West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-05-17
STRIKE MAY SPREAD;
General Miners Convention. Tt
be Called to Consider
Proposition.
WILL THE FOREIGNERS DESERT?
Convention to Be Held Today, When
1t Is Said They Will Ask Operators
to Reopen Mbnes-civic Fedora.
ton May Try to Arbitrate Trouble.

daZletOn, "a, May 1I.-Ine an
thracite mine workers in convention
yesterday in order to win their strike
unanimously decided upon plan that
If carried into successful operation
would practically tie up the indus
tries of the country, paralyze bust
ness and inconvenience the people
throughout the United States. 1t is
their desire that a special national
convention of the United Mine Work
ers of America be called as soon as
practicable for the purpose of en-
deavoring to have all the bituminous
mine workers, both organized and I'm.
organized, involved in the anthracite
miners struggle. This announce
ment was officially made at noon yes
terday by President John Mitchell,
in statement giving the result of
the deliberations of the delegates in
convention.
Would Effect $4,000 Men.
II special national convention is
called and the miners succeed in their
object it would directly affect 1000
men, who are employed in and about
the coal mines of the country. Coal
would soon become scarce and this
ultimately result in the tying up of
railroads and all sorts of industries
that use large quantities of the fuel
1t is doubted by some interested per
sons here who are closely watching
developments that such a stupendous
movement could be brought about, for
the reason that the business interests
of the country would not stand by
and permit such a plan to be put into
effect.
The striking miners are enthusiast
tic over the conventions action, and
most of them can see only success in
the proposition.
An absolutely trustworthy source
is authority for the statement that
the special convention will be called
probably at Indianapolis, in the course
OF several weeks. According to the
oficials Of the United Mine Workers,
a petition signed by FIVE mine work.
ers' districts is necessary to call
special convention. The three an
thracite districts are unanimous for
such a meeting, and it is likely that
the West Virginia district and the
Michigan district will consent to the
issuance of the call. The two latter
districts now have small but stubborn
strikes in progress, and they will
doubtless consent to the call, so they,
too, may receive the benefit of what
ever may be accomplished.
Other Miners to Strike.
National OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES W. B.
Wilson, Of Indianapolis, said yester-
day that within the next two or three
weeks, regardless of the special con-
vention, 10000 men in Virginia and
West Virginia, and from $4,000 to 90
600 in the soft coal region Of Central
Pennsylvania will be on strike. They
will be called out. he said, for the
purpose Of forcing the mine owners to
give them higher wages and incl
dentally to help the anthracite work
ers. These men. he went on to say,
are partly organized, local unions hav-
ing been established in all localities
in those regions, and he felt confident
that the non-union men will respond
to the strike call as readily as did
the anthracite miners in the fall Of
1900.
A point has been raised that the
United Nine Workers cannot call out
the men employed by companies with
whom the miners have yearly con-
tracts or wage agreements, but Sec
rotary Wilson said that such is not
the case. He said that the mine
workers organization respects all
such agreements or contracts. but
added that a general convention has
power to abrogate them if it seeks
such action necessary.
Civic Federation May Take Hold.
Washington, May 1.-THE Ma
tional Civic Federation has under