The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-19
MINERS WILL DECIDE
MITCHELL ISSUES CALL FOR Ma
TIONAL CONVENTION.
WILL MEET AT INDIANAPOLIS.
QUESTION OF GENERAL STRIKE TO
BE PASSED UPON.

President Mitchell Has Had the Re-
in Hand for Four Weeks, but Hns
Delayed ActiOn-Hc Now Declines
TO Discuss the Probable Result or
TO Make Any Forecast Whatever.
About $4,000 Miners VIII Be Rep
resented, of Whom About Half Are
Now on Strike or Dissatisfied.
Indianapolis, June 1S.-An official
call for national convention of the
United Mine Workers of America was
issued this afternoon from the national
headquarters in this city by Secretary
and Treasurer Wilson. The convention
will meet here July II to determine
whether the soft coal miners of the
country shall go out on a strike to as
sist the striking anthracite miners of
Pennsylvania.
The basis of the apportionment of
delegates to the convention is one for
every 100 members of any local union
or fraction over so. This will make a
convention of 1000 delegates. The vot-
500 and 2,400. OF this number the
convention will have a voting strength
of from 100 to $500. A bare major
ity can order a strike. A few more
than 900 can declare a strike. The
anthracite regions cast TAI votes, Vir-
ginia and Michigan, which Joined in
the call for the convention, have 50,
making. 1893 from these FIVE districts,
which united to call the convention. AS
stated at headquarters condi-
lions are not satisfactory to
miners in Missouri. Kansas.
Arkansas and Indian Territory and 1t
is believed the delegates from these
sections will vote for a strike. The call
for the convention says that its pur
pose is to consider a proposition for a
general suspension of work by the coal
miners of the United States in support
of the anthracite mine workers, who
are now on strike"
The call quotes at length certain
provisions of the constitution for the
guidance of local unions in selecting
delegates, and says an effort will be
made to get special rates for uanspor-
tation and at hotels.
Mitchell Issues the Call.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 1S.-The long
expected call for a special national
convention of United Mine Workers of
| America was issued to-day by National
President Mitchell. The convention Will
be held at Indianapolis on July II. The
call was issued simultaneously from
headquarters here and at indianapolis.
The convention will be held for the
purpose of discussing the advisability
of involving all the soft coal miners in
in ctr
going on in the anthracite coal fields.
Under the constitution of the union
five districts must request action be-
fore the national president can issue a
call for a national convention. The
five districts that applied for this con-
Vention were the three anthracite dis
tricts, the Michigan district and the
West Virginia district, where a strike
is now going on. President Mitchell
has had the consent of the five dis
tricts for some time, but for some
reasons did not see fit to issue the call
until to-day. The request for the con-
Vention was made at Hazleton four
weeks ago last Friday.
President Mitchell was extremely
communicative as to what the prob
able action of the convention might
be. If the delegates should decide to
inaugurate a national suspension of
coal MINING every DOuy DIT SlIlke HGdu-
quarters believes it would have a dis
astrous effect on the industries of the
country. The supply of coal would be-
come so short that large and small in
dustrial establishments would be com
PEELED to suspend operations and many
railroads would also seriously suffer.
There are approximately about $780,
900 coal miners in the United States.
OF these about 100000, Mr.. Mitchell
Il \
an additional $4,000 comply with the
legislation of the miners organization.
How the Forces VIII stand.
1t is utterly impossible at this dis
lance to forecast what the national
gathering will do, because not one DEL
egate has vet been elected. The an
thracite delegates will go into the con-
vention with 900 striking hard coal
miners at their back for a general
strike The West Virginia delegates
will have approximately $4,000 behind
them for a strike, and in Michigan,
where the union has been having trou-
BILE, the delegates will also be instruct
ed for a national suspension. Central
Pennsylvania will contribute a certain
number of delegates who will want a
general strike, as will also Kentucky.
1t remains for Western Pennsylvania,
Ohio, ILLINOIS ana lndlana 10 onset LnlS,
as ii is unofficially understood that the
miners in those sections are not very
enthusiastic for a general stoppage Of
coal production.
May Be "A Compromise.
It is not improbable that the con-
servative men in the convention will
be able to prevent general suspen-
sion and carry through the convention
some sort of a compromise.
One plan that is talked of is to have
only the Central Pennsylvania and
West Virginia men help the anthracite
workers. and another plan is to have
all the soft coal miners work only a
certain number of days each week.
Failing to gain anything by either Of
! these two moves. then as final card.
stop the production altogether. All the
coal that is now coming East is from