The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-05-04

known until Friday afte saoon or sstu
The convention developed strike senti-
ment which was unexpected by nearly
every one except, perhaps, John Mitchell
and the district presidents OF the or
ganlzation.
From 2;30 until i;3o o'clock inflammatory
speeches were made one after another
with scarce n man raising his voice In
favor OF Industrial peace. and then John
Mitchell arose in his calm manner and
made an address lasting perhaps ten min
utes. I'm which practically all that ne said
was that IL was up 20 the miners TO pass
upon this matter themselves, that he had
laid the case before them and II was for
them TO declare whether they should ac-
cept the proposition OF the operators and
go back 10 work. or show their resent
ment by declaring strike.
MITCHELL CHEERED.
Some questions having been raised about
matters concerning which he had spoken
Mitchell again took the floor and spoke
for nearly five minutes. What he said
could not be heard through the thick
doors OF the convention hall. but when
he sat down he wac greeted by cheers :
Nevertheless, when the convention two
minuts later adjourned and delegates
were asked what position Mitchell had
taken they answered in manner that
showed that they were rather puzzled; (;
that his remarks were thoroughly nom
commltal.
Ii is worthy of some attention that
all the out-of-town newspaper correspon-
dents In the city last night seem to have
gained the impression that a strike ap-
pears Inevitable and will be declared be-
fore the convention adJourns on Satur-
day.
Nevertheless some advocates OF peace
have another scheme which they Will
urge with the referendum. and that is
that the convention refer the matter back
10 the scale committee. with instructions
10 make another attempt to arrive at an
agreement with the operators.
BETTER CLASS OF DELEGATES.
The two sessions of the convention that
were held yesterday demonstrated that
the character OF the men composing It is
better than has been the case at most all
other conventions OF the union held In
recent years. There were leys foreign
speaking miners among the delegates and
they were well dressed and generally
prosperous appearing
The morning session. that lasted Just
half an hour. was OF little consequence.
but that OF the afternoon was unex-
pectedly important. inasmuch as II
showed the temper OF the convention and
that was that they were greatly exer-
cised over the refusal OF the operators
TO grant concessions OF any kind.
The belief that strike Is unavoidable
has finally extended TO the Independent,
operators and the general managers o.
the coal-carrying companies. One OF the
latter, who has been very optimistic 10
date, said this evening that he was con-
vinced from the speeches made in the
convention yesterday afternoon that there
will be a strike Others were not as posi-
tive In their statements, but their hope
fulness was gone.
COMMITTEE ENDORSED.
At 230 o'clock yesterday afternoon the
convention indorsed the acton OF the
scale committee. in addressing the dele.
gates President Mitchell told them that
the final proposition OF the operators was
that the award of the anthracite strike
commission be continued for three years
or that the question OF wages be referred
20 the anthracite coal strike commission
or such members as are willing TO serve.
proeidng that the miners can show a
change I'm the coal industry TO support
their contentious.
In discussing the work of the scale COM
mttee in its negotiations with the opera
tors. Mr. Mitchell said that he and his
colleagues went as far as they had au-
thority to go and probably a little bit
further. He described the progress of the
negotiations with the operators, and then
related their final proposition TO the
miners.
Mr.. Mitchell stated that IL would take
three hours TO read all the correspondence
that had passed during the negotiations.
On motaon the reading was dispensed
with, and 1t was decided 90 have the
correspondence printed in pamphlet form
and distributed among the delegates to-
morrow.
fact which has not been known In
this city and which will be learned with
great interest is that Rt. Rev. M. j.
Hogan, bishop OF the Scranton diocese
OF the Catholic church. was In Washing
ton on Monday OF this week. and had a
conference with the president.
That the coal strike situation was the
subject OF discussion was admitted yester-
day by the bishop when he was seen by
correspondent but just what was sai1
he was not willing TO divulge. Bisho1
Hogan said the president expressed him
self as deeply interested I'm the crisis
which now confronts the country. The
bishop declined to say whether Presiden,