New-York tribune., 1902-03-25
COAL STRIKE IMMINENT.
rpOUBLE LIKE THAT OF LAST
YEAR NAY TAKE PLACE.
,rrHFRs WILL APPEAL TO CIVIC FED
FRATION AND WILL WORK THREE
DAYS A WEEK AFTER APRIL I.


DAYS a WEEK AFTER APRIL I.
-bar,okln. Penn. March 24-Cnless the efforts
= the civic Federation shall be effective with
=. coal operators, II is more than likely that
rsnetition Of the struggle Of 1900 will occur
= .bs anthracite region. In that year one hun
s-sd and forty thousand employees Of the an
.s-scite mines were out on strike for six weeks
.ss convention to-day Of Districts Nos. /. and
a United Mine Workers OF America, which
,-,n-se n, entire anthracite field made
.-ovssionaI strike declaration. leaving the date
: 10 decided by the executive boards OF the
.,-ss districts. This was practically the last
4cial act Of the delegates. and the convention
.5iourned sine die at 4 o'clock this afternoon.
The adoption Of the resolution containing the
,rruatum Of the mine workers was followed
nv q scene 0f Wild enthusiasm, and the Opera
House rang with the acclamations Of the dele
,tes who approved the work OF the special
,Solution committee and expressed their con-
asence in President Mitchell
The convention from the first session showed
disposition 70 insist on an adjustment Of the
mine workers grievances but the delegates
we're willirs ta -elinquish the question Of recog-
milton providing other more important conces-
sions were granted This fact is evidenced in
the resolution adopted to-day OF which the
chief demands are. 4 shorter uorkday. a mini
mum Gay wage scale & uniform increase in
wages. and tl= Weighing 0f coal wherever prac-
roable.
The Civic Federation is regarded by the dele
gates as The last hope Of the mine workers IN
their demands Cor improved conditions. and The
gravity OF The situation IS manifef in the words
OF P7esidert Mitchell.
AI am free say that TO me a strike seems
imminent"
The resolution adopted to-day was the result
Of . daFere1ce 0t opinion among the delegates
as 10 the methods 10 be pursued in enforcing the
nine workers demands Resolutions had been
presented 10 the convention for alI the districts
but none were satisfactory 70 the entire body
Of delegates Il was then decided TO place the
matter in the hands OF President Mitchell and
the district presidents and vice-presidents. Be
fore completing the draft Of the resolution Pres-
dent Mitchell tel=graphed 10 the presidents Of
the coal carrying roads making a last appeal
for a conference.
RAILROADS WILL NOT MEET UNION.
The telegram was as follows:
By direction of miners convention wire to
ascertain f your company viii Join other
anthracite coal companies in conference with
committee representing anthracite mine work
ers for purpose IF discussing and adjusting
grievances which affect all companies and all
employees alike. Please answer.
He received several replies among which was
one from President Baer Of the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company. all refusing 10
meet the representatives Of the union. Others
made 10 response This resulted in the forrau-
lation Cf the resolution presented to-day. and
according TO President Mitchell it was adopted
without a dissenting vote. The resolution pro
80 ---+ +E-a
three district executive boards. who VIII carry
the mine workers demands 10 the Cancellation !
committee Of the Civic Federation. with an ap-
peal 20 that organization for assistance
The district executive boards met tonight TO
select the fourteen delegates who under the
provisions of the resolution are 20 comprise the
committee After the meeting President Mitchell
said the members had not been named but that
men fitted for The mission by their knowledge Of
the situation in the anthracite coal region would
be selected.
President Mitchell was IN communication by
telephone to-day with Secretary Ralph VI. Eas-
icy OF the Civic Federation. 20 whom he an
nounced the decision Of the convention. This
organization is empowered by its constitution 10
use It's good Offices 70 prevent strikes when ap-
pealed 10 iy one OF the parties 10 the proposed
rupture. IN the event Of failure 10 secure salts
factory concessions the committee that was ap-
pointed tonight viii report 10 the district ex-
ecutive boards which We're authorized by the
convention 10 declare a strike.
The purpose Of the convention IN sUspending
work ar -hA mines three days in each week
after April / II the negotiations are then pend
iag. is TO prevent the storage Of coal by the
eonpauies by producing an amount sufficient
Only 70 supply the existing needs Of the market
PRESIDENT AIITCHELLs STATEMENT.
President Mitchell said tonight that there
had been a rnisapprehension concerning the SEN
ument OF the convention. All the delegates IA
rored conservatism. he said. but they were |
unanimous in their demands for an adjustment /
Of their grievances
In formal statement President Mitchell said: /
Our convention to-day unanimously adopted the !
Recommendations submitted by special committee
denis and nTsef The resolution recites the ef-
fo-s by the representatives. OF the anthracite
attention 70 the repeated violations Of the promises
Ssa - -. ~ - - ,',r r. ,;arfsI T7r7r -
Standing reached with the Representatives u the
scale that Vas uuaaimously adopted by the con-
FentiOl. the essential features OF which are q
form increase IN wages and the weighing OF coal
Rhereyer the physical conditions OF mining would
Il further explains that the average annual earn
iag Of the anthracite mine worker is considerably /
less than that paid by any other important Amer-
een Industry. while the number Of fatalities and IN
Juries II proportion 70 the number OF persons en-
poyed IS greater than II IS IN any other industry.
me resolution then declares that the mine work
ers cannot with honor 10 themselves or in justice
y lhose dependent upon them continue at work
curing the coming year under the present low
wages and indefinite conditions Of employment, and
paoVldes for general suspension Of work, 20 take
eject on date be designated by the executive
yards OF Districts Nos ]. 7 and 3.
u provides. however. that before resOrtng 70 such
.s.asuc measures. and with lingering hope for a
ssn@@esIll solution Il the perplexing problem an
oss.lla snail Dee made 70 the executive committee /
-t Industrial Department Of the National Civic |