New-York tribune., 1902-05-17
STEAM MAKERSSTILL WORK
But THEY MAY BE CALLED TO JOIN
THE STRIKE IN \ FEW DAYS.
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE rRIBUNEI

Hazleton. Penn, May 16-The anthracite mine
workers. swept by the enthusiasm of a strike.
to-day startled the entire region by passing
resolutions calling upon the national officers to
consider the advisabiIity of declaring a strike OF
all the coal miners III the United States in SYM
pathy with the strike in this region. This would
IL successful. throw nearly half million men
idle and a combined loss TO operators
and to miners at the rate of $500 900 900 yearly
Whether President Mitchell indorsed this radical
action. or whether IL was proposed by
thusiastic delegate and carried with a rush be-
fore the fun significance dawned upon the con-
vention, is not known. Pledged to secrecy. none
Will talk about It. and Mitchell refuses to say
n word. He would not say when such call will
be issued. but admitted that a national meet
ing will probably be held at Indiana polls. the
national headquarters. On the prospects OF such
national strike being called he refused TO talk.
1t is understood that he taken by surprise,
and that had he had his way. the resolution
would never have been submitted.
Many miners doubt the serious intent of the
resolution and look upon it more as a blur
than a hope that such a strike could be de-
clared. The operators laugh about il and say
that the soft coal men would not agree to such
a move in the first place, that it would be a
violation Of their contract already signed to
last year, and that it would mean the death
of unionism in the mining industries They do
not view The prospect seriously, and far
more concerned with the local conditions than
with danger they do not believe threatens.
The statement issued shortly after the adjourn
ment at noon by President Mitchell is follows:
At this mornings session the United Mine
Workers convention petitioned the national Off
GERS to issue call for a national convention Of
all coal miners employed in the United States
for the purpose of considering the situation In
the anthracite field II the desire of the anthra-
cite miners is sustained national suspension
of coal mining will be begun.
All questions of detail to the direction OF
the present strike in the anthracite field were
referred to the district officers and definite
plans will be outlined within the next few ays.
For the present the engineers, fremen and
pUmpmen will continue at work. All mine
workers advised TO remain at their homes,
to refrain from visiting saloons and under all
circumstances to obey the law.
DISTRICT LEADERS WILL DECIDE.
The morning session. although called to order
at o'clock. had not much work before II. There
was a discussion the question of calling out
the fremen. pumpmen and engineers. and al
though many of the delegates favored this ex-
treme action thus forcing the companies to
save their mines from damage as best they
could President Mitchell and the district leaders
prevailed and the entire matter was referred to
them and the executive board. They were also
empowered 10 decide where the strike head
quarters are to be and to arrange such details
of the strike mana cement are necessary.
These will not be announced for few days In
the mean time Mitchell and the district officers
will remain in Hazeton until Monday at least.
1t is believed that headquarters will he shifted
to Wilkesharre and maintained there during the
strike. The fact that the accommodations at
Hazleton are poor the telegraph office small and
the trains few the officers desire to be
in a larger city. Personally President Mitchell
favors Wilkesbarre.
The convention adjourned sine die after sing
ing my Country, Tis of Thee" and after din
ner most of the delegates took trains for their
homes.
Mitchell locked himself UP during the after
noon TO attend TO the work that has accumu-
lated. and busy all the evening. He
ported that advices from all parts of the district
regarding the reception of the strike order
show that the men are well pleased with the
order and determined to fight. and that in
the districts where delegates had been instruct
ed against strike the men sent word that, now
IL is ordered. they are for II and will remain
| out until the last.
The moderation regarding the firenen. en-
gineers and pumpmen did not suit the IN
/ the Wyoming district hut 1t favored in
Continued sixteenth page.D