The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-16
MINERS SHOW BITTERNESS.
STRONG AND ANGRY TALK DE.
VELOPSAT SCRANTON NETTING.
Iniammat0ry Talk At the Convention In
Scranton to Cheese ConcillAtors-
Nit cheil Controls the Moetin8 With
Dmculty-Negro Delegate HoQted Al.

SCRANTON, Pa, June 15-The conven-
ton of the United Mine Workers, which
began at Music Hall in this city to-day,
developed much strong feeling There
was also speech by John mitchell, in
which he spoke of the effect on trade
unonism of the award Of the anthra-
cite strike commission. Secretary George
Hartine Of District No. o also made an in
flammatory speech and was called down
for it by Willis Tarr, the only. negro dele
gate in the convention. who halls from
Shamokln,
Many persons here we're surprised by the
strong expressions that began Last night
and which grew steadily this morning.
II wac soon long beiore the afternoon $685.
sion ended to-day that the miners are
terribly in earnest in their controversy
with the operators over the Board OF Con-
Citation Their speeches in the open
session rang with bitterness and some
had note OF defiance In them that
sounded most unpleasantly in the ears
OF those who are seeking peaceful solu-
ton of the present troubles.
John Mitchell held the convention well
In hand and by the mere exercise Of his
will avoided several critical situations
this afternoon. His speech to the delegates
was in measure conservative, but his
remark, This is q grave crisis" showed
what he thought Of the situation. Not
vithstanding the bitterness of The men
over alleged i'll treatment and the fact that
the delegates include a number who have
not had employment since the strike, it Is
the belief of the more level-headed men
here tonight that strike will be avoided.
t1hn n rf mi
as far as that and many other conservative
leaders are seeking to ward OF another
suspension. Dr. Neil. the computer OF
the sliding scale increase. takes a gloomy
view of the situation, but many say that
he has paid too close attention to the bonn
bast Of some OF the hotheads.
John Mitchell met the three district
presidents in conference shortly after Q
o'clock this morning. Their talk lasted
three quarters Of an hour At 1912 Mitchell
went to the convention hall. where he was
received with applause, but no cheers.
The morning session was brief After the
selection Of Mitchell as chairman and
George Hartline az secretary the report
of the Committee on Credentials was taken
up. This business was concluded quickly.
and the convention adjourned until
O lock in the afternoon. At the afternoon
,'ession President Mitchell announced that
the Committee on Credentials had found
that there were $40 delegates in attendance,
representing $40 locals and having 9s5
votes. Mr.. Mitchell then made his speech
He said
"The strike of the anthracite miners
last year and the invest CATION that followed
II have done more to advance the interests
.,nl
in the history OF our country. Trade union
ism has made unparalleled progress since
the close OF the strike. Every branch Of
industry has profited by il,
"You are here to take action in relation
to the refusal of the coal operators to recog-
your representatives on the Board of Con-
ciliation, This is a grave crisis. We
must do nothing that we cannot defend.
The award Of the strike commission was
US all that we wanted We did not got half
OF all that we asked. We got an increase
In wages and a reduction in the hours of
toll, but only half Of what we believed We
deserved. But whatever disappointment
may have come to us we can we'll AFFORD to
accept our failure. and 10 carry out the
award as though We got everything we
asked. lApplause.l
Mr.. Mitchell explained that each dele
gate would have five minutes to discuss
the Cancellation Board feature. The dele
gates at once began to avail themselves of
the opportunity to speak. Some one
moved that a committee on resolutions be
appointed by district presidents and that
all matters be referred to them to be fermu-
lated into their report
Mr.. Nichol said that he did not want
to have anything 10 do with the appoint
st II
have to do with matters In which he was
personally Interested. The operators would
take advantage Of every opportunity
for report from the district presid ents
with reference to the manner in which
they had been treated by the operators.
An that we know about it ia what We
have read in the newspapers. he protested.
A man named Gildea wanted TO take up
at once the matter of indorsing the three
district presidents as conciliators. At this
time a standing vote was taken on the
motion that the district presidents appoint
a committee on resolutions. 1t was
lost by a large majority. 4 motion was
then adopted that committee on reso-
lutions be appointed by the chair This
was followed by general discussion.
TOT tTe HVst tlTuc tne WoI(lS oI tne con-
sentative miners began to be heard. The
conciliators should be elected by the dele
gates Of the different districts, they urged
so that the operators, naturally inclined
to criticise the miners, could not find peg
on which to hang a technical objection
gray haired delegate proposed that the
oonve ntion at once go into district meet :
ngs for the purpose Of choosing concilia-
tors A deluge Of motions. all looking to
the indoTse ment at once Of the three dis
Irict pre- sidents as coAciators brought
Mr.. Mitchell to his feet with suggestion
that he did not think 1t wise to adopt any
such motion at this time. He thought
it best to discuss the matter at length so
that the Committee on resolutions could
learn the sentiment of the convt ntion.
This would be Of use to them while the y
were formulating their report.
II think it important that resolutions
should be adopte ed" he said.
There was a renewed clamor at this time
Cor report from the district presidents
One delegate with a heavy voice and a
Nitrio!ic manner suggested that the miners
should not too freely indulge the operators
in their whms Here is where the bitter
ness toward the operators began to appear
There was a storm Of criticism of
them. mainly because they had taken
advantage Of technical points, "a most Of
the orators alleged. Some delegates said