The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-20
Efforts Begun by President
Roosevelt Weeks Ago
To End the Strike of the An
thracite Miners
Likely to Culminate in a Vote to
20 to Work.
zoo DELEGATES MEET.
Convention Called to Order by
President Nichols.
All Felt That They We're Ap-
preaching Settlement.
Address of Pres. Mitchell Urg-
ing Acceptance of Arbitration.

WiIkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 2O.-About 700
delegates of the United Mine Workers
of America from the hard coal mining
district of Pennsylvania met in the
Nesbitt theater today to act upon the
proposal to settle the long strike by arbi-
tration The convention was called by
President Mitchell under the rules Of
the union, to vote on the plan which he
laid before it and later explained fully
In a lengthy address.
Previous to the assembling of the con-
Vention there were busy scenes at strike
headquarters in the Hart hotel. from
where the miners have been directed
since the strike was called. Before 8
o'clock the miner delegates the majority
of them having arrived on the early
morning trains. began to gather there
President Mitchell was the center of in
terest, and until he left for the conVen-
ton hall was always surrounded by MS
heutenants and OtSers. The final de-
tails for the meeting were arranged i'll
his office this morning.
The delegates were in the best of
humor as they loitered about the hotel
lobby. The feeling of the men was
evinced in a brief conversation over
heard when delegates from distant
points met. Said one:
We'll. what do you think of the situa-
tion nOw?"
"Oh, we are here to finish it, and I
Every delegate whose opinion was
sought felt that the convention
would do whatever their national leader
advised. There was a general cheerful
ness in the faces of the men which was
reflected in the demeanOr Of the citizens
of this prosperous city, and in which
nearly 50,00o Of the miners live, and even
the fine clear weather seemed to suggest
peace and arbitration.
Among the late arrivals at the con-
vention hall was National Secretary
Treasurer w 3. Wilson, elected to be
the secretary OF the convention, with
the secretaries of three districts and as
Slstants. He was of the opinion that
the convention would end tomorrow and
that the men will return to work on
Thursday He said the outlook for ac-
ceptance was bright but there were still
1ntimations among the assembling dele
gates that there were objections on the
part of some to calling off the strike
until positive assurance is had that all
the men will get back the positions they
occupied before the strike began.
Although the time set for the meeting
OF the convention was 10 o'clock the
doors Of the theater were not thrown
open until the clock struck that hour
1t did not take the assembled delegates
long to fill the place.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
If preCedents are followed the Drin-
cipal meetings of the convention will be
held behind closed doors. The first
prominent miners officials to enter the
hall were Secretarv-Treae eurer Wilson
and District President T. D. Nichols OF
Scranton. They We're greeted with much
applause. After a selection by the or
chestra, District President Nichols call
ed the convention to order at 1926
O'Clock and ordered that the call for the
convention be read. This was done by
A1r. Wilson
AS is customary in conventions of the
mine workers. the district secretaries
aeted as the committee on credentials
IheSe secretaries had already completed
their work and when called upon bN
Chairman Nichols after the convention
call had been read, their reports were
made. John 7. Demphsey of District
Nc. 1, read his report first
He was followed by Secretaries Tnb,
Gallagher and George Hartlein. TN
three reports showed a total of 636 dele
5a'es. y to,di VIII pToDabiy be in
creased after all the credentials are re
ceived. While these reports were bein,
prese ented report was received that Pres
ident Mtchll would not come tc the hal
from strike headquarters until after III
convention had permanently organized
1t was II % o'clock when tn rea dir,g n
the reports was concluded and as the bust
ness of the conVe ntion can not go on unit
the committee or credentials maks a fina
report, motion was adopted to adjour1
until D. n. Before the motion was pu
It was suggested that the delegates b
entertained by songs This was adODte,
and for a brief time the big convention
was turned into a social meeting
Give three cheers for Mitchell for th
strike that We have won was sung bv
Wilkesbarre delegate. and it swept tn
convention with enthusiasm.
At II ;42 the convention adjourned till
O'clock this afternoon.
President Mitchell had prepared n,
address to the convention which wa
given to the press in advance with tn
understanding that it was not to be re
leased until delivered. NOtwithstandin,
this agreement. the address was nub
nshed in an early edition of a Buffal
afternoon paper. When this fact wa
called to Mr.. Mitchelrs attention h
consented to its publication by the AS
ISOLATED Press, although he will no
speak until the afternoon session of tn
convention. The address follows:
MITCHELL'S ADDRESS.
Gentlemen: In opening this conven
tion for the transaction of business
take pleasure in extending warm greet
ing and welcome to the accredited ren
resentatives of the $50. 600 men and boy
whose heroic struggle for living wage
and American conditions of empIovneu
has won the admiration of the Who'll
civilized world Language is inadeouat
to express the sense of pride I feel i
you and those you represent.
your noble defense of the principle
Of unionism endears YOU to every ma
works for a livelihood When the his
tory of the struggle of toilers shall b
written, its RACES will record no ever
more important, TO principle more abb
defended, no battle more bravely fougf
than the contest which I earnestly ho-
is now about to be happily ended
1T Is not my purpose to review til