Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-23

WilkeSbarre, Pa, Oct. 2I.-lne ahH-
iously-awaited convention OF miners
met yesterday but did not reach vote
on settlement. It is expected to do
so today. The great majority Of the
delegates are uninstructed, the few
who are instructed being engineers,
fremen and pumpmen who fear the
5000 strikers in those classes may not
get back their old places now held by
non-union men, This question of en-
gineers, fremen and pumpmen proved
the only stumbling block in the way OF
an almost immediate adoption of the
presidents plan which carries with it
declaring the strike off, and general
resumption of work through the re
gion.
At one time yesterday it seemed
certain that the convention was about
to adopt the recommendation OF Mitch
ell to end the strike, but the steam
mems plea was too earnest and the final
vote went over until today, when it is
next to certain the vote to declare the
strike off will show a big majority in
it's favor. The leaders Of the strikers,
except Mitchell, were hardly heard at
all in the convention yesterday, the
anxious engineers being allowed to
give full expression to their feelings.
But today it is predicted, the leaders
will be heard and one of them, a high
district officer, said there would not
be more than Is votes against the plan
which the president Of the United
States has proposed to them and
which all the highest officials of the
mine workers of this region earnestly
have recommended.
There were sessions in the forenoon
and afternoon, and the net result was
a permanent organization with Mitch
ell in the chair and his speech laying
the presidents plan before the dele
gates, his eloquent imprOmptu speech
advocating its adoption, and the APP
pointment of a committee on resolu-
lions. This committee, as Mitchell
odIlt W IlIC uCICS CJIGS, NOulu pISpC4C q
formal statement to the public telling
fully and carefully why the convention
decided to continue the strike, if it
should so decide, and why the strike
would be declared off, if that was the
outcome of the deliberations.
The question before the convention
when it adjourned for the day was on
the adoption OF a resolution embodied
in MitcheIl's opening speech to call
off the strike and leave all questions
to the presidents commission. The
surprise Of the convention was the de-
cision to admit the newspaper men to
all sessions, open or executive The
pleas which won were that the re
porters represented the people; that
public opinion had helped the strikers
and that the best way to get an accu-
rate report of the convention was to
let the press representatives stay
there on the spot
A dozen speeches were made for and
against the proposition accepting the
recommendations in relation to the
arbitration commission, the engineers,
pumpmen and ftremen pleading not to
accept until some definite understand
ing regarding these classes could be
reached
Mitchell was asked for his views on
the subject He Immediately respond
ed, speaking slowly and clearly.
Mitchell said he had done all he
could to learn the attitude Of the com
panies toward all the strikers.
In our pledge to the president oil
The United States" said he ''in which
We notified him that we would recon
mend to YOU the resumption Of work
we said to him that we should recon
mend a return of our people to thei1
old jobs; and if the coal companies
fail to give our men their old places
if they fail 10 treat them reasonably
we shall carry the question to the tri
bunal 10 decide that we are entitled
70 the work we left when we went OF
4 strike"
He expressed the belief that The
companies viii gradually displact
those Row at work in the mines ant
give the strikers their old places again
lie said he believed comp anies wer
1at-Nt9~e2 " "1of Nou4 pSISHC SuSiuSelS
firemen, pumpmen and inspectors, an
that they would be glad to have thel
old men back.
The debate was again taken up. tn
delegates speaking with great earnest
ness One said:
If l can't get my job I can look 70
another one, therefore, let us go t
work and give the American peopl
some coal"
This sentiment was loudly applaud
ed. After further debate it was de
cided to let the question go over III
I'll this morning. A committee on re-
olutions was appointed and the COZ
vention adjourned until this mornin.
The resolution committee last nigh