The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-17
He Has Consistently Refused. How
ever, tn Express an Opinion as
to Its Outcome.
ONE THOUSAND DELEGATES
THAT NUMBER WILL PROBABLY SIT
IN TOMLINsON HALL TO-DAY.
Expressions Secured from the Lead
ing Men of Many state Delegations
Michigan Man Instructed.

The decision Of the special convention Of
the United Mine Workers which meets in
Tomlinson Hall at 10 o'clock this morning
is being anxiously awaited by all the indus
trial world. The general sentiment ex-
pressed by the delegates and officers who
arrived yesterday was that there will be no
strike throughout the bitumnous field in
sympathy with the anthracite strikers and
those in the bituminous field of West Vir-
gina, but instead big defense fund will be
pledged TO help the strikers win. Few DEL
egates are instructed how TO vote and will
cast their ballots at their own discretion.
OF the seven hundred or eight hundred del
egates that arrived yesterday only one man
was found who would say he had been in
structed TO vote for a general suspension ot
work. He was w. F. Williams. president
OF the Michigan district. He carries five
votes. but says he is bound TO cast but one
for a strike. Nearly all of the miners cx-
cept strikers working under contracts.
and it appeared that the unanimous express
sion yesterday was against breaking them.
MITCHELL NOT TALKING.
President John Mitchell arrived from Chi
cago yesterday morning. II have never ex-
pressed my opinion concerning a general
suspension of work." said he. land 1 will
say nothing until the convention is I'm ses-
sion. The situation in the anthracite field
is satisfactory and | feel as confident the
miners will win as when the strike began.
We are in this contest to stay, ana The
miners will support any measure 10 insure
success. / cannot say what the convention
will do. The decision rests with the dele
gates entirely. and 1 know no more about
the result than you. In my opinion. this
will be the greatest labor convention ever
held"
The convention will be dvested OF all
prelminaries and ceremony and will at
once get down to business for which IL
was called-to decide whether or not there
shall be a general coal strike IL is probable
that the convention will be open. Many Of
the officers oppose executive sessions be-
cause the information reaches the public
just the same, and there seems 10 be a
desire 10 throw open the doors in order
that there can be no mistake made in pre-
senting the miners side of the controversy
10 the public.
The lobby Of the Occidental Hotel yes
terday presented the appearance of a polti-
cal convention Miners from all parts of the
United States met and shook hands and
generally inquired into the situation. par
ticularly concerning the attitude of other
miners toward a strike. Most OF the an
thracite officers and delegates arrived yes
terday evening including the three anthra-
cite district presidents T. d. Nichols.
Thomas Duffy and John Fahey. Mr..
Nichols refused TO discuss the situation.
other than to say the anthracite men are
out 10 stay until concessions are granted.
He said the delegates are not instructed
and was unable 10 state how they would
vote. Mr.. Duffy and Mr.. Fahey were also
noncommunicative.
ANTHRACITE MINERS ATTITUDE.
From the opinion expressed by the dele
gates il is believed that the anthracite
miners will not push the general strike
question, but will remain neutral and let
the bituminous miners decide what they
will do for them. Said one delegate: "All
we are asking is the hearty support of the
United Mine Workers and such assistance
as is necessary 10 win the hard-coal strike.
If that assistance is a defense fund the
thracite men will accept Il. and IL II is a
general strike they will do all they TO
bring IL to a speedy termination both in
the hard and soft coal districts. What
want is help in a prolonged struggle. which
seems probable in our district, and / feel
confident that the bituminous men will do
all they can for US The majority OF our
DELEGATES seem TO think IL would not be
proper for US 10 vote for a general suspen-
sion of work because we are on strike, but.
instead, should present our case and ac-
cept what they think advisable 10 give"
George Hargrove. president Of the bi-
luminous district OF Indiana, said; We
are against breaking any contracts. We
have very satisfactory contracts In our
districts and 1 hardly believe the miners
will favor breaking them. Our organization
1ra1 -
give any assistance 10 the hard-cOal men
that may be asked. Few, II any. OF our
delegates are instructed but I think they
are about all OF the same opinion How
ever, whatever may be the action. we viii
be governed by the rule OF the majority"
BLOCK COAL DISTRICT.
James Cantwell. president OF the block
coal district Of Indiana. said: "Our dele
gates are not instructed. They come 10 this
convention with discretionary power and
will cast their ballots as they see III. We
have contracts with our operators till the
first OF April and / hardly believe our dele
gates will join in any radical action. do
not know personally how the delegates
stand but / am sure they will do nothing
detrimental 10 the organization
". r. Farley, board member from Ala
bama. said: You can say that Alabama Is
always there. We are prepared 90 take any
action the convention decides We have
settled our affairs In Alabama ike gentle
men and we will act like gentlemen In this
convention.
George Purcell. executive board member
from Indiana who just returned from West
Virginia. had little 20 say concerning the
attitude OF the miners OF that State relative
10 a general suspension OF work THE or
ganizatiOn there Is In fine shape" said ne.
"and that IL all know or care about know
ing Really, there seems 20 be little inter-
est in West Virginia about a general sus-
pension OF work. The men there are very
well satisfied with the way the strike In
that State Is progressing: they are salts
fed with the support the national organlza-