New-York tribune., 1909-03-25
NAY APPEAL TO TAFT
COAL STRIKE UNLIhELI q.
Miners to Continue WOrk Pending
Further Negotiations.

Scranton. Penn. March IA resolution 10
nsk President Taft 10 appoint comfhisslch u
arbitrate differences was tonight aoopteu oy
the anthracite miners convention ana reieireu
"a the executive boards to put 1t into erect at
their discretion
The resolution looks to arbitration as d Hll0i
solution IL the men and their employers callilo'
agree In substance IL asks President 1aI' ~
,e.a,e a commission similar to the one appointed
h., President Roosevelt in 1902 A heated oe-
hate followed. with the result that the resolution
,,-as referred 10 the three executive boaTds'
e1earl,, al! the leaders were against It, ana II
,,s,- never he put into effect by the boards. al
-,,oreb they have the power without further ac-
ton.
While a suspension of coal mining on the part
of the men has been avoided for the present
tbere is still possibility Of strike, put IL i ~
mote The report Of the special committee III
structing the three executive boards as TO "iia'
policy 10 pursue gives the boards wide lauluue
and permits them to make any concessions 'iieS
deem necessary.
Reafrming the demands already presented "
7he operators the miners voted tonight TO re
-,si, ar work after April l. allowing the dis
trict executive boards of the hard coal helus
If PENNSYLVANIA TO continue their efforts 10 get
sn agreement satisfactory to the men.
The miners were instructed by the convention
n oorrfrue at work until such time as they are
otherwise ordered by the official represents
Of the three anthracite districts, and the ezecu-
five boards were instructed 10 negotiate an
agreement upon such basis as the boaros III
their judgment believe the conditions warrant
The gist Of the report OF the policy committee
which was adopted by the convention, follows;
We hereby reaff1rm the demands forTn1ig[eo NJ a1;s
and agreed 20 at the special convention OF lis
tricts / and g. United Mine workers oL
America held in the city Of Scranton octooeI
, 10 1905 We hereby confer upon the mempers
oF the executive boards Of Districts 1. and 2,
Of the United Mine Workers OF AmerlSa IulI t
authority TO meet the operators OF the anthracite
coal region and To negotiate with the anthracIee 2
or,erators an agreement upon such basis ana
f6r such a period Of time as they, the members
q the executive boards. in their judgment pc
Teve industrial and other condltlnns SUR
ing the anthra cite mine workers may warrant
we hereby authorize and instruct the United
Mine Workers and far as our anthoTltS
qoes the mine workers OF the anthracite coal
region 70 remain now and continue at work
or and after the first Of April. 1909, unoef ule
time as they are otherwise notified by the ot1ciaI
representatives of Districts l. Z and OF lne
United Mine Workers Of America
Following the reading of the report there was
silence IN the hall. which was broken by Presl-
dent Lewis who asked if there were any re-
marks on the report A delegate moved us
sdontjon which was quickly seconded. For a
moment II looked as II toAA1 iOlC-
of the convention would go to vote without de-
bate. but delegate arose and asked what would
happen ff the operators would not let them go
70 work after Arril /
President Lewis replied: IF the employers
win not let the men continue at work the re-
sponsfbflty for the suspension will rest upon the
operators
President Lewis viii leave Scranton for In
dianapolis tomorrow. and it is probable con-
ference with the operators will be held next
week either in Philadelphia or in New York