Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-07-16
MINERS CONSERVATIVE.
Executive Committee May Determine
the Question Of a Strike.
REPRESENTATIVE MEN PRESENT.

Indianapolis, July 16.-"To strike or
not to strike?" This is the vital cues.
tion to settle which delegates are pour.
ing into Indianapolis from almost ev-
cry coal mining district of the coun-
try in readiness for the great conven.
tion which assemblies tomorrow in re-
sponse to the recent call of President
Mitchell, of the United Mine Workers
OF America. If the convention reaches
an affirmative decision it will mean, so
say the officials of the miners organi-
zation, that $50 900 men will lay down
their picks, not to resume work until
their brethren in the anthracite fields
of. Pennsylvania have obtained their
demands. A decision not to strike will
mean, at the very least, ,.-e breaking
of the backbone of the miners struggle
an Pennsylvania and a serious blow TO
organized labor in general.
In the settlement of this LADY and
the tiger" question tnere is a conserva-
tive element among the union miners
that is strongly pronounced in favor
OF the convention taking a compromise
course. 1t would be better, say the
leaders of this element. for the conven-
tion not to declare strike outright
but to delegate to the executive board
of the United Mine Workers the pow
er to cal out the men on general strike
at their discretion. This. it is pointed
out, would give the advantage of a de-
lay before the final card is played.
while at the same time not detracting
from the moral support given by the
unions throughout the country to the
Pennsylvania strikers. Ii is further
argued in support of this course that
it would help greatly the financial end
of the struggles as il would enable the
soft coal miners still at work to devote
a large part of Il ir earnings to the
anthracite strikers and enable the lat
ter TO continue their strike indefinitely
or until a successful issue was reach
ed. Although President Mitchell has
so far refrained from expressing an
opinion on the subject of the conven-
tlon and the proper course for it to
pursue it is said by those intimately
associated with him that he would pre-
fer 10 have the convention delegate
to the executive board the power to
call the strike rather than have the
issue brought to a climax at once.
Meanwhile the delegates are pour
ing into Indianapolis from all direc-
tions and about the Headquarters of
to be seen in groups today discussing
the situation, the latest news from the
Pennsylvania field and the probable
outcome of the struggle. For the most
part they are extremely reticent so far
as public utterances are concerned and
il is difficult matter TO ascertain how
they stand with regard to the main
question. Enough can be CLEANED, how
ever to warrant the forecast that the
convention will not declare a general
strike by any overwhelming majority
ana II strike is called at all it will
be in the face of considerable OppOsi-
tiOn. Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Iowa
will hold the majority of the delegates.
In three of these state at least salts
factory conditi rs prevail at present.
The men are working under a yearly
agreement and are enjoying cOnces-
siuns which il has taken years for
them TO gain. Such contracts, ii may
readily be believed, are not 10 be light
lE broken. Michigan, Kansas, Ken
tuCyy, Missouri, Tennessee and one or
TWO other states will be represented in
tue convention. II is not known exact
ly how their delegates stand on the
strike question, but il is unlikely that
their numerical strength viii be suffic-
lent 10 influence the decision TO any
great extent. The states of Maryland,
Colorado Washington, Montana, In
dian Territory, Arkansas, New Mexico
and Texas, and One-half the soft coal
district of Pennsylvania, are not or
ganized, but there are small unions
among them. and some have sent dele
gates to the convention.
When the convention assemblies in
Tomlinson hall at . o'clock tomorrow
morning and the roll Is called by Sec
retary Wilson it will be answered by
as fine a body of men as ever attended