Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-03
MINERS ARE CONVENED
To Take Final Action in the
Pending Issue.
$50 PRESENT AT SCRANTON
Feeling Dominant That Strike Will
Be Declared,
MITCHELL'S COUNSEL PREVAILS
Much Conjecture Over Visit of Labo.
Commissioner Neill-Comment
Over Pennypacker's Action.
$50 PRESENT AT SCRANTON
MITCHELL'S COUNSEL PREVAILS

| SCRANTON, Pa, May 8-Surcharged
with the feeling that strike will be tho
only means by which their demands ,1pon
the anthracite operators can be realized
the 80 delegates representing districts 4.
and OF the United Mine Workers GOV.
ering the hard coal field of PENNSYLVANIA
assembled In Joint convention In the Lacka.
wanna county court house this morning.
their national president. John Mitchell.
presiding. Against this feeling OF the
| miners delegates there will be but ona
controlling element and that will be tho
counsel that will come from Mitchell. for
| many OF them, perhaps the majority. have
been advised by their locals to be guided by
his counsel.
Here, in the metropolis OF the anthracite
| region, the people are about reconciled to
the fact that the convention will declare a
strike, and the only thing they feel can
possibly avert IL may be the recommenda.
tion, when the real Issue comes that in-
stead of the convention taking positive
action 1t refer the matter back to the locals
for referendum vote.
The convention assembled at 10 .05 o. clock,
the court house being crowded with deleI
gates and spectators, the general public
| being admitted at the opening session.
Mitchell for Presiding officer.
On the call for nominations for presiding
officer President Mitchell was unanimously
chosen. Secretary John Gallagher Of
district No. was made secretary, on tho
declination OF District President Nlcholls.
The credentials of the delegates were call.
ed for and while this was proceeding Pres.
ident Mitchell named the sergeants- "a arms
and doorkeepers. After the appointment
Of various committees a recess was taken
until / 80 this afternoon.
The appearance here yesterday of DR..
Charles =. States fla
missioner of labor. has given rise TO much
conjecture among the delegates. They are
of the opinion that he acted as an ennis.
sary of the White House and that he wili
report to President Roosevelt the views OF
John Mitchell on the possibility of ADJUST
ing the differences with the operators With
out strike being declared TO force them
TO terms.
Neill's Secret Conference.
The secret nature of the commssioners
coming to Scranton and his conference with
the mine workers leader at the home OF q
mutual friend have outweghed the state-
ments of DR.. Nell that he did not repre-
sent President Roosevelt.
Mitchell has refused to discuss the visit at
all, and the members of the scale commit
tee are a unit in saying that they do not
know anything about the subjects discussed
by their leader and the labor commissioner.
They are not inclined to think that Presl-
dent Roosevelt will intervene at this timo
to prevent a strike, but, if one is declared.
they think 1t probable he will use his In
fiuence to bring about a settlement when
the public begins TO suffer from want or
fuel.
Gov. Pennypacker's proclamation has had
the effect of arousing the radical element
among the delegates. They say they were
not surprised that he should have tried To
intimidate them by such a manifesto bur
the possibility of the entire National Guard
of the state being again ordered into the
hard coal fields does not alarm them. They
point to the fact that the division WAS in
the fields during the last strike and had
nothing to do but to act as policemen
Some of them go so far to say that ir
will help their cause, II a strike is ordered,
to have the militiamen among them 1t
will tend to check rowdyism and violence
among those of the idle mine workers who
cannot restrain themselves.