Evening journal., 1909-03-23
MINERS ARE IN
CONVENTION
Say That the Coal BarOnS
Want Them to Order a
Strike
FIGHTING FOR RECOGNITION
OF THEIR LABOR UNION
BY United Press Leased Special Wire

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
SCRANTON, Pa, March 2S.-whether
there is TO be a strike by the anthracite
coal miners, a lockout by the operators, or
a suspension Of mining after April rests
upon the action to be taken by the tri-
district miners convention which opened
here to-day. The entire hard coal region
is represented by 400 delegates.
1T will be for the delegates TO decided"
said President Lewis Of the United Mine
Workers. II don't think any new demands
will be made.
I will not give the operators a chance
TO say that the policy OF the hard coal
miner is being dictated by the soft coal
men," said Lewis. Those who have made
that statement know It is not true. After
this convention the coal road presidents
can't use that argument against US"
Il would say that over 80 per cent. Of
the men would go out II a strike were
declared" said John Elhenny. leader OF
District No. Z. You see the men have
been organized a deal lately"
other leaders say that OF the 10000
miners in this region at least $1,000 are in
the union
The convention opened without a pre-
arranged program. President Lewis did
not even hold conference with the dis
trict leaders Monday night. Everything
viii be threshed out in convention.
Say Operators Want Strike.
Miners declare the operators would like
to have them strike. They say the oper-
ators throughout the region worked all the
collieries Monday that are in condition
to work and that railroads are the busiest
they have been in weeks running every
available empty coal car into the regior
/ to be filled in the remaining work days
Freight trains are being delayed TO lei
the long line Of loaded cars be hauled out
Operators declare this is not an oppor
tune time for employees in any line to maxi
demands. They say this Is period fo
wage re-adjustment not OF wage increase
But the United Mine Workers are on
for recognition Of the union. The big figh
viii be on this score.
Lewis will use the anthracite strike com
mission OF 1902 award as weapon agains
the operators Ia convention. He viii cit
parts 81 the commlssion's award 70 sup
port his recognition plea.
Lewis says the recognition it is askin
A'A ~ tNN hAHA hhtAA EiNNc rAdAbAl4N- II
says II does not include the demand o.
operators TO check of enough wages {
pay union dues He says it does not meal
the closed shop.
Want Recognition.
Lewis may be willing 10 waive all 70
this one concession. The operators sa!
they viii never consent TO it. They say /
means the application Of soft coal method
in hard coal fields. and that they canno
compete in various markets with soft Goa
under the same mining conditions.
The action taken by the convention
here will be finally passed on by the min
ers and operators about Wednesday o
next week. Lewis will leave here wedne,
day for Indianapolis 10 attend a meetin
Of the National executive board.
It is thought probable that negotiation
between the operators and miners canno
be finished before April l. on that day al
mines will be closed to observe the ami
versary OF the eight-hour day.