The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-20
OUTLOOK FOR THE STRIKERS
CONVENTION AT WILKES
BARRE TODAY
SERIOUS HITCH OVER
QUESTION OF LOYMENT
Miners Apprehensive That They Will
Not Succeed in Getting Work, as the
Non Union Men Are to be Retained
No Doubt of RooseveIt's Plan Being
Accepted.

u
gates to the anthracite mine workers
convention, which will meet in the Mes
bitt theater, this city, tomorrow for the
purpose of accepting or rejecting the
proposition of the president of the
United States to end the strike and
submit all grievances to the arbitration
commission appointed by him, began
arriving here today and about one
quarter of the 700 OF. 500 delegates are
now in the city. Many of the dele
gates are instructed in various features
of the settlement, but majority OF
them will follow the advice and judg-
ment of President Mitchell.
There is nothing on the surface to-
night that gives the slightest indication
that the convention will not vote to
send the men to work this week with
the probabilities still in favor of Thurs
day as the day of resumption. A no
ticeable thing among the delegates was
their cheerfulness. 1t was quite evil
dent that they would be glad to get
together and decide to return to work
after the weary idleness of more than
five months.
All of the delegates who were spoken
to regarding the action of tomorrow's
convention appeared to have no fear
that hitch might occur which would
disarrange the present peaceful trend
of affairs. A good many of the dele
gates say they have instructions on
certain matters which they will place
before the delegates.
Only One Hitch.
AS already stated in these dispatches,
the principal question outside of the
great question of accepting or reject
ing President Roosevelt's proposition
will be that Of strikers getting their old
places. A large number of the men
fear that in the general rush to return
to the mines some Of them may fail to
get work. They want some assurance
from the convention that they will be
able to get the positions they occupied
before the suspension was ordered. 1t
is likely this element from the three
districts will join forces and make a
concerted fight on the floor of the con-
vention for some specific action. In
the face of the fact that the operators
are on record that they will not dis
miss one man who stood by them dur
ing the struggle, it is going to be q
serious problem to solve. The de-
bate, it is believed, will take up great
deal of the time Of the convention,
which is expected to last not more than
two days.
The meeting, in all likelihood, will
be held behind closed doors after for
NAL organization is effected. President
Mitchell will be elected chairman, and
during the first session, in an opening
speech to the delegates, he will lay the
plan of arbitration submitted by Presi-
dent Roosevelt before them for action.
He will recommend that it be accepted
and the men return to work as quickly
as the coal companies can provide
work.
President Mitchell had many visitors
today Most of the delegates who ar
rived today called and paid their re-
spects and congratulated him on the
near ending of the struggle. Among
Mr.. Mitchelrs callers was Mayor Sam
uel Jones, of Toledo, Ohio.