New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-16
CONVENTION ORDERED
MITCHELL CALLS HIS ASSOCIATES TO-
GETHER-WILL CONFER TO-DAY
IN MINE REGION.
Inr TELEGRAPH TO THE rn1BuNE.I

with President Roosevelt President Mitchell.
directly after the second conference at the
White House this afternoon. ordered con-
vention for this city tomorrow, TO consider the
arbitration proposition hits convention will
consist of the executive and the national board
members of anthracite districts /, Z and 0. and
will comprise with President Mitchell and Sec
rotary Wilson, thrty-seven men. The meeting
is to be at headquarters here at 10 o'clock
Secretary Wilson and District Presidents
Nichols. Fahey and Duffy were at headquar-
tiers all the afternoon and were kept in touch
witA President Mitchell by long distance tele-
phone. He had long talk with them after
the first conference and it is understood that
he told them he had suggested several modi-
ications to the President and how the Pres-
dent received them. After the second confer
ence they told to call the convention as
soon possible. and were busy all evening
getting answers from the board members, Some
of these arrived tonight
Whether President Roosevelt communicated
with the operators in the time between the two
conventions. and what if any answer they
turned to President Mtchells proposed modif-
cations in the plans. the district presidents will
not say. They have been instructed to make
nothing public and It is stated that Mr.. Mitchell
viii say nothing of what occurred at the con-
ference until after he has reported TO the con-
TO SHARE RESPONSIBILITY
That he either believes the time has come for
ordering the men back to work or that he wants
the additional authority of the entire board in
refusing the operators unmOdifed offer are the
two logical conclusions. and those board MEM
bers who here and are ignorant of the latest
developments believe this. In the event Of the
operators refusing to change their original plan
Mr.. Mitchell would hardly take the response
bility of refusing them himself. and the refusal
of thirty-seven high officers of the union would
add weight to the rejection. If. the other
hand so the official states only slight modifica-
tions are made. il would be necessary for him
to get the opinion of officers from all quarters Of
the region before he could decide whether it
was Of sufficient Importance To call a cOnven-
ton Of the mine workers delegates to finally
decide whether the proposition should he &C
cepted rejected.
The strikers point to one feature of the opera
tors plan which meets with universal disap-
prov al among the officers of the union. That is
the intention of the operators 20 continue their
decision 10 ignore the union TO such point that
they expect the grievances of the men to he
presented 10 the commission. not by the union
officers. but by committees Of the strikers. The
committees are to represent each one of the
and present the individual grievances OF each
company only The strikers say that not only
would this even if accepted entail endless time
and trouble but that, in the end II would give
the commission such volume Of work that 1t
might be months before a report could be made.
The election and instruction OF seventy 1--WE
committees would take a long time. hearing them
10y the commission wouId take still longer. and
the report would he long in coming. Finally.
the strikers throughout the region. are, accord
ing to their officers. opposed to it. because II
ignores the officers who have conducted the
strike for them. and whom they consider the
proper persons 10 present their side TO the COM
mission.
UNION OFFICIALS SHUT OUT.
Several mining officials who were seen to-day
said the construction they placed upon the oper-
ators' offer was that each company should he
represented by a separate committee. and that
the union officials should not be allowed 10 pre-
sent the grievances Of the men. as the operators
do admit they represent the strikers.
Some OF the operators say frankly that owing
to this condition. they do not expect the union
10 accept the arbitration plan. but they do not
consider il improbable that If the union fails 10
do anything, the strikers themselves in some
parts OF the district may. Independently of the
union. decide to adopt the plan for themselves.
appoint a committee. and ask the commission
10 consider their grievances.
The strikers say there is no probability Of
such condition. and reiterate their confidence
in their president and other officers. and their
intention to remain strike until their officers
instruct them return 10 work.
Another important objection is the desire of
the operators to define the class Of men who
shall form the commission.
on these two points, and a couple Of minor
points. President Mitchell to take a firm
stand before President Roosevelt against ac-
cepting the proposition, and was TO propose in
stead the arbitration plan he submitted to the
President on October B. at the previous confer
ence
His departure from this city was al the per-
sonal request Of President Roosevelt No mes
sage was received from the operators II is
understood that President Roosevelt expected
them 10 send official notification to President
Mitchell Of their offer When he learned that
they had not done So he asked President Mitch
ell TO go 10 Washington soon as he could
MITCHELLs DEPARTURE.
President Mitchell received this request late
last night. but declined to make it public and
at o'clock this morning. after a conference
with his district presidents. he started for
Washington. Before going he made no state
ment and the district officers were also silent
They remained at headquarters during the dav
ana this morning declined to say where Presi
dent Mitchell had gone. In the afternoon. after
they had been in communication with hin, -
Washington. they also silent Secretary
Wilson joined them at o'clock this afternoon
coming from the West. and then. Mother Jopes |
also being present. there a long conference
regarding the news received from washington
The board which Will meet tomorrow is com