Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-17
EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION
Under Discussion at the Miners Con.
Yention Yesterday.

NentIOn ItbttIudys
The Miners Interstate Convention re.
assembled at o'clock, yesterday morning,
at Pittsburgh, with President Mcbride in
the chair and about forty delegates present.
The report OF the committee on the order
Of business was first presented and APP
proved. That fixed the hours OF session from
SA. NJ. until ~, and from p NJ, until go
Cushing's manual was selected as the au-
thority on parliamentary rules, and five
minutes time was allowed each speaker.
All motions were to be put in writing, and
no delegates was allowed to leave the hall
without the consent of the chair. The fol.
lowing programme was then decided upon
First, organization; second, territorial lin
its; third, object; fourth, legislative and
executive powers.
1T WAS THEN DECIDED
that each delegate in turn should be allow
ed to express the sentiments OF his constit-
uents in reference TO the form and scope of
the proposed national organization. The
question mainly being whether it should
be open or secret. Guided by the roll the
chair called the name of each delegate, the
most OF them occupying the allotted time
in their responses while others merely
signified their willingness to abide by the
result OF the convention. I. T. Atkinson,
of the Venture mine, Sawmill Run, said
that he came uninstructed, but was in
favor of an organization which would in
clude the mines OF all sections. ID. o.
HARRISON, of the river district, expressed
the opinion that all
MINES COULD NOT BE UNITED
on the X of L. plan. Said he: I'VE have
church differences, and a number OF our
denominations have rules opposed to secret
organizations. We must respect those
opinions, even though some of them may
be grounded in prejudice. The English
trades unions are all open and chartered
by law, and on that plan we can work ef-
fectively."
Throughout the entire morning session
the uniformly good oratory was observa.
bic. Occasionally a member would wan
der from the point in
"EXPREssISG his VIEWS"
but he would be quickly sat down upon
by some nervous delegate and in every
case the offender would yield gracefully.
At noon the convention adjourned to
meet at one clock, but at that move it was
ascertained that the committee on organi.
cation was not ready to report. a rest was
then taken until three o'clock, at which
time the discussion on organization began.
Another day or two may be taken up by
the work before it is finally finished.
The afternoon session was called to Or
der at o'clock. The Committee on Or
ganization presented the following, which
was adopted after some discussion:
WHEREAS, The condition OF the miners
and laborers OF this country show urgent
and immediate necessity Of organization
not only in different localities, but OF diff
ferent States and T rritories OF the
United States, AMI as past eXper-
fence has shown that the failure
OF different organizations among miners
through causes too numerous 10 mention,
in order to avoid failure in the future, we
must endeayOr to avoid all complicated
technicalities and establish an organization
as simple in its laws and form as possible,
and at the same time recognize the funda-
mental principles that an injury to one
district, or locality shall be 10 the concern
of all; therefore.
Resolrcd. That We, the delegates OF miners
of different States represented in this
inter State Convention, believe and
know it is high time the miners
of the United States should endeavor 70
organize themselves into one organization,
recognizing the different localities without
interfering with their present form or
ways OF working, 10 call npon them 10 mass
with Us for the good Of all, and to en-
deavor to establish an organization where
none at present exists
Resolved, That this organization be known
as the Amalgamated Association of Miners
of the United States, and the object of this
association shall be, first, to bring
within its folds every miner and
lahore: in and about mines in the United
States; to secure uniformit y Of action in
matters pertaining to interests OF its men,
bers; second. TO adopt wherever and when
ever it is practicable the principles OF arbi.
tration; third. to shorten the hours OF labor
as far az practicable; fourth, to restrict the
product when deemed practicable.
Rcsolred, That the officers of this Ass oci-
alton shall consist of an executive
board, 70 be composed OF Pres
dents from different States, said.
Board 10 select their own president aud
secretary and to meet at least once m SIX
months, or as often as necessary tn discuss
the condition Of affairs, and whenever
deemed Necessary, take action on sny uues-
ton regarding the advancement Of the
whole, it shall be submitted to :he consti.
tuents for the purpose OF decidin. whether
such action should be taken or not.