New-York tribune., 1902-05-14

80. 3.......14.sSo 3.72o No S........ 6O2o 6.02o
No 5.......I2oSo 3o2o Totals go. 1880 $500
Everything awaits the convention tomorrow,
but the decision is not expected before Thurs
day, most of the delegates will not reach
Hszleton before noon and the afternoon will he
spent in examining credentials. Peace rumors
are plentiful. but there is as yet nothing to base
them on President Mitchell has stated that no
concessions are expected. and this is taken to
I've final Personally he favors no strike if it
ran be avoided without humiliating the union
but he fails TO the way.
The operators preparing for a strike
The collieries are being guarded now by coal and
iron policemen, and their number is being grad
ually increased They will be needed ii is be-
heved, to guard the non-uniOn men whom the
operators will have to bring to the region if
the engineers and firemen are ordered out 20
prevent the mines from being damaged. The
clerks, bosses and foremen will aid in filling
The fremens places and the operators say to-
day they prevent damage.
Coal has been stored to last the collieries for
their own use during the summer and the coal
carrying roads held up a number of shipments
en- route when the strike order was issued
Business interests have already suffered trade
is slack. and if strike is declared credit in
the retail stores where miners deal will he
stopped, while all the wholesale houses will re-
quire cash payments. The exodus Of foreigners
continues. Several left here to-day for the old
country, and hundreds will = if the strike order
comes
President Mitchell passed through here this
AFTERNOON his way to Hazleton. He had
nothing to say. At Hazeton tonight a few
delegates have gathered but all are expected to-
morrow morning.
a VACATION MIGHT BE A GOOD THING
Scranton, Penn. May 13.-President Mitchell
and District Presidents Nichols and Fahy left
here this afternoon for Hazleton TO attend to
the convention premuaries. The Iackawanna
County delegation will start tomorrow morn
ing Before leaving to-day President Mitchell
said he would advise the men as to the situa-
ton but not as to what they should do He
wants the miners themselves 10 decide whether
or not to enter on a strike.
President Nichols OF the First District who
led the pro-strike element in both the Shamokin
convention and Scranton meeting Of committee
men. significantly remarked to-day that in his
opinion. the miners could vote against strike
without endangering in the slightest the pres
tige Of the union.
There has been much speculation here to-day
regarding the meaning of the utterance of Presi-
dent Truesdale Of the Delaware I.ackawanna
and Western Railroad Company to the effect
that the operators making no attempt to
run their collieries, and that the shutdown may
be general and indefinite. An official of the
Lsckawanna, in commenting this statement
said:
Even though the strike should he called off it
may be that the companies will seize upon the
present as a good time for making general re-
pairs at their mines. The men in mood
10 work and IL will be many day before they
will be capable Of their best effort. little va
cation might be good thing all around
Three Delaware. Lackawanna and Western
snd two Delaware and Hudson washeries con-
time 10 operate without interference.
PRESIDENT MITCHELL URGES LOYALTY.
Hazleton. Penn. May 13.-The convention will
meet AT 10 a. m. tomorrow. and will conduct it's
business behind closed doors. President Mitchell
viii he elected chairman. and will make an ad-
dress in which he will tell in detail all that has
transpired between himself and the coal presi-
dents since the Shamokin convention.
Hszleton is beginning fill up. many dele
gates having arrived during the day. The great
ma jority of them however. viii not arrive until
tomorrow morning. Most Of the local unions
held meetings to-day, at which the miners talked
over the situation. The entire region was very
quiet. The only coliery that was in opera ton
to-day was the Dusky Diamond. at Beaver
Brook near here Only ten men are employed
there and they receiving the wages asked
for by the union The colllery supplies only local
trade
National President Mitchell and District
Presidents Nichols and Fahy arrived here this
evening from Scranton. President Mitchell
stopped off at Freeland. nine miles north Of
here. Practically the entire population Of the
town turned out welcome him He made a
brief speech. in which he counselled the miners
10 act wisely. He said the majority in to-mOr-
rows convention should rule and if that ma
jority for a strike every worker in the re-
gion should respond the call and stand out
firmly to the end. IT, however. the convention
should decide otherwise. then the miners must
stand by their union. for only through their or
ganization could they hope to better their con-
dtions.
Frequent conferences were held tonight by
the leaders in preparation for the convention.
II Is not unlikely that the convention will be
in session for several days.
ERIE LAYS OFF MANY WORKMEN.