The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-06-16
OPERATORS MUST DECIDE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR STRIKETO
 BE PUT ON THEM.
Special Convention Of Mine Workers Opinion Favors Simply Endorsing Action of Executive Board and Leay- ing It to the Railroad Presidents to Accept the District Mine Presidents as ConciIiatOrs or Take Consequences of Strike.


 Scranton, Pa, June 15.-The special convention of the United Mine Workers of the three anthracite districts, called for the purpose of dealing with the re- fusal of the operators to recognize the conciliators appointed by the joint ex- ecutive board, opened here to-day, with National President John Mitchell pre- siding and $40 delegates in attendance. The conciliation matter and all other grievances the different districts want to have considered were referred to committee on resolutions composed of seven delegates from each district and the three district presidents. This com- mittee met tonight and will present a report for revision or adoption at to- morrow's session of the convention. The sentiment almost unanimously ex- pressed in the motions and speeches was in favor of the convention content ing itself with endorsing the action of the executive board and leaving it to the operators to accept the three. dis trict presidents as conciliators or take the consequences of their refusal. Not few of the delegates declared openly for strike to enforce acceptance of the district presidents credentials as they now stand.
 In opening the convention this after noon President Mitchell made brief speech reviewing the events that have transpired since the close of the strike, and making suggestions as to what plan of procedure the convention should fol- low. He said in part:
 What the district presidents have to report can be told in a nutshell. The operators refused to recognize your rep resentatiyes on the conciliation board on the pretext that the commission did not mean what it said. The commits sion said if there was majority organ ization existing in all three districts such organization should appoint. The word appoint is used twice. No men, tion is made of the word elect The operators say that it meant something else. As understand it, the three rep resentatives of the operators are not agreed as to just what the commission did not mean. We don't propose to al- low the operators to be the sole inter- preters of the commissions award. It, was written in plain English, and we understand the English language quite as well as they. Besides, we have an authenticated interview from Judge Gray in which he says that the ap pointment might be made by the regu- larly constituted officers of the majority organization, and that certainly means the three executive boards.
 fian - fSiT fdIIr1srsa with a spirited speech in which he pro- voked resounding cheers by declaring: q can see a six months strike in every one of your faces to get what we are entitled to-"
 + At the opening of the afternoon ses- sion President Mitchell addressed the convention. He said in part:
 "The refusal of the mine owners to live up to the award of the strike com- mission is decided disappointment to me- was hopeful, after our long strike and after the commission had made it's award, that each side would accept it. I desire to say that if the United Mine Workers should refuse to comply with the award would be the first to con- demn them. We intend to live up to the very letter of the award and there fore it is not unreasonable for us to ex- pect the other side to live up to it. It is grave question which confronts you. We must approach this question with great care. We must do nothing we cannot defend. I might say for myself that am hopeful we may find an hon. orable way out of the calamity. The commissioners award was not a great financial victory for us, but it was great moral victory We can afford to bear our disappointment and live up to the award.
 "Let me make suggestion. You are here to discuss this matter, and every delegate to this convention must have a fair chance to voice his views. When you have reached a decision let every delegate present go back home with de- termination to do everything possible to have the plan agreed upon carried out"
 After the transaction of some routine business the convention at 3:30 adjourn ed to give the resolution committee am opportunity to frame it's report.
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