The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-10-21
MINERS CONVENTION
CALLED TO MEET
MONDAY.
The Purpose to act Upon the
Proposition Submitted
by Roosevelt.
MINERSREIURN TO WORK
This is the Recommendation 10 b. Made to the
Convention by The Three Ex GU i've Eoards
winch Have Issued the Call.
Work may Begin Nix.
Thursday.
MINERSREIURN TO WORK
(Py Associated PTess.)

(By Associated Press.)
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 16.-The exccu-
tive boards of three anthracite districts
of the United Mine Workers Of America.
in Joint session today, unanimously de-
cided to recommend TO a delegate CON
!. vention of striking miners, the accept
ance of the arbitration proposition sub
mitted by the President of the United
States, and it is reasonably certain that
the advice Will be followed and the
great struggle brought to a close. The
convention viii be convened in this city
Monday morning, and it is the hope and
the belief of the officers of the union
that the mining 81 coal Will be resumed
before the close of next week after q
suspension of more than five months.
The citizens of the entire region are
! much elated that the strike is most over.
because business in the coal fields has
been practically paralyzed since the
strike began.
From the time the news was received
late last night till about 10 o'clock this
morning. there was some doubt as 10
how the miners would receive the modi-
fled plan. President Mitchell was asked
TO make some expression on the PROPOSE
ton, but he steadfastly refused. He was
pressed by the correspondents TOR q
| statement, at 10 o'clock. he cleared up
the situation by issuing the following:
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 16, 1902.
Approaching the anxiety and impa-
thence of the public and the mine work
| ers for some authoritative statement
! from this office, ! issue this bulletin to
say that | was unalterably opposed to
the acceptance or acQuieScenCe IN the
| form of settlement proposed by the coal
operators because II restricted the Presi-
dent of the United States in making Sc
lection Of the men who We're to deter
mine the questions involved in the coal
strike. These restrictions having been
removed and representation given 10 or
ganized labor as we'll as to organized
capital, | am now prepared to give my
personal approval TO a settlement of the
issues involved III this strike by the
commission selected by the President.
and shall recommend to the executive
officers of Districts /, Z and 8, in their
meeting today, that an immediate call
j be issued for q convention, whose au-
thOrity shall be necessary to declare the
strike at an end.
In the meantime, | trust that the peo-
PIE of our country Will be as patient a.
possible as We are moving IS rapidly as
Tie interests of our people Will per
nit.
(Signed) JOHN MITCHELL,
President, United Mine Workers.
When this was read to the arriving dis
trict leaders and groups of miners who
came TO headquarters TO learn the news,
general satisfaction was expressed that
MIR. Mitchell was willing to accept the
modified plan, and from that time on
there was no doubt that the strike would
be brought to a speedy close. 1t was
not until , o'clock that the thirty-scveI
members of the three district boards We're
called into session which lasted two
hours and fifteen minutes. There was
some opposition manifested in the meet
ing against certain features of the plan.
but after ? full discussion Of the Objec-
tionable parts, a unanimous vote was
taken 10 recommend to the convention
the acceptance of the proposition.
AS the conference was held behind
closed doors a bon1 of secrecy was placed
On every man present, the specific OBJ
. icctions were not officially announced.
These are the same executive boards
which, on May s, last, ordered the strike
10 begin, which action was approved, in
the face Of Mr.. Mitchell's opposition. by
the HaZleton convention a few days later.
1t is expected that some objections Will
be raised IN the floor of the convention,
but the officers are confident that the cp-
POSITION Will disappear when President
Mitchell explains all the features of the
modified proposition to the delegates.
If the plans of the strike leaders are
not disarranged a general resumption OF
mining Will take place about next Thurs
, day. 1t is expected the convention will
last two days, and that there will be an
interval OF one day from the time the
convention adjourns until the time set
for the men to go back to the mines.
There will not be enough work at first
for all the strikers, as it is the intention
Of the companies not to dismiss non
union men. who have stood by then
during the strike. The organization will
take care of such other men as are UNI
able to find work.
The coal companies anticipating the end
ing of the strike next week are busiIy
engaged in preparing for resumption
Tens of thousands of coal cars are in
the regions ready for loading, and extra
; efforts will be made in moving them tt
the large distributing centres once mining
is resumed. 1t is estimated that more
IMAM 2O0 or the sou cOll1erlcS Will be IL
operation by the end of next week and
will produce enough coal to relieve the
situation. An authority in coal mining
said today the coal companies, as a re-
suit of the strike, are thirty millions OF
! tons behind.
There is considerable talk heard thai
the withdrawal of the troops will begir
in a day Or two, but this cannot be con-
firmed.