The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-24

not reach 4 vote on the proposed plan
of settlement. Il s expected to do ST
tomorrow.
There were 662 delegates present in
the Nesbit Theatre where the conven.
ton was held and they were enlpow-
cred by their local unions to cast Soi
votes for or against President Roose-
velt's proposed plan of arbitration. The
great majority of the delegates were
u~ninstructed, the few who were. being
engineers, firemen and pumpmen who
fear that the 5000 strikers of those
classes may not get back to their old
places now held by non-union men
This question of the engineers, fire.
men n pumpmen proved the only
stumbling block in the way of almost
immediate adoption of the presidents
plan, which carries with it declaring
the strike off and a general resumption
of work through the 175 mile strip of
the hard coal mining region.
At one time today it seemed certaiL
that the convention was about to adopt
the recommendation of President
Mitchell to end the strike, but the steam
.AAC1A ~ p1Cc &c IN SNE IlOtN. NIAS tI3tSL
vote went over till tomorrow. when it is
next to certain the vote to declare the
strike off will show a big majority for
it. The leaders of the strike except Mr..
Mitchell, were hardly heard at all in
the convention today, the anxious en-
gineers being allowed to give full eX-
preston to their feelings. But tomor-
row, it is predicted, the leaders will he
heard, and one of them, a half district
officer. said today there would not be
more than fifteen votes recorded
against the plan which the president
of the United safes has proposed ID
them and which IL the highest officials
of the mine wor: rs in this region ear
nestly have rec ,mended.
There were , sessions, forenoon
and afternoon, tC ,ly and the net result
as regards the 7 Jgress of the conven.
ton towards its great object, was D.
permanent org. nization with Mr..
Mitchell in the clair, his speech laying
the presidents plan before the dele
gates, the eloquent impromptu speech
advocating its adoption, and the APP
pointment Of a committee of reSolu-
tons. This committee. as Mr.. Mitchell
said to the delegates, would prepare
a formal statement to the public, tell
ing fully and carefully why the con-
vention decided to continue the strike,
if it should so decide, and why the
strike was declared off, if that was the
outcome of their deliberations.
The question before the convention,
when it adjourned for the day was the
adoption of the resolution embodied III
President Mitchell's opening speech, to
cal off the strike and leave all ques-
tons to the presidents commission.
The surprise of the convention today
was the decision to admit newspaper
men to all the sessions, open or eXecu-
tive, when even union miners. eagerly
waiting by the hundreds out in the
streets, could not get into the theatre.
Twice he newspaper men won a vic
tory by big majOrities. First, when, Oh
a petition from them asking to be al
lowed to remain, a motion to grant the
request was carried; and later when a
motion was made to reconsider the first
vote to admit. The pleas which won
were that the reporters represented the
people, that public opinion had helped
the strikers and that the best way t.
get an accurate report of this cOnventiO
of immediate and vast national import,
was to let the press representatives
stay there on the spot. Even the sug-
gestion of a press committee of dele
gates to give the news to the CORE
spondents was turned down by h con-
Vention.
District President T. D. Nichols, of
Scranton. called the convention into
session q 1920, twenty minutes after
the time set for its beginning. On ac-
count of pressure of business at strike
headquarters, President Mitchell was
unable to be present until the after
noon session.
The morning session was taken VI
with reports on credentials and adj
journed at Has until 2 D. m.
The afternoon session began at 2:10
| o'clock with only the accredited dele
! gates and a small army of newspaper
men present. The proceedings for
! awhile moved rapidly. Without any
| speech-making. Mr.. Mitchell was elect
\ ed permanent chairman and national
| secretary. Just as the cheering for the
| election of the two officials was ended,
| President Mitchell walked on the stage.
| The instant the delegates saw him they
| rose en- masse and cheered their leader
/ for several minutes.
The first question TO come up wa:
that of admitting reporters, and wheI
this had been settled. the strike leade
began reading his carefully prepared
opening address. Mr.. Mitchell said il
part:
With all the earnestness q which
am possessed, 1 urge that you give you
approval to the action of your execu
officers, who lave recommended ac
ceptance of the proposition that tn
strike be declared off and all men ar
then to return to work in the position
and working places occupied by Their
prior to the inauguration Of the strik
and that all questions at issue be sub
mitted for adjustment oy the tribuna
selected by h president Of the Unite
States.
The address was followed with tn
closest attention by the delegates. A
various stages of the reading, Mi
Mitchell was applauded. but when h
urged the delegates to adopt the recon
mendationS of the executive boar
to call off the strike and 'all men ar
then to work in the positions they oc
cupied before the strike was inaugu
rated" tremendous applause greete
the remarks. The moment he finishe
a Wilkesbarre delegate was on his fee
and moved that h recommendation
contained in President MitoheI's ad
dress be adopted. II this had been act
ed upon at once the strike would hay
been off and the conventions work don,
but those in opposition would not hay
it that way. They wanted to and di
debate the matter until the adjourn
ment after 5 o'clock. A Panther Cree