The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-08
DOLAN SAYS THERE WILL BE NO STRIKE Matter Will Be Referred to
 the Miners FOUR STATES WILL VOTE President Mitchell Says He Is Unable to Predict What the Outcome
 Will Be, But Majority
 Shall Rule.
FOUR STATES WILL VOTE

Indianapolis, Ind, March 7.-The United Mine Workers in national convention to- day, voted to refer the final decision as to accepting the wage offer of the opera tors to the locals
 The vote of the locals will be cast on March 15 and the result will be counted at the national headquarters in this city March IT. Only the miners of the four states forming the central competitive district will be allowed to vote.
 The action of the miners was taken In executive session after a discussion last ing two hours. The report of the special committee appointed to consider and make recommendations on the situation was read by its chairman, President Mitchell National Secretary Wilson was secretary of the committee The report was adopted by sections and was as fol- lows:
 We, your committee appointed for the purpose of drafting for presentation to this convention q general policy for the direction of the organization in the crisis that now confronts us, beg leave to re- port as follows:
 Report of Committee. s1"1. That the ultimatum of the operators be ratified to the members in those dis trcts whose contracts expire on April l. 1904. to determine by ballot whether they will accept or reject the proposition.
 "2. That the ballot shall be taken on the afternoon of Tuesday March 15, be- tween the hours of 1 and o'clock
 "3 That the mines shall be idle on the afternoon of March 15 in order to give anyone an opportunity who desires to.
 A. Each local shall select an. election board. who shall receive and count the ballots and make returns of the same to the national officers.
 '5. Every member shall be furnished with a ballot on which the following words are printed: Those who favor accepting the ultimatum of the operators rather than strike mark an X in the square, Those who favor a strike rather than accept the ultimatum of the opera tors mark x in the square,
 "6. The election boards shall send the result of the vote to the national secre- tary-treasury not later than Wednesday, March 16 in an envelope especially marked Ballot Returns which shall be opened only by the national tellers and the vote shall be counted by them.
 '7. Any district desiring may select one person at it's own expense to act as watcher while the ballet is being opened and counted.
 Q. Ht ltlitls Sldll Hetl III on Thursday March H. for the purpose of counting the vote.
 "9. That the ballots shall be furnished to each local union by the national or ganization.
 Circular Shall Be Furnished. '10. In order that the members may i thoroughly understand the situation as it exists, the national officers are hereby au- thorized to send out circular containing such recommendations as in their judg- ment will best promote the interest of the organization and it's members. President John Mitchell of the miners said this evening:
 "I cannot predict what the outcome of the vote will be. I do not wish to influence the membership now. All I wish to say Is that the membership of the organiza- tion in the states whose contracts expire April 1 will be free to vote their senti- ments, and those sentiments will be care fully canvassed, and the majority shall rule"
 The vote of the locals will be reported on totals of individual ballots, which means that the total vote will govern. A majority vote in single local will not commit that local to a unit vote. Patrick Dolan of the Pttsburg miners | said:
 "The action of the conference places the 1 chances of strike beyond a possibility. | There will be no strike of the bituminous miners"