West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-03-20
Evidently Want Coal Weighed.
Angry Over Attitude of An
thracite Operators.
MAY DECLARE STRIKE THIS WEEK
Convention Considers In Executive
Session Refusal CT the Operators to
Confer With TIL .m-outcome Prom.
IematicaI, Says Press Committee.

Shamokin. Pa, March 20.-The
miners convention yesterday began
the consideration Of the important
questions which will decide whether
the notices posted by the operators
at the various collieries, announcing
continuance Of existing conditions.
shall be accc pied or rejected.
President Nicholl, OF district M.
1, speaking on the question CT scale
committee, said:
Ready to Fight If Necessa i.
THE mea Of our district want Their
coal weighed, and they want it weigh
ed so badly that they are ready TO
fight for it L necessary" This asser-
ton elected vigorous applause.
The report Of the special commit
tee. consisting Of President Mitchell
and the district presidents, appointed
at Indianapolis to seek conference
with the operators, was taken up
President Mitchell announced that
letters had been received from the
operators and he deemed it advisable
for the convention to consider them
in executive session.
During the executive session the
convention appointed the committees
on scale apd en- IesQ luiioRs. and Aeagaal
the report of the special committee
appointed 70 seek conference with
the operatoTs. After adjournment
last evening President Mitchell.
speaking Tor the press committee
made this statement:
Mitchell Spoke For Press Committee.
The committee selected by the
Hazleton convention last August 10
go to New York and see the highes.
authorities of the coal companies AM
intercede with the companies to have
them withdraw their opposition To
the examination Of working cards
and arrange for joint conference,
reported the refusal Of E. B. Thomas.
chairman q the directors OF the Erie
railroad, 20 receive the committee
and the consequent failure OF their
efforts 10 Make the necessary ar
rangements with him The same
committee, selected by the Indianap-
oils convention to invite the opera
tors 10 confer on the question Of q
wage scale for the year beginning
April 1, 1902 reported the result "
interviews With the railroad pres!-
dents and presented letters from the
railroad COMPANIES in reply to the in
Titations- The letters, while couched
in different language, are all of the
same purp0rt-a positive refusal to
confer with the representatives OF
their empl0yes upon the wages 10 be
paid and the conditions Of employ
ment whish should obtain.
1t is needless to say that the dele
gates expressed keen disappointment.
and the opposition TO continuing work
under the low wages and unfair con-
ditions was unanimous and en-
phatic"
President Mitchell addressed the
convention and he stated that he ad-
vised caution and prudence In arriv-
ing at any decision as 70 further ar
ton He reviewed the efforts made
oy the oflcers OF the union to main
tain peace aud harmony In the coal
regions by the adoption OF humane
measures and the best methods II
adjusting wage Differences. He. spoke
also OF the failure OF the operators
70 respond to the employees over
lures.
Final Outcome PrchfemstieaE.
what the final outcome viii BE. Is.
at this time purely problematIcal
vas the coaeiuding sentence OF the
press committees statement.
The indseatsons here last night
pointed strongly to . strike decIara-
ton and II &as said - some Of tie
men that the dsciarztion may zone
rs early as tricsy - tAis week Tae
operators letters seem to have
caused much bitter feeling among tn
men-