The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-10-21
CONVENTION
OF MINERS
Will Accept Plan for
Arbitration.
ONLY ONE HITCH so FAR
The Steam Men Desire ASSur-
ance Of Jobs.
Mitchell Recommends Calling Or OF
the Strike, and His Words
are Heartily cheered BY
Delegates,

Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 2O.-The anxious
ly awaited convention of the $4,000 strik-
ing miners met today but did not reach
vote on the proposed plan of settlement.
1t is expected to do SO tomorrow.
There were 662 delegates present in the
Nesbitt theatre where the convention was
held and they were empowered by their
local unions to cast S67 votes for or
against President Roosevelt's proposed
plan Of arbitration. The great majority
of the delegates were instructed, the
few who were not being engineers. fire.
men and pumpmen who fear that the five
thousand strikers of those classes may
not get back their old places now held
by non-union men. This question OF the
engineers, tlremen and pumpmen proved
the only stumbling block in the way of
almost immediate adoption of the Presi-
dents plan which carries with 1t declar-
ing the strike off and general resump-
ton of work.
At one time today 1t seemed certain
that the convention was about to ADOPT
the recommendation of President Mitchell
to end the strike, but the steam mems
plea was too earnest and the final vote
went over until tomorrow. when it is next
to certain the vote to declare the strike
off will show a big majority.
Engineers are Anxious.
The leaders of the strike, except Mr..
Mitchell, were hardly heard at all in the
convention today. the anxious engineers
being allowed to give full expression to
their feelings. But tomorrow, 1t Is pre-
lfa&z 4ko Iare ,r.iIl Il I'd md
of them, a high district officer, said to-
night there would not be more than fif-
teen votes recorded against the plan
which the President of the United States
has proposed and which all the highest
officials of the mine workers in this re-
gion earnestly have recommended.
There were two sessions, forenoon and
afternoon, today, and the net result was
permanent organization with Mr..
Mitchell in the chair and his speech lay
ing the Presidents plan before the dele
gates, his eloquent .impromptu speech ad-
vocating its adoption and another on the
appointment. of a committee on resolu-
tions. This committee. as Mr.. Mitchell
said to the delegates, would prepare a
formal statement to the public telling
fully and carefully why the convention
decided to continue the strike IL 1t should
so decide: and why the strike was de-
clared off if that was the outcome Of
their deliberations.
The question before the convention
when 1t adjourned for the day was on the
adoption of the resolution embodied in
President Mitchelrs opening speech to
call off the strike and leave all questions
to the Presidents Commission.
Newspaper Men Admitted.
The surprise of the convention today
was the decision to admit newspaper men
to all the sessions. open or executive,
when even union miners eagerly waiting
by the hundreds on the outside could not
get into the theatre. Twice the newspa-
per men won a victory by big majorities
First. when a petition from them asking
to be allowed to remain "a motion to
grant the request was carried, and later
when a motion was made to reconsider
the first vote to admit The pleas which
won were that the reporters represented
the people, that public opinion had help
ed the strikers and that the best way to
get an accurate report of this convention
Of immediate and vast national import
was to let the press representatives stay
there on the spot Even the suggestion
OF a press committee of delegates to give
the news to the correspondents, was
turned down by the convention.
District President T. D. Nichols Of
Scranton, Pa, called the convention into
session at 1920. twenty minutes after the
time set for its beginning. On account
Of pressure of business at strike head
quarters President Mitchell was unable
IN he present until the afternoon ses-
SION The call for the convention was
read and the District Secretaries, John
T. Dempsey of Scranton, John P. Gala
cher of Hazleton and George Hartlein of
Shamokin, were appointed a Committee
on Credentials.
Work of Committees.
owing to the late arrival of some of
the delegates. the reports were not quite
complete and 1t was decided to proceed
no further until the reports were cor
rected and passed upon finally by the
convention. All this consumed about IS
minutes The work of this committee
was done in an hour The routine pro-
ccedings were followed by singing, the
suggestion having been made that the
convention be entertained for a whole by
some Of the Sweet Welsh singers Of the
organization" A delegate from the
wyoming Valley caused a storm of en-
thusiasm by singing a song entitled Give
ThreesCheers for Mitchell. for the Strike
That we Have Won" Songs and short
sn.eches by other delegates followed and
tho striking mine workers for the time
hing seemed to have forgotten their
troubles.
At II :45 adjournment was taken until
o'clock in the afternoon. The afternoon
saesion began at 2:l0 o'clock with only
IN. accredited delegates and a small army
-, nnwspaper men present The final re-
I,,rts Of the three district secretaries
I,,nrising the Credentials Committee
80 called for and they showed total
ESQ delegates present authorized to cast
SCI votes.
rho proceedings for while moved rap
al. WITHOUT any speech making, Mr..
Mitchell was elected permanent chair
IAN and NationaI Observation-Disclosures
II.ilson was selected as the permanent
sarretary. Just as the cheering for the
election Of the two officers was ended
si1,rt Mitchell, at 2:30 o'clock. walked
,hn stage. The instant the delegates
sav him. they arose en- masse and cheer
81 tb-Ir leader for several minutes When
the Enthusiasm had subsidized an out