The Forrest City times., 1902-10-24
MINERS IN CONVENTION.
Representatives of I43,ooo Anthra.
cite Mine Workers Assem-
bled at Wilkesbarre.
MUCH DEPENDS UPON THEIR DECISION.
The Only Stumbling Block to Imme-
diatc Acceptance of President
ROOsevelt's Commission was the
Doubt of All Getting Back to
Work Again.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 20.-The anxi-
ously-awaited convention of the 143,-
600 striking miners met Monday, but
did not reach a vote on the proposed
plan of settlement. 1t is expected to
do so Tuesday.
The Only Stumbling Block.
There were 662 delegates present in
the Nesbitt theater, where the con-
vention was held, and they were en-
powered by their local unions to cast
s67 votes for or against President
Roosevelt's proposed plan Of arbitra-
tion. 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 NY
non-union men. This question of the
engineers, fremen and pumpmen
proved the only stumbling block in
the way of almost immediate adoption
of the presidents plan, which carries
with it declaring the strike off and
a general resumption of work through
the 175 mile strip of the hard coal
mining region.
Final Vote Went Over.
At one time 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
Tuesday, when it is next to certain
the vote to declare the strike off 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 it is pre-
one of them, high district officer,
said that there would not be more
than IS votes recorded against the
plan which the president of the
United States has proposed to them
and which all the highest officials of
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-
tion towards it's 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 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 declared off, if
that was the outcome of their delib-
erations.
The question before the convention
when it 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 president S
commission.
| Surprise of the Convention.
The surprise of the convention was
the decision to admit newspaper men
to all the sessions, open or executive,
when even union miners eagerly wait
ing by the hundred out in the street
could not get into the theater. Twice
the newspaper men won victory
by big majorities. First, when a pc
tition from them asking to be al
lowed TO remain was read and a mo-
tion to grant the request was car
ried, 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 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, !
representatives stay there on the spot.
Even the suggestion of press con-
mittee of delegates to give the news
to the correspondents was turned
down by the convention.
The Alabama Race Riot.