The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-10-24
.A|NERS- N CONVENTION.
Representatives Of $4,000 Anthra-
cite Mine Workers Assem-
bled at WilkesbaTre.
MUCH DEPENDS UPON THEIR DECISION.
ne OnIy stumbiing Block to 1mme-
dtate Acceptance Of fr~sidens
ReoseveIs's Commission was the
Doubt Of All Gessing Back -
work Again.


Wilkesbarre, Pa. Oct. 20---The anxi-
ousIy-awaited convention Of the i4s,-
600 striking miners met Monday, but
did not reach vote on the proposed
plan of settlement. 1t is expected TO
do so Tuesday.
The Only sssmbling Block.
There were COZ delegates present in
the Nesbitt theater, where the con-
vention was held. and they were EN-
powered by their local unions TO cast
SGT votes for or against President
Roosevelt's proposed plan OF arbitra-
ton. The great majority of the dele
gates were uninstructed, the few who
were being engineers, firemen and
pumpmen, who fear that the 5000
strikers of those classes may not get
back their old places now held by
non-union men. This question OF the
engineers, frssnen and pumpmen
proved the only stumbling block in
the way of almost immediate adoption
of the presidents plan. which carries
with ii declaring the strike of and
general resumption of work through
the rs mile strip Of the hard coal
mining region.
Final Vote Went Over.
At one time il seemed certain that
the convention was about TO adopt
the recommendation of President
Mitchell 10 end the strike. but the
steam mems plea was too earnest,
and the final vote weRt over until
Tuesday, when IL is next % certain
the vote to declare the strike OF will
show big majority for it. The lead
ers of the strikers. except Mr. Mitch
ell, were hardly heard at all in the
convention, the anxious engineers be-
ing allowed TO give full expression to
their feelings. But Tuesday IL is pre-
dicted the leaders will be heard. and
one OF them, high district of.icer,
said that there world not be more
than Is votes recorded against the
plan which the president Of the
United States has proposed 10 them
and which all the highest officials of
the mine workers in this region
earnestly have recommended.
There Were Two Sessions.
There were two sessions, forenoon
and afternoon. and the net result as
regards the progress Of the conven-
ton towards its great object was a
permanent organization, with Mr..
Mitchell in the chair, his speech lay
ing the presidents plan before the
delegates. his eloquent impromptu
speech advocating its adoption, and
the appointment Of committee on
resolutions. This committee. as Mr..
Mitchell said to the delegates. would
prepare a formal statement 10 the
public telling fully and carefully why
the convention decided TO continue
the strike. IL Il should so decide: and
why the strike was declared of. IL
that was the outcome of their .delib-
erations-
The question before the convention
when ii adjourned for the day was on
the adoption Of the resolution en-
bodied in President Mitchell's OPEN
ing speech TO call off the strike and
leave all questions to the presidents
commission.
Surprise Of the Convention.
The surprise of the convention was
the decision 70 admit newspaper men
to all the sessions. open or executive.
when even union miners eagerly wait
ing ny the hundred out in the street
could not get into the theater. Twice
the newspaper men won victory
by big majorities- First, when q pc
tition from them asking to be al
lowed TO remain was read and a mo-
ton TO grant the request was car
ried. and. later. when a motion was
made TO reconsider the first vote 10
admit. The pleas which won were /
that the reporters represented the
people. that public opinion had helped |
the strikers, and that the best way
TO get an accurate report of this con-
vention, Of immediate and vast ma
tional import, was TO let the pr, 3
representatives stay there on the spot.
Even the suggestion Of press CON-
mittee Of delegates to give the news
to the correspondents was turned i
down by the convention.
The Az ~ n