The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-21
MINERS WILL VOTE TO-DAY
ACTION DELAYED YESTERDAY
 OWING TO DEBATE.

Protect ThemseIves-Presiden Mitch-
 ell in a Speech That Causes Great En-
 thusinsm Says the Union WiII Take
 Care of Every One but That Some
 Must Wait for Jobs-A Precise State.
 ment of the Situation.
 Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct 20.-The anx- iously awaited convention of the 45,OOO striking miners met to-day but did not reach vote on the proposed plan of settlement. It is expected to do so to- morrow.
 There were 662 delegates present in the Nesbitt theater, where the convef- tion was held and they were empowered by their local unions to cast S67 votes for or against President Roosevelts S proposition of arbitration. The great majority of the delegates were unin- structed, the few who were being the 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, firemen and pumpmen proved the only stumb- ling block in the way of almost imine- diate adoption of the presidents plan, which carries with it declaring the strike off and a general resumption of work through the 175 miles strip of the hard coal mining region.
 At one time to-day it 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 to-mor- row, when it is next to certain the vote to declare the strike off will show a big majority for it. The leaders of the strikers, except MT. Mitchell, were hardly heard at all in the convention to-day. the anxious engineers being all lowed to give full expression to their feelings. But tomorrow it is predicted the leaders will be heard and one of them, high district officer, said to-day there would be no more than fifteen votes cast against the plan which the president of the United States has pro- posed to them and which all the high est officials of the mine workers in this region have earnestly recommended. There were two sessions, forenoon and afternoon, to-day, and the net result as regards the progress of the convention towards it's great object was a perma- nent organization with MT. Mitchell in the chair, his speech laying the presi- dents plan before the delegates, his elo- inn eTaaonh aHu adoption and the appointment of a committee on resolutions. This commit tee, as MT. Mitchell said to the dele gates, would prepare formal state ment to the public, telling fully and carefully why the convention decided to continue the strike if it should decide, and why the strike was declared off, if that was the outcome of their deliber- ations.
 The question before the convention when it adjourned for to-day was on the adoption of a resolution embodied in President MitcheiPs opening speech to call off the strike and leave all ques- tions to the presidents commission. The surprise of the convention to-day was the decision to admit newspaper men to all the sessions, open or execu- tive, when even union miners, eagerly waiting by the hundred out in the street could not get into the theater. Twice the newspaper men won vic- tory by big majorities. First when a petition from them asking to be allow ed to remain, 8 motion to grant the re- quest 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 helped the strikers and that the best way to get an accurate report of this conven- tion of immediate and vast national importance was to let the press stay 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.
 During a heated discussion on the question of the return of engineers, fire men and pumpmen a delegate asked President Mitchell to express his opin- ion on the matter. He immediately re- sponded and made one of the most im- portant addresses he has been called on to make during the past five months. He spoke slowly and clearly, and every word was listened to with great inter- est. because it was looked upon by the delegates as the real speech of the day. The strike leader spoke as follows:
 Gentlemen of the Convention-I de- sire to inform you that the president of Nour organization has done all he can to learn the attitude of the companies towards the men who are now on strike. As you know, the companies refuse di- rect negotiations with US. We find that the companies do not propose to be vindictive; that as far as possible men are to be returned to their old places. It may take some time before that can be brought about, and it may be that some few men will not be restored to their former places at all When you vote on this proposition you must do it with as full knowledge of the situation as can give you.
 Now, let me emphasize this point: That the poorest boy that worked in a breaker is as dear to us as the men who ran the best engines; that while we shall try with all the power we have to get every man that struck back to his old job, we will make special efforts for none and show special favors to none. We want the engineers, and the firemen, and the pumpmen, and the in- spectors, and the bosses to go back, but we do not want them to go back one bit more than we want the little break