Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-10-23

The Delegates Meet to Consider
Abou. Ending the Strike.
Did NOT VOTE ON PROPOSED Plan.
The Engineers, Eirsmsn and Pampmss ~.
LEVIED 10 P1ssa Their Cass-A Certainty
That the STRIFE Wiii BE
Doclsred on.

lousy aWaiteu cOnVcutlOn VI u la5,-
900 striking miners met yesterday,
but did not reach q vote on the pro-
posed plan of settlement. It is ex-
pected to do so to-day. There were
662 delegates present in the Nesbitt
theater, where the convention was
held, and they were empowered by
their local unions to cast s67 votes
for or against President R~oosevelt's
proposed plan of arbitration. The
great majority Of the delegates were
un~instructed, the few who were, be-
ing engineers, tiremen and pumpmen,
who fear that the 5000 strikers Of
those classes may not get back their
old places now held by non-unfon
men. This question Of the engineers,
6remen and pumpmen proved the
only stumbling block in the way Of
almost immediate adoption tf the
presidents plan, which carries with
it declaring the strike off and a gen
eral resumption of work through the
rs mile strip Of the hard coal min
ing region.
At one time yesterday it seemed
certain that the convention was
about to adopt the recommendation
of President Mitchell to end the
strike, but the steam mems plea was
too earnest and the final vote went
over until to-day, when it is next to
|certain the vote to declare the strike
off will show q big majority for it.
The leaders Of the strikers, except
Mr.. Mitchell, were hardly heard at
all in the convention yesterday, the
anxious engineers being allowed to
give full expression to their feelings.
But to-day, it is predicted, the lead
ers will be heard, and one Of them, q
high district officer, said yesterday
that there would not be more than Is
votes recorded against the plan which
the president of the United States
has proposed to them and which all
the highest officials Of the mine work
ers in this region earnestly have
recommended.
There were two sessions, forenoon
and afternoon, yesterday, and the
net result as regards the progress OF
the convention towards its great OBJ
ject was a permanent organization,
with Mr.. Mitchell in the chair, his
speech laying the presidents plan
before the delegates, his eloquent i'm
promptu speech advocating its adop-
ton, and the appointment OF a COM
mittee on resolutions. This commit
tee, as Mr.. Mitchell said to the dele
gates, would prepare a formal state
ment to the public, telling fully and
carefully why the convention decided
to continue the strike, If it should SO
decide, and why the strike was de-
clsred of, II that was the outcome OF
their deliberations.
The question before the convention
when it adjourned for the day was
on the adoption Of the resolution
embodied in President Mitchelrs
opening speech to call off the strike
and leave all questions to the presi-
dents commission. The surprise OF
the convention yesterday was the
decision to admit newspaper men to
Oil the sessions, open or executive,
when even union miners eagerly wait
Ing by the hundred out in the street
could not get into the theater. Twice
the newspaper men won a victory by
big majorities. First, when a petit
Won from them asking to be allowed
TO remain was read and q motion to
grant the request was carried; and
later, when a motion was made to re-
consider the first vote to admit. The
pleas which won were that the re-
porters represented the people, that
public opinion had helped the strik-
ers and that the best way to get an
accurate report Of this convention,
Of immediate and vast national i'm
port, was to let the press representa-
tives stay there on the spot. Even
the suggestion Of a press committee
delegated to give the news to the cor
respondents was turned down by
the convention.