Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-19
MINERS CONCEAL ALL PLANS
Anthracite Workers Decline to State
Object Of Their Convention.
EYENTFUL MEETINe IS MIICIPAI[O
Many Grievances Are 60 ne Made,
hut Recognition of Union is g.
Not Held TO Be Fore
most.

sHAMoKIN, Pa, March 1S.-The most inn
portant convention of hard coal miners
since that which resulted in the memorable
strike Of 1900, began here today and 10
likely to remain In session until Saturday.
The three anthracite coal districts, known
technically as districts 1, Z and 9, United
Min Workers OF America, are represented
by over 500 delegates, the majority OF whom
presented their credentials. The remainder
are expected tomorrow.
President John Mitchell arrived from Al
toona early today and was met by a large
delegation OF the miners. The failure OF
the operators to meet the officials OF the
miners union was the principal topic OF
discussion among the delegates prior to the
convention. Many of them are persistent
in their demand for recognition OF the
union, but the impression prevails that IL
other concessions are made by the operators
the matter of recognition will be permitted
to rest.
r. M. Easley Of New York, secretary OF
the civic federation, who came here today
had a brief consultation with President
Mitchell and left shortly afterward for New
York.
No Bearing on situation.
Mr.. Easley and Mr.. Mitchell both said
tue lulSTNioW uhu no bcdi us hPOh bhO
situation In the anthracite region. The two
are members Of the Cancellation commit
tee Of the civic federation, and Mr.. Mitchell
said the consultation related to the Boston
strike.
The convention merely organized today
and the proceedings we're simply pre-
liminary to the more important work as
follows:
1t is next to impossible to obtain an
idea of the wishes Of the delegates. Dis
trict No. 1, comprising the Laekawanna
and Wyoming regions. where there is said
to be much dissatisfaction, practically con-
trolls the situation and should the dele
gates from this district declare for a strike
the remaining districts would be compelled
to accept the Inevitable.
According to Secretary Hartlein OF dis
trict No. 9, the Shamokin district, there
are 144, 900 mine workers In the anthracite
region, and 9s per cent Of these are mem
bers Of the United Mine Workers of
America. District No. /. comprising Lacka-
wanna, upper Luzerne and Wyoming coun-
ties, contains 1T6 local branches, with a
representation OF about $50 delegates in the
convention. There are ffty-four locals in
district No. Z, which includes lower Luzerne
and portions Of Schuylkill and Carbon coun-
ties. This district sends 100 delegates.
District No. 9, comprising lower Schuylkill,
Dauphin and Columbia counties, is entitled
to something over 200 delegates.
No Fight for Recognition.
Although ofaeial statements concerning
the probable action OF the convention are
difficult to obtain, 1t Is intimated by some
OF the officials that recognition of the union
will not be the chief issue. There will be
many grievances to be considered OF more
Importance, 1t Is said, than recognition OF
the union as a national body.
The delegates are A&NFspresent the various
locals" in the anthf4cfte region and each
delegate will have one vote for each 100
members he represents, but no delegate can
have more than Ave votes.
When noticeE were sent to the locals the
members were urged to furnish only In
t~elligent and careful men to act as dele
gates. This is expected to result In q
better deliberative body than ever before
but 1t is felt that at no time have the
questions pending been more momentous tc
the miners or to the country.
Among the matters to be brought to the
attention Of the convention are the reportG
Of President Mitchell and his assistants II
their efforts to settle existing differences
with the operators and the replies the
received. The eight-hour day, recognition
Of the union, grievances Of hremen anC
many other questions of vital Importance
will also be considered.
1t is stated that the combined treasure.
Of the three districts now contain $500, 900
President Mitchell OF the United Min,
Workers said he was not in touch with tn