Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-05
BACK TO THE MINES,
SAYS MITCHELL
There Will Be No Strike of Coal
Miners.
DECISIVE ACTION TODAY
Employees Will Resume Work on Old
Terms
OF ANTHRACITE COMMISSION
Report of Scale Committee Was
Adopted by the Convention After
55 Minutes Discussion.

There will be no strike of the
miners in the anthracite coal fields,
providing the operators will agree
to give every man his old place and
reinstate those who have been dis
missed because they obeyed the
suspension order of John Mitchell.
This was the agreement reached at
today's session of the convention.
The convention did not adjourn,
however, President Mitchell re-
questing that the delegates remain
in Scranton until the scale commit
tee reports the result OF its meeting
with the operators, which will prob
ably be held in New York on Mon
day, if the operators agree to meet
the miners representatives.
The no strike decision was reach
ed after President Mitchell and
National Secretary-Treasurer Will
son had addressed the delegates,
recommending that the 1903 award
be continued. A resolution to this
effect was Offered and unanimously
adopted, after which the conven-
ton adjourned.
SCRANTON Pa, May 5.-There will be
no strike of the anthracite miners; that is
a settled conclusion. for such is the advice
of President Mitchell and National Secre-
ory-Treasurer Wilson and others OF the
leaders who today addressed the convention
of the miners before the report of the scale
committee was presented. Their addresses
fully forecasted the report which the COM
rntttee would make. The suspension order
will be raised, and the miners VIII go back
TO work upon the terms OF the award of the
anthracite strike commission of 1903, which
the operators were willing to have con-
tinued. and Will later seek to obtain
through the conciliation board or by arbi-
tration. the bettering Of conditions which
they complain are working hardships on
them.
The report Of the scale committee recon-
mending the return OF the miners to work
under the anthracite commissions award
was adopted by the convention after fifty
five minutes discussion The convention
adjourned until Tuesday TO give the scale
committee opportunity to confer with the
operators.
Eager for the recommendation of the
scale committee 10 guide them in deciding
whether there shall be peace or war in the
hard coal fields the delegates TO the United
Mine Workers convention reassembled at
in, he ~
house.
The subscale committee to which
referred the detail of formulating the pro-
posal 70 be submitted to the convention,
met again before this mornings session to
put the final touches @on their report
The Two Alternatives.
OF ne two alternatives before the COM
mittee which would insure peaceful solu-
tion of the question. the acceptance of the
anthracite award had & strong support. 1t
was urged In behalf Of this plan that 1t
would defeat the evident intention OF the
operators 20 force strike and TO arouse
public sentiment against the United Mine
Workers.
Those favoring the continuance of the 1909
scale refrain from asking the operators 10
arbitrate on the basis proposed by George
=. Baer and his cOnferees, on the ground
that the plan is unfair and does not include
want adjusted
The concilfation board as the arbitrating
body FOR local grievances is n part OF the
acceptance Of the 1903 plan The members
OF the scale committee who favor returning
70 work under the old scale say they will be
able 10 strengthen the union for a more de-
Cisive struggle in the future.
Many Of the delegates regard the accent
ance Of any of the operators proposals as
defeat. They are OF the radical element
and were strong for a strike at any cost
~frgv4 Fna..~ l..
hearing the discussions in the convention
they have not modified their opinions mucn
but are willing to entertain the suggestions
OF John Mitchell and his advisers 1t Is
difficult for them to understand why the
union VIII not lose prestige with the public
II II sends the men back TO work without
gaining any concessions after keeping them
IDLE for six weeks.
Mitchells Address to Delegates.
In addressing the delegates after the con-
vention met President Mitchell said he IS
opposed TO a limited form OF arbitration:
that such form of arbitration might
1eopardize what the men already have;
that II might take from the income of the
ligher paid men and add IL 10 that OF the
men receiving less money u am unalter-
ably opposed TO any scheme that will tend
10 reduce the wa1ts of any class OF en-
ployes." he said; 1T is not right to taks
a cent from any OF them"
National Secretary Treasurer Wilson fol-
lowed Mr.. Mitchell. and the tone of his re-
marks were favorable 10 peace. Mr.. Will
son said If the men believed themselves in
position TO strike he would advise them
10 strike and to remain away from the
mines until they had gained what they
would be striking for. He was fearful.
however, that should a strike be inaug-
urated the miners would find the companies
IN a position to stand out indefinitely and
eventually wreck the organization. He
said:
II believe the operators in a large meas
ure would welcome strike, as they have
on hand a considerable supply of surplus