Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-08
AFRAID OF STRIKE
Miners Think it a Bad Time To
 Precipitate One.
SECRET CONFERENCE TO-DAY.
Three Districts Represented-Statement Issued by President Mitchell-Tha Questions at Issue Will Be Submit. ted to a Board of Arbitration.

Questions at Issue Will Be Submit4
 ted to Board of Arbitration.
 Scranton, Pa, May S.-The executive committees of three districts of the anthracite coal field, representing all of the members of the United Mine Workers in that territory, resumed it's secret conference soon after o'clock this morning. There Is much appre- hension in business circles all over the anthracite region regarding the out come of the meeting. Strong influences are at work among the miners to pre- vent a strike, as it is realized that tic up at this time means a long strug- gle and the consequent paralyzing Of business interests. Many of the otfi- cials of the miners union are likewise working to prevent the declaration of a strike. They say that if strike must come, this is not the time of year to inaugurate it. The fact Is pointed out that the consumption of coal is at minimum during the summer rionths, whereas if a strike is deferred until autumn there is q better chance of se- curing concessions without long pe- riod of idleness.
 There is much speculation as to what will be the action of the union repre- sentatiyes should they decide that drastic methods are necessary
 Granted that no concession will be made to the men, the miners officials have only two moves to make unless they declare for or against a strike. They may call another convention, fresh from the rank and file, to decide the matter, or they may send commit tees of employees to the differenr coal operators to ask for concessions. Some of the company officials are said to favor the latter plan as way out for both sides.
 President Mitchell wields inc same powerful influence over the miners that he has hitherto exercised, and it is con- ceded that the question of strike or no strike depends almost entirely on the final decision of Mir MitcheIl.
 A union official attending the meet ing said this morning before entering the convention hall: "No living man can, at this hour, say just what decis- ion will be reached. I will say, how ever, that the situation at present points to a continuation of the conven- tion over to-day and possibly through several days It is also true that the drift, gathered from the views ex- pressed by the miners representatives. who will have vote when the ques- ton is finally passed upon, is away l from a strilSe.o
 | At 1920 the executive committee l took a recess until 1 30 this afternoon l President Mitchell issued the following l statements: EsThe executive committee of the anthracite coal workers organ
  at issue between themselves and the l anthracite coal mine operators he sub- mitted to an impartial board of arbit1a- l ton. such board to be selected by the 1 industrial branch of the national civic federation. This proposition has been l submitted to the operators by wire.' 'sThe representatives are being heard in alphabetical order and it | happens that a majority of expressions | have been. made from leaders in the l lower or Schuylkill district, and the
 middle or Lehigh district
 District No 1, comprising the Lacka-
 wanna and Wyoming fields, has not | been fully heard yet. As is well known l the men i'll the first mentioned ter- l ritories are not so strongly in favor of radical action as the men of district | No 1. It may be that my belief that l the drift is away from a strike is too i strongly based on the sentiment voiced by the Lehigh and SchuylkiTi dis- l tricts, but I think not"
 When asked to explain how the com mittee could recede from the uncom- promising stand so recently taken by the Shamokin convention the official in
 question shook his head and answered:
 sYes, I know the proposition is hard
 one. A great deal of diplomacy will
 be required to get around the point.
 Just how it will be done without east l ing discredit on the United Mine I Workers organization I do not know. l Still believe Mir Mitchell will lead us out of the woods. No plan has been decided upon as yet. All reports that a test vote has been taken are un- | qualifiedly untrue. No concessions
 have been received. We have abso. lutely nothing ill the way of an oyer. ture from. the operators"