Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-04
THE COAL STRIKE ISSUE
Slight Hope for a Peaceful Set
tIement. 1k
MINERS DEBATING PLANS
Mitchell Keenly Alive to Gravity Of
the Crisis.
FAVOR REFERENDUM VOTE
Entire Morning Session at Scranton
Devoted to Hearing the Opinions
Of Various Delegates.
FAVOR REFERENDUM VOTE

SCRANTON, Pa. May 4.-There seems
but slight hope for a peaceful settlement
OF the controversy In the anthracite coal
field. A large number of the delegates to
the United Mine Workers convention ex-
press the opinion that a strike is their only
alternative.
A decision is looked for today or tomorrow
at the latest. President Mitchell is en-
deavoring to find way of obviating exc
treme measures. and although he is reticent
concerning the report that the final de-
cision may be by referendum vote 1t is said
the delegates are seriously considering that
method.
John Fahy is the only district president
who has said that he regards the referen-
dunn vote as likely way to per1ait the
workmen themselves to vote for or against
strike.
William Dettrey does not approve of the
method. He SAYS the delegates are empow-
cred to vote for their locals and they have
had every opportunity during the past
month to feel the pulse of the workers.
Realize Much at Stake.
President Mitchell and the leaders realize
that the question before the convention now
not only involves the future of the United
Mine Workers as an organization, but that
it will either strengthen OF weaken John
Mitchell as, labor leader. With the bitum-
lnous fight on his hands. as well the an
thracite problem, Mr. Mitchell Is keenlY
alive to the gravity Of the crisis.
Fahy and Dettrey, the presidents of the
Schuylkill and Lehigh districts. out
spoken in favor of a strike and they voice
the feeling of the delegates from then To-
Gals, who are wrought up over the shooting
by the state police at Mount Carmel and
the riding by mounted patrols about the
roads of their districts.
President Mitchell gave much time this
morning to the consideration of corresponds
ence received in the morning mail he
said nothing had developed which would
have any bearing on the present attitude of
the delegates, and he did not seem to have
any immediate hope of anything that would
make for a peaceful outcome of their
deliberations.
The convention was prompt In assem-
bling, the delegates being in their places
when District President Nichols called
them to order at 10 o'clock. Immediately
a distribution was made of printed copies
of the correspondence between the miners
scale committee and the operators, and
when this was completed President Mitchell
took the gavel and the convention at once
went into executive session and the morn
ing was occupied with the presentation
of the views of the individual delegates.
this being the plan adopted by Mitchell
and the anthracite district presidents in all
the gatherings which have heretofore been
held by them.
Delegates Right to Speak.
This convention will be no exception and
every delegate desiring to speak viii be
heard before the vote will be taken upon
the question OF strike or no strike.
In the letter OF the scale committee SUBJ
mitting their report was the following Sig
nifcant paragraph: IF 1t is true-and we
believe it is-that the operators have made
their final proposition, there is nothing left
for us to do but to accept, for period or
three years, a renewal of the award of
the anthracite coal strike commission or
the conditional and restricted method Of
arbitration proposed by the operators. or
to strike until we secure better conditions
than are now offered by our employers"
In his verbal report yesterday Mr.. Mitch
ell did not place the alternative of accept
ing the three-year award before the con-
ventlon. 1t is possible that the leaders
of the conservative element will advocate
the adoption OF this course.
The convention adjourned at 11:45 until
1:30 this afternoon, without any decisive
action having been taken. The entire MORN
ing was devoted to hearing the opinions
OF various delegates on the operators re-
fusal to grant any of the demands.