The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-05
TO DECIDE on
WEDNESDAY,
MINE WORKERS OFFICIALS TO
GATHER IN THIS CITY.

tives Of the Three Districts will
Meet Here with President Mitchell
to Say Whether or Not a Strike
Order Shall Be Issued.
District President Il. d. Nichols, of
the United Mine Workers returned
Saturday night from the New York
conferences with coal operators. Like
all others who attended the conference
he was not inclined to talk at any con-
siderable length on what was done. On
only two things he would permit HIM
self to be quoted. One was that the
heads Of the coal companies accorded
the miners representatives a full and
patient hearing and the other. that
nothing was accomplished save that
they We're told that they could come
again at any time and be heard, with
out any stipulatons being made as to
the capacity in which they might come.
AS to whether or not the miners
consider this latter as the gain of an
important point, Mr.. Nichols was
silent. 1t is likely however that 1t Is
considered important, for it is only
logical that il the president of a coal
company is willing to hear from his
employees through the officers of their
union the local superintendents can
not with becoming graces refuse to do
the same thing. 1t was stated, during
the time the conferences were on. and
since verified that one of the coal men
at the conference expressed surprise in
hearing that one Of his district SUPER
intendents had refused to grant an
audience to Mr.. Nichols, when the lat
ter approached him with veiw of
adjusting some grievance.
CANNOT EVEN GUESS.
1t would seem from the best in.
formation obtainable that no one can
give even a guess as to what will be the
result of the convention of district Of
ficers called by President Mitchell for
this city, Wednesday next. There are
eleven district officers in the First dis
trict and as many more In each of the
other two districts. Only 25 Of these
We're in New York. The sentiment of
these twenty-five was not formally
canvassed, and there is no one with
any definite idea Of how the eight alb
sentees stand. When all come together,
President Mitchell will report the re-
suits, or rather lack of results, of the
conferences and submit to them the
question of what they propose to do
about it. Under the action Of the
Shamokin convention the district Of
ficers have full power to declare
strike or adopt whatever measures
seem to them best suited to meet the
emergency.
Leaving aside the privilege perman-
emily accorded them of having hear
ing before the heads Of the coal COM
panies, the mine workers representa-
tives never at any time during the con-
ference were given any encouragement
that the operators would grant a single
one of the concessions except that of
weighing coal.
They were told that the eight-hour
day was an impossibility, because 1t
meant twenty three per cent. increase
in wages, with an equal per cent. de-
crease in the earning capacity OF the
collieries, and this contention was per-
sisted in despite statistics produced by
the miners showing that last year the
mines of the whole region averaged
only 1941a days of work, and that re-.
Gently the average for a year was six
hours day.
WEIGHING COAL.
The question of weighing coal where
1t was practicable was not definitely de-
cided by the operators until Saturday;
that is, there was a possibility when
the conference ended Friday that the
operators might grant this concession.
They said when it was brought up they
were not acquainted enough with 1t to
say they would not have their admin
istrative officers adopt 1t in place of the
present method. That, however, was all
that was heard of it.
The matter of u minimum scale Of day
wages and minimum price per ton for
miners was not very deeply delved
into The declaration of the operators
at the outset that they We're not pre-
pared to enter into any agreement with
the union blocked consideration Of these
details. Matters like these, it is quite
could have been compromised,
but there was no occasion for attempt
ing to compromise them. as they would |
be tantamount to an agreement and the
operators We're steadfast in their dec
laration that they We're not prepared to |
make an agreement.
When the conferences adjourned 1t |
was as good as certain in the minds Of
the miners representatives. that they
had accomplished nothing in the way of
securing any of the concessions de-
by the Shamokin convention.
President Mitchell received
from the operators a simple message
to the effect that I'VE cannot do any
thing"
STATEMENT GIVEN OUT.
1t was then decided to give out the |
statement made public by President
Saturday night, declaring that
the conferences We're devoid of results
and that the question of declaring a
strike would be passed upon by con-
vention of district officers In Scranton
Wednesday.
President Nichols and most of the
other district officers returned home |
Saturday. President Mitchell remained
In New York and will not come to
Scranton, 1t is believed until tomorrow. |
RANK E0R cnIlTH ClnP