The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-11-06

States and Territories not having personal
representation were authorized to make
recommendations for the President to con-
firm. IL In hoped they will do 90 as soon
as possible that the offices lie all filed and
the occupants ready to do their duty when
called upon.
By resolution the State Vice Presidents
with the general Officers were were constl-
Uuted the General Executive Board for the
ensuing year.
The Chairman (Mr. Siney) and Mr..
Roy, State Inspector Of Miners for Ohio,
on motion were elected q committee to
visit the coal field and make q thorough
inspection of its adaptability to q prntitA-
bic investment for coal mining, aud report
the result to the Committee on Organiza-
ton, who we're elected as follows
John James, VIM. Thomson, Hon. Rich
ard Williams, Thos Russell, D. McLaugh-
lin and John Pollock.
On motion, the expense of the delega-
ton to the coal-6elds, in the first place, was
ordered to be borne by the treasury of the
Miners National Association, but in case
the report be satisfactory, and ths coop
eratiye enterprise 90 on, then shall the
money be refunded to the National Asso-
citation from the funds of said Co-opera
tive Coal Company.
The following resolution was here sub
mitted and passed
WHEREAS, The extent of territory in
the State of Pennsylvania and the distinct
modes of working in the hard and soft coal
counties render it almost impossible for one
State Vice President to do the work re-
quired of him, when he must needs attend
to the whole State. besides it would be
more expensive than if one were located
in each section be it therefore
Resolved, That Pennsylvania be given the
right to elect two Vice Presidents, one in
the hard coal or anthracite fields, and ore
in the bituminous regions.
M. J. Walsh, of Hyde Park, Luzerne
county, was duly elected for the hard coal
counties.
The question of "Amnesties for mem
bers and lodges in arrears was now taken
from the table, where it had been placed
during one Of the earlier sessions. The
general sentiment was, that suppose mem
beers in arrears now were exhOnorated from
the payment of their legitimate dues, it
would be like offering a premium for such
time, beside the very men who now wanted
to be exempted. with few exceptions, would
be the ones who, at the next convention,
would be on the list of petitioners for an
amnesty for their dues for the coming year.
The good men who were really, by poor
work and other uIisfortunes, compelled TO
go behind ON the books, they felt, would
not complain, because they will require to
pay up, when they consider the wide
door "a resolution to exempt) would open
for those who, from no good cause, let
themselves go back IN the payment of their
monthly dues 10 the Association. This was
the result of the debate
WHEREAS, The unparalleled depression
in our trade for the past year has caused
many of our members and Lodges to run
behind in their dues to the General Office,
thereby depriving themselves of the bene.
fits that would otherwise accrue to them
| from the Association therefore be it
| ResotUed, That the Convention recon-
mend that all Lodges allow delinquent
members time to pay up back dues by il
stallments to be equal to one months regu-
lar dues at least and be it further
ResOIred, That County and District
who have fallen out of tho Association,
from the same cause, be, and are hereby
invited to reorganize and pay their back
dues by installments to the General Office,
but in no case shall Lodges be allowed tc
settle with the Central Office till they have
first done so by their County, District, OF
Region Boards, when such Boards have al
existence. Carried.
Mr.. John B. Chisholm, of Neshannock,
read paper on the situation of the miners
of the Shenango Valley, which was or.
dered printed in the columns of the
Record
The Siney and Parks case was next ia
order. Mr.. Siney explained the whole
case as 1t happened, from its inception to
its close, In the conviction and ImprIson-
ment of Mr.. Parks. This thing he di-
lated OH impassionedly and characterized
in strong terms. He hoped the Conven.
ton would make such provision as betitted
the case. The Secretary stated that he
had attended the trial ard heard all the
evidence adduced by the prosecution. He
did not think, although he had no reflec-
case, there could be found in any Of the
manufacturing districts of the country
who we're acquainted with the habits OF
workmen and how strikes were conducted,
that no jury would have convicted Xingo
Parks. This jury did not understand the
customs of trades unions of workingmen,
and the law of that State is very strict and
liable to misconstructlon. On these
grounds he thought Mr.. Parks and the
others we're convicted for crime, tn
no crime In his mind was committed Mr.
Siney and himself have promised
to bring the circumstances of his
family before the Convention. Seward
others of the friends expressed their feel
lngs on the subject, when the following
resolutions were submitted and unani-
mously passed
ResOtced, That the Secretary be in
structed to draft an appeal. and publish it
In the Miners National Record, and at the
same time request all labor papers friendly
to the miners to publish also, for the pur-
pose of raising means to support the fam
lily of Mr.. Parks, and those Of the other
men in prison for the same cause, and urs-
ing upon all worklngmen, citizens of the
State OF Pennsylvania, the Importance Of
signing the petitions now out, praying for
viz PoAuOn VI eHOse meIl, Cnat Jney may
be released from the service of term in
the Penitentiary, imposed, as we believe,
wrongfully on them and be it further
Resolved, That the officers Of this organ
lzatlon be hereby instructed to see that the
families do not suffer till returns are had
to the appeal 50 sent out.
The Convention here went into commit
tee OF the whole to consider the publica-
tlon of the Record, and how it should be
published. The committee having de-
bated the subject pro con to their satisfac-
ton, rose, and the chairman reported the
following to the meeting and recommended
its adoption:
WHEREAS, 1t is the opinion of this'con-
vention that the publication of Miners
National Record is a bulwark of defense to
this association and, whereas, in our
a L