Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-10-20
Majority of Delegates Will
Follow Advice of .Presi-
dent Mitchell.
CHEERFULNESS AMONG THEM.
Evidently Glad to Get Together to
Decide to Get to Work-Those Who
Fear Idleness Likely Will Fight
For Aid, if Needed.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 20.-Dele-
gates to the anthracite mine workers
convention. which met in the Mes
bitt theater, this city, at 10 O'Clock
this forenoon for the purpose OF ac-
cepting or rejecting the proposition
Of the president Of the United States
to end the strike and submit all
grievances to the arbitration COM
mission appointed by him, began ar
irving here yesterday, and about one
quarter Of the 700 or 500 delegates
to the convention are now in the city.
Strike headquarters, which had been
extremely quiet since the excitement
of last week, began to be lively be-
fore noon yesterday. Many Of the
delegates are instructed on various
features CT the settlement, but a ma
jority of hem will follow the advice
and Judgment of President Mitchell.
Likely to Resume Thursday.
There was nothing on the surface
last night that gives the slightest in
dication that the convention will not
vote to send the Een to work this
week, with the probabilities still in
favor CT Thursday as the day Of re-
sumption. A noticeable thing among
the delegates was. their cheerfulnesS.
1t was quite evident to observers that
they were glau to get together and
decide to return to work after the
weary idleness Cf more than five
months. All the delegates who were
spoken to regarding the action Of to-
days convention appeared to have no
fear that 4 hitch might occur which
would disarrange the present peace
full trend CT affairs. A good many
of the delegates say they have III
structions ca certain matters, which
they will place before the delegates.
AS already stated in these dispatches,
the principal question outside the
great question Of accepting or reject
ing President Rooseyelt's proposition
will be that Of strikers getting their
old places back. A large number OF
the men fear that in the general rush
to return to the mines some Of them
may fail to get work. They want
some assurance from the convention
that they VIII De able to get the po-
sitions they occupied before the suS-
pension was ordered. 1t is likely
this element from three districts will
jCin forces and make a concerted
fight on the floor Of the convention
for more specific action. In the face
of the fact that the operators are on
record that they will not dismiss one
man who stood by them during the
struggle. it IS gCiIg to be a serious
problem to solve The debate, it is
believed. Will lake up a great deal
Of the time Ct the convention, which
is expected to last not more than
two days.
Meeting Likely to BE Secret.
The meeting, IN all likelihood, will
be held behind closed doors after for
nal organization is effected. Presi-i
dent Mitchell will be elected chair!
man. and during the first session, N!
he will lay the plan CT action submit
ted by the president Of the United
States before them for action. He
will recommend that it be accepted
ard the meu return to work as quickly
as the coal companies can provide!
work. National Secretary W. B. Will
son will be selected as secretary, and
he will have as assistants the dis
trict secretaries. These secretaries,
JoLl Dempsey. CT Scranton; John
Gallagher, CT P2zleton, and George
Ha-t!e;H, Of SEanokin, will probably
Le appointed the committee on Gre
dcntials. They were busy at strike
headquarters yesterday gcing over
the papers. Il is hoped by them to-
be able to make a report By neon
today. So far as they know there
will be 10 ccRtgst On the matter Of
seating delegates.