New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-04
A MINERS CONVENTION.
CALLED FOR JUNE Is.
Ii H7W vote on Strike Question
Operators Define Their Position.
EBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIRuxEI

wilkesharre, Penn, June 3.-The operators TO-
dav defined their reason for refusing to recog-
rize District Presidents Nichols. Dettry and
Fahey members OF the Cancellation board,
=, hile the district board members called q con-
yention OF mine workers TO be held at Potts
,-,le on June 10. This convention will decide
whether there is TO be suspension Of work or
. compliance with the wishes of the operators
The spirit OF the mine workers here is that
there viii be a strike unless the operators agree
n accept the three district presidents es mem
hers Of the Cancellation board without further
rarley.
The operators issued the following statement
this evening
Referring TO the official announcement Of the rep
resentatives OF the United Mine Workers of Amer
io as s nos 81 rS sete6 Ie t ION
board OF concIation is that the recognition OF the
the questions submitted 10 the Strike Commission
appearing before the commission simply as a rep
-ssenJative OF the anthracite mine workers; that
-he award Of the commission specifically asserted
thar the recognition Of the United Mine Workers
5ie- that award No. l. providing for the board OF
concation. lays down certain rules for the appoint
res Of the operators have been appointed strictly
within the terms Of said award. and there IS no
objection on their part 10 cordially accepting
Nessrs Nichols Dettry and Fahey the repre-
T ma oritv Of the mine WorEers as specifeG IN
he award OF the commission. The objection is
eentarives OF the United Mine workers Of America
appointed by executive committee without au-
-hority for such appointment
The operators representatives feel that It Is
highly important that the formation Of the board
nf conciIiaticn be accepted by both interested
parties strictly in accordance with the award
of the commission, IN order that It's rulings
may be received without question, and not be
open 70 the criticism Of having been made by a
board not fully qualified TO act. The operators
sre willing II is understood. If the delegates to
the Pottsville convention are instructed TO vote
for members Of the board Of conciliation. TO
abide by the result Of that vote, even II Nichols
Tssrtry and Fahey are chosen, and in the call for
the convention issued tonight by the district
boards there is paragraph directing that II
the locals want their delegates to vote they
must be instructed TO DO SO. This woulG result
IN z strike being avoided and the conservative
miners believe that IT viii be done. There are,
however, many who. srnarting under the existing
grievances. are crying for g suspension Of work
unless the operators recede from the position
they have now taken.
Another session OF the principal members OF
the district boards may be held tomorrow. To-
night e number OF the members went TO their
homes. President Mitchell is expected 10 attend
the convention IN PottsyiIe and direct the nina
workers in the crisis.
When District President Fahey, chairman Of
the miners representatives the Cancellation
Board, saw the statement tonight Of the opera
TOTS he said:
There was no meeting of the stockholders Of the
CsI corrrspfes called for the purpose OF appoint
tng the operators side the Cancellation Board,
hut the Representatives Of the stockholders, the
o-7cizls of the company. met and selected tbelr
representatives.. The mine workers selected their
members, not by calling meeting OF al thelr
members stockholders but by their organiza-
tior. through their representatives as empowered
The rules and regulations IF their organization,
which does exist and provided by the award
OF the Coal Strike Commission.
We raise 70 question as TO the manner tn which
the operators selected their represen tatives and
II least hopeo for the same treatment at their
hands our understanding is that miners and
operators shall. stand equal footing in every
r-sv on .he Board OF Cancellation