President Roosevelt had Informed hfm
that he would call meeting of the arbitra-
tion commission Immediately after the cen
vention's acceptance of his proposal ana
Mr.. Mitchell gave 1t as his opinion to the
delegates that the findings of the arbi,ra-
tors would be announced within a month:
The end of the convention and OF the
great strike which has lasted five months,
suddenly appeared close at hand. Presl-
dent Mitchell, after the convention mad
given itself over to heated debate 1or an
hour and a half arose and calmly told the
delegates that 1t must be apparent to all
of them that there was no doubt whatever
that the Presidents proposal would be
adopted There had been a renewal Of the
serious opposition Of the steam men, and
heated words had been passed between del
egates.
Explanation to Foreigners.
Explanations of the Presidents proposal
had been made in four foreign languages.
There seemed to be more opposition than
ever to a settlement, when suddenly there
was a break in the clouds when motion
was put by delegate down in front. near
the presiding officer. In a clear voice the
strike leader called for vote on the all
important question, and instantly there was
a of ayes.
The next instant messengers were flying
in all directions from the convention hall
to give the news to the world through the
newspapers.
Hundreds of miners who were not dele
gates filled the sidewalks and streets near
the entrance to the Nesbitt Theater where
the convention has met and the news
quickly spread among the men, and the
faces of men who had suffered hardshipS
since last May at once became brighter. -.
After the strike had been declared or
there was some routine business, including
the usual votes of thanks. and then shortly
before 1 o'clock the convention ADJOURNED
sine die.
The resolution to resume at once means
tl~ot yI,4 yyil1 90 n
row, and that the mining of coal will be
started at 7 am. Thursday.
Details of the Convention.
With the prospect that President Roose-
velts proposal to arbitrate would be ac-
cepted by a good majority, the convention
of United Mine Workers resumed its work
today in the Nesbitt Theater While a final
vote of the delegates on the motion before
them at adjournment yesterday-the ac-
ceptance of the settlement proposal embod-
led in President MitchelHs speech-may pos
sibly be reached early in the afternoon, it
Is believed that the delegates of the steam
men, who are opposing 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
the latter part of the afternoon.
1t was evident when the delegates as
sembled today that they were in most
hopeful mood. Some said that the arbi-
tration commission would be even of more
benefit to future generations in the coal
fields than the present: and, anyhow, 1t
would put before the public the whole sit
uaton in detail between the miners and
operators in a fair and thorough way.
In reading the local morning papers the
miners were confronted with the advertise
ments of merchants announcing that the
strike was settled
Committee on Resolutions.
The committee on resolutions held final
meeting before the convention assembled, at
which the resolutions to be presented at
the convention were revised and finally
passed upon. They will not be given out
until formally presented to the delegates.
There was a good deal said among the
assembling delegates about the date for re-
turning to work. Thursday seemed to be
the day most talked of for resumption,
though there are delegates who wanted to
start in tomorrow morning.
The delegates were prompt in getting
down to work. AS soon as President
Mitchell arrived in the hall at 1905 am.
he called the delegates to order. The COM
mittee on resolutions was called on for
Its report but it was not ready to respond.
The debate on reinstatement of all men in
their former positions was Immediately re-
sumed. The question before the conven-
ton was a motion to accept the recon-
mendationS of the officers to call off the
strike and submit all questions at issue to
the arbitration commission. A delegate
from the HazletOn region asked how the
individual operators stood on the arbitra-
tion plan. He called attention to the fact
that the arbitration offer made by the
railroad operators id not contain the
name of John Markle, or the name of any
other individual concern. In reply, Mr..
Mitchell said that while no individual op-
orators had signed the plan, he did not un-
derstand that they We're against it.
A delegate from Wilkesbarre said the
superintendent of the Kingston Coal Com
pany had promised to give work to all men
who applied. This brought out considerable
applause.
Delegates Anxious to Vote.
An impassioned speech by another dele
gate from the Wyoming valley followed.
He asked the men to stop talking about all
getting back to work. He hoped the con-
vention would take a vote by noon and end
the strike. In all victorious wars men have
fallen and there would be some to fall in
this one. The debate was continued for ff-
teen minutes more and the committee on
resolutions was again called upon, but it
was not ready.
At this juncture 1t seemed to be the de-
sire of the delegates to end the debate. No
one caring to speak, a delegate arose and
took exception to an article in one of the
local newspapers but the objector was paci-
fed by an explanation from Mr.. Mitchell
There being nothing further to do but wait
on the report of the committee on resolu-
tions delegate suggested a song. The
only colored delegate in the convention was
called upon and responded.
A sweet tenor followed the heavy bass of
the colored man, and while the former was
concluding his song the committee on reso-
lutions arrived.
The committee made it's report immedi-
ately. 1t as follows:
Report Of Committee on Resolutions
I'VE. the committee on resolutions, beg
| leave to recommend that the following COM
munication be adopted and forwarded to
| Theodore Roosevelt, President of the
| United States of America:
| 'WILKESBARRE. Pa, October p.
"' Hon. Theodore Roosevelt,
| Washington, D. c.
Dear Sir: We, the representatives of
| the employees of the various coal companies
| engaged in operating mines in the anthra-
| cite coal fields of Pennsylvania, in con-
| vention assembled, having under consid-
| Grafton your telegram of October 10, 1902,
addressed to John Mitchell, president of the
-pit oS -