The evening Republican., 1902-07-18
NO GENERAL STRIKE
Miners Convention Not Like
ly to Favor One.
MITCHELL OPPOSES SUCH A STEP.
Opponents of Soft Coal Sympathetic
Action Apparently Control the
indianapolis Meeting by u
Large Majority.

Large Majority.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 1S.-If the
voice and influence of President Mitch
ell Of the United Mine Workers shall
prevail with the members of his or
ganiTation, there will be no general
strike of the organization. The chances
of such step being taken now are
very remote. In his speech in the con-
yention yesterday afternoon Mr.. Mitch
ell advised strongly against a strike
and urged that the bitumin0us miners
continue at work and that a system of
assessment upon the members of the
ORDER which be outlined, be carried
Into effect as the best means of afford
Ing aid and support to the striking an
thracite men in the east.
His recommendations if they had
been adopted by the convention would
have settled the entire question for
which the convention was called and
M immediate adjournment would have
followed. A motion to adopt the sug.
gestions of President Mitchell pro-
voked Il long debate, in which the>gen-
pral sentiment was against the order
Ing of the strike. The men from the
anthracite regions finally made q re-
quest that they be allowed to hold<a
caucus to determine upon an express
sion of opinion as to what they thought
the convention should do and asked an
adjournment of the convention for this
purpose. Their request was granted
and the adjourn, lent taken. The men
who were in favor of a strike were in
decided minority in the convention.
Three speeches were made by men,
bers of the anthracite districts asking
that the soft coal men walk out, and
twice as many were made by the an
thracite men urging the soft coal men
to continue at work.
When the convention met in the aft
crnoon, a motion was made and car
ried that the convention go at once into
executive session. John =. Reese of
Iowa moved reconsideration of the
vote by which this action was taken,
declaring that in view of the momen'
tous issues depending upon the action
of the convention secret sessions were
undesirable. "The entire United States
is watching this convention said Mr..
Reese, "and we must take no chances
of being placed before the country in Il
wrong light. If we go into executive
session, the newspapers will get it just
the same The papers always get the
g !
goes into executive session, and they
always will even if they have to buy
their news from some of the gentlemen
who are in favor of an executive ses-
sion'
The speech of Mr.. Reese carried the
day, the vote was reconsidered, and it
was decided that the meetings of the
convention would be open to the pub
lie. President Mitchell then made his
address.
The meeting Of the anthracite min
ers, held after the adjournment Of the
convention, resulted in nothing but the
conclusion that there is no way in
which a strike can be forced and that
those members of the anthracite dis
:ricts VINO are anxious for n strike w'l
be disappointed. There was long de
bate in the caucus, and finally . wore
WIS decided upon, but when it had
been partially taken it was seen that
the result would be so strong in favor
Of upholding the recommendations of
President Mitchell that the vote was
not concluded.
While there is an element among the
anthracite men that is greatly disap-
pointed, it is not likely that any fight
will be attempted upon the floor of the
convention.
President Mitchell said:
II am greatly pleased with the out
come of work done by the convention
so far, and l have no doubt that the
policy outlined in my speech today will
be carried out substantially. Some MI
nor changes may be made, but the poll
cy as whole will be followed by the
convention | am certain"