New-York tribune., 1902-05-16
DELEGATES VOTE FOR STRIKE.
MAY CALL OUT ENGINEERS, FIRENEN AND PLLPlEN
AND ATTEMPT TO FLOOD THE MNES
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BUNEl

IRY TELEGRAPH
Hszleton. Penn, May 15-The United Mine
Workers declared tonight for a strike which
IS TO be arranged to details tomorrow.
After spending all the afternoon in convention,
the delegates left the Opera House shortly be-
fore o'clock. and President Mitchell made this
brief statement:
The convention OF delegates to the United
Mine Workers convention has unanimously de-
clared for a continuance Of the suspension Of
work. 1 may have something to say tomorrow
We VIII meet in the morning TO decide whether
the engineers. hremeu and pumpmen shall be
called out The convention may adjourn finally
before noon.
Mr.. Mitchell refused TO say anything about the
tenor OF his speech before the convention or to
give the figures Of the vote.
The delegates spent the first part Of the after
noon in making addresses and giving their
views Of the situation. Then followed the Off
GERS. Secretary Hartley, Of District No o spoke
against a strike, because the time is not op-
perfume. His advice was that the miners should
wait. President Fahey of the same district
was also against strike. This is the lower
end of the coal field, where there has always
been decided strike opposition. President Duffy
If District No. Z. where the strike fever was
apparent. but not very strong, did not commit
himself for strike but President Nichols of
lowing these came the speech of President
Mitchell, conservative. clear and cool in which
he merely reviewed the situation and left it to
the will OF the delegates to vote for or against
a strike. The vote Of 461 for and $40 against
resulted.
MitchelPs brief statement that the vote was
for continuance of the suspension Of work
gave to many the impression that it was not a
clean cut declaration Of strike but officers of the
that the strike now on cannot be called off until
another meeting Of delegates decides to do so
WILL ARRANGE DETAILS TO-DAY.
The details to be arranged are the establish
ment Of headquarters during the strike and the
important decision whether or not to call out
engineers, fremen and pumpmen. Hazleton as
the centre of the region, wants the strike head
quarters and despite the poor accommodations
there President Mitchell may decide to estab-
lish them in this town. Personally he favors
Wnkesbarre but as the delegates have the vote
on the question, he cannot say which IT viii be
A fight is expected over the fremen question
Many Of the men do not want to call them out
but others are for ending the strike as quickly
as possible with victory by forcing the com
panies to show their strength of resistance. or
Tor determining that the strike must be long
II the operators succeed in keeping up steam
~ 444fll4lAaIIliilB bItiI mines CltdT Oh water,
VIII be evident then that the strike will drag
along. II they do not, the miners say, the end
VIII come soon and in their favor
DRAWN ABOUT TOWN IN A CARRIAGE.
The outlook tonight is that resolution call
ing these men out viii be carried. although
Mitchell is known TO oppose such move. To-
night the strike enthusiasm caught the delegates
and the mine workers of Hazleton and vicinity
IN a wave, and swept them five or six thou
sand strong. to the door of MitchelPs hotel
Then, amid the cheering a band appeared. and
carriage was dragged from somewhere and
the labor leader. hat off, his black hair pushed
back from his pale face and his eyes shining
with excitement. was escorted about town for
several blocks, his carriage being followed in a
Struggling line by the eager cheering men. He
returned early in order to get a rest with the
relief from the suspense Of the last several days
which has left its trace upon his face and in his
manner
Among those who saw Mr.. Mitchell to-day
was John c. Haddock. who owns the Haddock
coiDery. across the river from Wilkesbarre. He
sara that his mine fire. and asked the
unions permission 10 keep the nre fighters at
work in the event Of the engineers and pump
men being called out President Mitchell could
make no promise. but said that he would refer
'i.e matter 10 the convention.
we're Two delegates present from iber-
nj VINO appealed to the convention tor aid
Inc men said they have been on strike fourteen
ana are stn holding out, although their
IeS are being gradually filled with non-union
several months ago the coal company
'i'sie secured an Injunction against the union
".u II 'he lawsuit that followed the costs were
p''T0 on the strikers. Four or five of the men
"Ho owned htte homes had their property at
iOI 'he costs. and are now about TO be
~ the Sheriff. They appeal TO the
union TO pay the costs. over Sfoo and save the
homes Of these people No ac,ioo u,o. taken
Today on the matter
PIcKPOCKET REAPED uApvEcT-
HS"t'oh OF the session was the presence
delegates Of their poekethoo,,a -. ou,a,,