The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-21
MINE WORKERS
CONVENTION
TAKES NO ACTION

Concluded from Page !.
economic development OF our civilization
and the APPLICATION OF business Judgment
and plain common sense by each would
enable them to work In harmony. While
the interests OF labor and capital are not
by any means identical they are, never
theless. reciprocal, each Is dependent
upon the other and under Our form of
government one cannot prosper without
the other. Abraham Lincoln truly said
that capital Is the fruit OF labor and
could not exist " labor had not first ex-
isted: labor therefore deserves the first
consideration. THAT this fundamental
principle will be recognized ny the tri-
bunal selected by the president OF the
United states: ! have no reason to DOUBT.
Counsels Deliberation.
The grave question which you have
been called upon TO consider today de-
mands and must receive your most care
f,l thought. Personally I should have
preferred an adjustment of the differences
existing in the anthracite field by confer
ence with the anthracite mine owners aud
without the intervention OF agencies NOT
directly involved. but [ recognize the fact
that the relations between ourselves and
the mine operators have become 80
strained as to render direct negotiation
at this time Impossible. II the conse-
quences of this strike affected only the IN
terests of the operators and mine workers
there would be less reason fol the inter-
rention of a third party, but the fact that
coal famine was upon the people OF til"
eastern and seabourd states and threat
ened to become national calamity justi-
fes the action of the chief executive of
our nation in his earnest effort TO bring
about an early resumption of mining.
The proposition submitted for your con
sideration may have objectionable fea
lures and in its details may not meet with
the unanimous approval Of our people.
but II Is immcasurably better as now pre-
sentcd than when originally offered by
the representatives II the coal cOl pora
tions. am firm In my conviction that
the prompt acceptance of this proposal
will secure to the anthracite mine work
ers and those dependent upon them q
greater measure Of justice than they
could attain by continuing the conflict.
! believe that the prompt acceptance Of
this proposition will secure to the mine
workers greater degree of justice than
they have enjoyed in the past.
The people of our country avail! with
anxious expectancy the result of your
action today: the eyes of the nation are
centered upon YOU and friends and fo"s
involved in this strike to the tribunal
named by the president of the United
States. That there are discoroiant Gle
ments In this convention. chat there are
dissatisfied ones At home. | am fully
aware. but gentlemen with all earnest
ness of which ! am possessed ] urge that
YOU give your approval to the action of
your executive officers who have recon-
mended acceptance of tn, proposition that
o n a %
turn to work in the position and working
places occupied by them prior to the in
angiratiOn of the strike and that all
questions ut issue he submitted for ad-
i,istment t. the tribunal selected by the
president of the United States.
Some Were Disappointed.
closest attention by the delegates.
At various stages of the read
ing OF the address. Alr. Mitch
ell was applauded. but when he
urged the delegates to adopt the rec
concentrations of the executive boards
to call off the strike and all men return
to work in the positions they occupied
before the strike was inauguated tre-
mendOus applause greeted the remark.
The moment he finished Wilkes
Barre ueltSate was on MS lttl ana
moved that the recommendations con-
tanned in President Mtchell's speech be
adopted. If this had been acted upon.
OF course the strike would be ended
and the conventions work ended but
those in opposition would not have it
that way. They wanted and did de-
bate the matter until the adjournment
after o'clock. A Panther Greek en-
gineer was the first to take the floor in
opposition to accepting the plan until
he and his colleagues had some assur-
ance that they would be reinstated in
their old positions The companies have
said. he continued. that they will not
dismiss the men now employed by them
and place strikers in their positions A
number of other delegates spoke along
the same line. and then more confusion
resulted over the presence OF persons