Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-03-27
MINERS WON'T
CALL A STRIKE
Impression Grows That Cousery-
atiyes Controls Situation
THE CONVENTION
Is NOW HARMONIOUS

Committee to Define Policy OF the
Miae Workers, Headed by President
Le~.- Expected to Find Remedy
For che Present case"--conserva
tives Favoring Working Without
Agreement IL Demands Are Rejected
Scranton. Pa. March "a. With the
preliminary work OF organizing the tri
district convention OF the anthracite
mine workers out OF the way and with
the delegates ready to take UP the
question OF new agreement with
their employers, the impression grows
among those who are watching the de.
velopments in the hard coal fields that
the mine workers will not call a strike
unless something not now on the sur
face develops. This is the opinion OF
many of the mine workers who are
here from all parts of the anthracite
fields.
While differences OF opinion arose
In getting the complicated machinery
OF miners convention In motion,
there was never any feeling shown
and the proceedings were gonsthroush
with as little friction as can be ex
pected in a body where all delegates
do not thoroughly understand the Eng
lish language. National President I
L. Lewis presided. and In opening the
convention made a brief speech. In
which he appealed to the men to stand
together and to carry into effect any
policy that may be decided upon In
the convention,
Committee to Define Unions Policy.
Several committees we're created.
the most important Of which was that
appointed to define the policy OF the
anthracite mine workers. President
Lewis was named by the convention
to head the committee the other mem.
bers being the officers and national
board members from the three dis
tricts. This committee II Is expected
will bring before the convention the
plan that Is to be followed in the fur
Their negotiations with the operators.
President Lewis said that he expects
to leave for indianapolis tonight, and
therefore 1t is expected that the com
mittee will make report to the con
vention som etime today.
IL is generally believed that what
ever the policy committee" may sug
gest to the convention, 1t will come
from the brain OF the national presi
dent. He has repeatedly refused TIC
admit that he has plan, but there
are few who believe that he has o
proposition to lay before the men. In
fact all delegates are looking to him
for "a remedy for the present case.
as Mr.. Lewis puts It.
Will Not Call q Strike.
AS already stated. the feeling here
abouts is that the men will not so tc
the extreme OF calling strike. AD
inkling of what Is to come II ques
tion of strike Ia brought before the
delegates was had In the convention
when one delegate said he was unin
structed and that his people were I'M
prepared for strike. while another
Sdiu ludl it Ndn DtFu tuEtiuttca ~
stand by the leaders In whatever they
advise. II strike is suggested II II
said there will be sharp contest on
the floor of the convention The con
servative men favor the plan of work
ing without an agreement If the op
orators will not grant the men ths
demands they have presented There
was considerable talk heard amona
the delegates in favor OF the plan tc
continue work. and II the mines ar;
closed by the operators on April ]
the miners say the coal consuming
public will hold the employers respon
sible for the shutdown. One plar
talked Of was for the miners to remain
at work until the expiration of the
present agreements In the soft coal re-
gions in April. 1910 There are ais
rumors Of counterproposition and vi
timatums. but none OF them come from
any authoritative source