Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-21
MINERS CONVENTION,
TWO SESSIONS HELD AND COMMIT
TEE ON RESOLUTION AP-
POINTED.
THEY ADJOURN UNTIL TO-DAY.
President Mitchell Urged Acceptance
and Met with Great Applause.
A SETTLEMENT FoREsHADowED
B1ocl<-.1r. Mitchell Said il the
Men Were Not All Given Back
Their Places the Question Would
Be Carried to the Tribunal the
President Had Appointed.

WILKESBARRE, PA. October 20
The anxously awaited convention of the
$4,000 striking miners met to-day. but did
not reach vote upon the proposed plan
of settlement. 1t is expected to do so
tomorrow. There were 662 delegates pres
ent in the Nesbitt Theatre, where the
convention was held, and they were en-
powered by their local unions to cast
s67 votes for or against President Roose-
velt's proposed plan of arbitration.
The great majority of delegates were
unnstructed, the few who were being en-
gineers 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.
The Only Stumbling Block.
The question of the engineers, fire.
men, and pumpnen, proved the only
stumbling block in the way Of almost
immediate adoption OF the Presidents
plan, which carries with it the declaring
the strike off. and general resumption
of work through the It's mile strip of the
hard-coal mining region.
Steam Mems Earnest Plea.
At one time to-day it seemed certain
that the convention was about to adopt
the recomm endation of President Mitch
ell to end the strike. but the steam mems
plea was too earnest, and the final vote
went over until tomorrow, when 1t IS
is next to certain the vote to declare the
strike off will show big majority for
it. The leaders of the strike. except Mr.
Mitchell, were harly heard in the con-
yention to-doy, the anxious engineers be-
ing allowed to give full expression to
their feelings.
Not More Than Is Adverse Votes.
But to morrow, it is predicted, the lead
crs will be heard. and one of them, a high
high district officer, said to-day there
would be no more tnan fifteen votes re-
corded against the plan which the Pres1-
dent of the United States has proposed to
them, and which all the highest ofhclals
of the mine workers in this region earn
estly have recomnen ended.
Committee on Resolutions.
There were two sessions, forenoon and
a afternoon. to-day, and the net result as
regards the progress of the convention
towards it's great object was perma-
nent organization, with Mr. Mltchel IN
the chair his speech laying the Presi-
dents plan before the delegates, his eio-f
quent impromptu speech advocating It's
adoption, and the appointment of a COM,
nittee on Resolutions. This committee
as Mr.. Mitchell said to the delegates
would prepare formal statement to the
public telling fully and carefully why
the convention decided to continue the
strike. If it should SO decide, and why
the strike was declared off, II that was
the outcome Of their deliberations.
The question before the convention
which adjourned for the day, was on the
adoption of the resolution embodied III
President Mitchel's opening speech to call
off the strike and leave all questions to
the Presidents commission. The surprise
of the convention to-day was the de-
cision to admit newspaper men TO all the
sessions, open or executive, when even
union miners, eagerly waiting by the hum
dreds out in the street, couio not get iiil'
the theatre.
Won Victory Twice.
Twice the newspaper men won vic
tory by big ma ajorites. First, when on
petition from them asking to be allowed
to remain, motion to grant the request
was carried; and later, when motion
was made to reconsider the first vote to
admit. The pleas which won were that
the reporters represented the people, tnat
public opinion had helped the strikers,
and that the best way to get an accurate
report Of this convention, of immediate
and vast national Importance. was TO
LET the press representatives stay there
on the spot.
Even the suggestion of a Press Com
mittee of delegates to give the news to
the correspondents was turned down by
the convention.
Called to Order.
District President r. D. Nichols, of
Scranton, called the convention into ses-
sion at 1920. twenty minutes after the
time set for its beginning. On account
of pressure Of business at strike head
quarters. President Mitchell was unable
to be present until the afternoon ses-
sion.
The morning session was taken up with
reports on credentials, and adjourned at
Has until 2 P. NJ.
Afternoon Session.
The afternoon session began at 2:1O
o'clock with only the accredited dele
gates and small army of newspaper
men present. The proceedings for awhile
moved rapidly. Without any speech
making, Mr.. Mitchell was elected perma-
nent chairman. and National Secretary
Treasurer W. B. Wilson was selected as
the permanent secretary. Just as the
election of the two officers was ended,
President Mitchell walked on the stage.
The instant the delegates saw him they
rose en- masse and cheered their leader
for several minutes.
The first question to come up was that
of admitting reporters, and when this
had been settled, the strike leader began
reading his carefully-prepared opening ad-
dress Mr. Mitchell said:
Gentlemen: In opening this convention
for the transaction of business, ! take
pleasure in extending warm greeting and
welcome to the accredited representatives
of the 10000, men and boys whose heroic
struggle for living wages and American
conditions of employment mas won the
admiration of the whole civilized world
Language is inadequate to express the
sense of pride feel in you and those you
represent Your noble defense Of the
principles of unionism endears you to
every man and every woman In our land
who works for a livelihood. When the
history OF the struggles Of the toilers
shall be written its pages will record no
event more important, no principle more
ably defended; no battle more bravely
fought than the contest which I earnestly
hope is now about to be happily ended.
| It is not my progress to review the
purpose Of the strike or even to enumer-
ate the important events which have now
pa ssed into history. Imprinted indeAbly
,,ro.z tha heartG Of eur SpAonlA ara tha