Waterbury Democrat., 1902-10-20

SOO OSASSalCS " ClS III ~AIlOAdCAA1$S
 All Hands Were in the Best of Humor and Speedy Settlement is Looked for-The District Secretaries Acted as a Committee on Credentials Ut Was the General Impression That Whatever President John Mitchell Said Would Go With the
 Miners President MitchelIs Address Published Prematurely by a Buffalo Paper Resulted in Releasing It to All the Associated Press Papers.
 Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct 2o.-About TOO delegates of the United Mine Workers of America from the hard coal mining districts of Pennsylvania met in the Nesbitt theater to-day to act on the proposal to settle the long strike Dy arbitration 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 lengthy address. Previous to the assembling Of the convention there were busy scenes at strike headQuarters in the Hart hotel, from where the miners battle has been directed since the strike was called 162 days ago. Before 8 o'clock the miner delegates, the majority of them having arrived on the early morning trains. began to gather there. Presi- dent Mitchell was the center of inter- est and, until he left for the conyen- ton hall was always surrounded by his 1ieutenants and others. The final details for the meeting were arranged in his office this morning.
 The delegates were ins the best of humor as they loitered about the hotel lobby. The feeling of the men was evidenced in brief conversation over heard when delegates from distant points met. Said one:
 Well, what do you think of the sit uation now? ?"
 "Oh, we are here to finish it, and I guess we wiIl.''
 Every delegate whose opinion was sought felt that the convention would do whatever their national leader ad- vised.
 There was a general cheerfulness in the faces of the men, which was re- dected in the demeanor of the citizens Of this prosperous city, in and near which 5O,OOO of the strikers live. and even the fine, clear weather seemed to suggest peace and arbitration.
 Among the late arrivals at the con- yentlOn hall was National Secretary Treasurer w. B. Wilson, selected to be the secretary of the convention. with the secretaries of the three districts as his assistants. He was of the opinion that the convention would end to-mor- row and that the men will return to work on Thursday. He said the out LOOK Tor acceptance was bright. but there were still intimations among the assembling delegates that there were oDJecuons on the part of some to call ing off the strike until positive assur. ance is had that all the men will gei pack the positions they held before the strike began.
 Although the time set for the meet Ing of the convention was 10 o'clock the doors of the theater were not thrown open until the clock struck that hour. It did not take the assem- bled delegates long to fill the place.
 Ii the precedents of other miners conventions are followed the principal business of the meeting will be con- ducted behind closed doors The first of the prominent miners officials to Ht~A NAC A4dAA WCAG 4NdLlOudl SGCIGIarV- Treasurer Wilson and District Presi- dent T. D. Nichols of Scranton. They were greeted with much applause. Al ter a selection by the orchestra, Dis trict President Nichols called the con rentiOn to order at 1O:2O o'clock and ordered that the call for the conven- tion be read. This was done by MT Wilson
 As is customary in conventions of the mine workers. the district secre- taries acted as the committee on ere dentials The secretaries had al ready completed their work and when called upon by Chairman Nichols af. ter the convention call had been read fheir reports were made. John T. Dempsey of District No read his re port first
 He was followed by Secretaries John Gallagher and George Hartlein The three reports showed a total ot e36 delegates This total will prob ably be increased after all the creden- tfals are received. While these re ports were being presented a report was received that President Mitchell would not come to the hall from strike headquarters until after the con vention had permanently organized.
 The meeting was called to order al 2:10 this afternoon. MT Mitchell an6 1fr Wilson were made permanent president and secretary respectively oi the meeting There were 662 dele gates present and they will cast S6z votes President Mitchell arrived al 2s30 and he was given one of tho rreatest ovafions ever witnessed 1T the state. He was cheered repeated l7 by the delegates
 President Mitchell had prepared al address which was 10 be delivered be fore the convention and he had fur n'Shed it to inc press in advance witl xbe understanding that 1t was not t xe published until after he made it fl xh4 convention Notwithstanding thi aExeemeaf <he address was publishe' fn an esf3r edition ol a Bnffaio after zston panez When called fo Mir Mitch @Ii+s attention he consented fo aIlowin. <t@ 4sz8elszef Press Io rse It. o1 xH8uxn Hok <@ be delivered until tn