New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-15
MITCHELL TELLS OF GAIN.
coal DINERS HEAR HIM
Conference of anthracite Workers
Begins at Shamokin, Penn.

shamokin Penn, Dec 1.-THE tridistrict con-
vention of the United Mine Workers of the anthra-
cite coal fields opened here to-day with go dele-
gates in attendance representing 10S6OO union men,
A few local residents occupied the ganery OF the
opera house the first floor being for delegates
Chief Burgess David Shuster delivered welcom-
ing address, after which President Mitchell Oelils
unanimously elected chairman, was greeted with
handclapping and cheers as he stepped 1or"dIu
TO address the convention He said III part
In declaring this convention formally open It
is not nv purpose TO make extended ADDRESS.
cannot refrain however from giving expression
to the pleasure feel upon seeing many men
who have during the last three years hePe tbed
the evolving of the miner, the Development OF hls
M eoS Inc e {or generations have been oppressed
and crushed. DO not know whether Sou ~. LIZ
place among the anthracite miners It Is salo Inae
the only one who sees Iaraq fee I cogmn pass by
The mine workers to be congratulated on me
COCO psg 10 eanngs Everywhere are ev
fences of increased intelligence OF petter Hsi d
more cheerful childhood. If by any chance our
beloved organization should pass. the f vi tine
to every citizen who is dependent on f sne
John Gallagher of Hazleton. secretary Of Dis
+;ct No :. was elected secretary, after which
collection was taken up by the three district sec
retaries for some OF the victims OF the Lattlmer
riot of 1897 when Sheriff Martins deputies nreo
into a marching body of strikers. Inc coAecllo '
AA0@4iONOAA
Of miners.
After the committees on resolutions and wage
scale were appointed, the convention adjourned un-
I'll tomorrow. The resolution committee Is com
nosed Of three delegates from each district ana
the wage scale committee Of seven from each as
+,4c+ metal badge bearing on side Eight
Hour Day. was distributed by officers to delegates
Immediately after adjournment the wage scale
committee assembled in President M1tcheiIs rooms
at the Windsor Hotel and commenced work 1ney
fjy7or for
resuung their task until $780, when they ADJOURNED
until tomorrow morning. Delegates feel little
doubt but that a demand for an eight-hour cay
and recognition of the union will be Incorporated
in the report of this committee. along with sh
increase of wages from 10 to 20 per cent The
renor+ of the committee it is expected, will be
made tomorrow.
Business of the convention to-day was trans
acted thoroughly and rapidly. President Nltcneh
and his lieutenants have paved the way Tor clear
field in which the remaining business VIII Dc
rushed and unless the fact that most OF the dele
gates are unfnstrueted may cause an extraorol-
nary discussion over some Of the demands the END
may be reached Saturday evening. The Panther
Creek delegation will ask that the demands shah
include the reinstatement of forty men who were
discharged by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Company in the 1902 tie-up
The credentiaI committee report Of delegates to-
dav showed paid-up union membership OF 1Uo'0V
in the three districts represented IN the conVen-
ton
The miners leaders plan to request conference
of the operators This will be made in the form
of a resolution, and the following demands II Is
said will be made if the conference is granted;
party agreement, better known as recognition
of the union.
An eight hour work day: -
An increase in pay to all classes OF enpIoyes OF
at least 10 per cent, and possibly 20 per cent pased
on the wages in effect April l. lSO2
This would mean that the miners would receive
about the same as under the present award, and
for some unskilled employees it would mean slight
increase.