The Iola register., 1902-05-23
VOTED TO STRIKE
The Anthracite Nj uers Decided to stay
Out Awhile

Oub AWllll q
Hazelton, Pa, May Is The anthra
cite mine workers in convention late
this afternoon decided to continue the
strike of the 145,0 900 men against the
mine owners and 10 fight it out to the
bitter end. The matter of calling out
the engineers, firemen and pump run
ners, will be decided by the delegates
tomorrow. The vote to continue the
suspension was as follows: Tota
vote cast, 81l; for strike, 46lt; against
strike, 349f: majority for strike, lila
President Mitchell, however, in com.
pliance with the rules of the United
Mine workers, announced TO the pub
lie that the action of the convention
was unanimous.
The step taken today by the miners,
after practically considering the mat
ter for two months, has wiped out the
uncertainty of the situation and it is
freely predicted that the most serious
labor struggle in the history of the
country, if not ,he world is about to
begin. That is the view taken by
nearly every miner.
While the leaders are cautious and
will not forecast their actions, 1t is
not unlikely that the miners fight will
be carried into the bituminous coal
regions and into other fields of indus
try. Mine workers for eighteen
months have been looking forward to
the strike that is now upon them. They
have saved their money and are con-
sidered in better shape today for a
fight than they were in the great strike
of 1900. That struggle ended in the
mine owners giving the men a 10 per
cent advance after a six weeks su-
spension. The operators are on rec
ord as being unalterably opposed to
granting the men any concessions and
they have personally informed the
mine workers leaders of that fact.
The workmen fear that the present
fight may meanthe destruction of their
organization because they believe that
the mine owners are bent more on
wrecking their union than they are in
opposing the demands for higher
wages and shorter work days.
President Mitchell's advice to the
miners was peace and he gave it to
them in the plainest and most forceful
of language. He was ably assisted by
President Fahey and Secretary Hart
lein, of the lower district, and Secre-
tary Dempsey, of the upper territory.
President Nichols, oftne first district,
was the great champion of the strike
advocates. Mr.. Mitchell, who was
the lastlto speak, was listened to with
the greatest attention. 1t is also said
that telegram was read from the
American Federation OF Labor against
a permanent suspension. But the
delegates would not listen, and amid
p considerable suppressed excitement
the vote was taken.
For time it looked as though the
peace advocates would win, but when
delegation after delegation from the
lower district, the last to be called,
answered yes, it was seen that the
men who favored d fight had won. The
result was received by the convention
with applause, which, however, was
not very enthusiastic or prolonged.
The men appreciated the seriousness
of the decision, which no doubt dam
pened their ardor.
PLAN THE CAMPAIGN.
BY scripps-McRae Press Assn.
Ha Teton, May l5.-The convention
of anthracite miners which intends to
fight the coal magnates to a finish for
higher wages and shorter hours went
into session again this morning to
map out a campaign for the ne hun
dred and forty We strikers.
The convention adjourned finally at
noon. President Mitchell made a
statement saying it petitioned the
national officers to call a convention
of all coal miners in the country for
the purpose of considering the situa-
tion in the anthracite fields, conclud
ing, eff the desire Of the anthracite
miners is sustained a national sus PEN
sion of coal mining will be inaugu.
ratad