The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-03-27
MINERS WON'T
CALL A STRIKE
impression GTOWs That COnSeTy.
atIves Control Situation.
CONVENTION IS HARMONIOUS.

Committee to Define Policy Of the
Mine Workers. Headed by President
Lewis. Expected to Find a Remedy
For the Present case"-conserva.
dSss FaVorin9 Working Without
Agreement " Demands Arc Rejected.
Scranton. Pa. March 24-with the
preliminary work OF organizing the tri
district convention OF the anthracite
mine Norkers out OF the way and witt.
the delegates ready to take up the
! question OF a new agreement with
their employers. the impression grows
among those who are watching the de
Neiopmonts 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 getcnr he complicated machinery
or a miners convention in motion.
there was never any feeling shown.
and the proceedings were gone through
with as little friction as can be ex.
pected IN body where all delegates
dc not thoroughly understand the Eng.
lish language. National President T
l. Lewis presided. and in opening the
convention made brief speech. in
which he appealed TO the men to stand
together and 10 carry into effect any
policy that may be decided upon In
the convention.
Committee to Define Unions Policy.
Several committees were created.
the most important of which was that
appointed 10 define the policy OF the
an,hracite mine workers. President
Lewis was named by the convention
to head the committee. the other mem.
6ers being the officers and national
board members from the three dis
tricts This committee il is expected
VII bring before the convention the
plan that is 70 be followed in the fur
Their negotiations with the operators
President Lewis said that he expects
TO leave for Indianapolis tonight and
therefore II is expected that the com
mittee will make a report TO the con.
vention som etime today
II is generally believed that what.
ever the policy committed" may sug.
gesi to the convention. 4, will come
from the brain Of the national presi
dent. He has repeatedly refused 10
admit tha; he has a plan. but there
are Tow who believe that he has
proposition TO lay before the men. In
fact al delegates are looking to him
Tor "a remedy for the present case.
as Mr.. Lewis puts IL.
VIII Not Call a Strike.
AS already stated. the feeling here
abouts Is that the men will not 20 10
the extreme Of calling a strike. An
inkling OF what Is TO come II a ques
ton OF strike is brought before the
delegates was had in the convention
when one delegate said he was uniu
structed and that his people were un
prepared for a strike. while another
said that h had been instructed 70
stand by the leaders In whatever they
advise II n strike is suggested Il Is
said there will be a sharp contest on
the door OF the convention. The con
sentative men favor the plan OF work
Ing without an agreement II the on
orators viii not grant the men the
demands they have presented There
was considerable talk heard among
the delegates In favor OF the plan 10
continue work. and II the mines are
closed BY the operators on April /.
the miners say the coal consuming
public will hold the employers respon
sible for the shutdown One plan
talked OF was for the m.aars t. remain
at work until the expiration OF the
present agreements in the soft coal 70
gions In April 1910 There are alss,
rumOrs OF counter propositions and ~
timatums. but none of them come fr,5n,
any authoritative source