The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-08
THE CONVENTION OF MINERS
The Session Yesterday Afternoon De-
Votedto Getting Ready for Business.
The Work Of the Federation Reviewed and
Praised by Chairman McBride-Reports of
the Understanding Committees.

The annual convention of the National Fedora
ton Of Coal-miners organized in this city last
year, met yesterday afternoon ar No 13I East
Washington street. with fifty delegates present.
David Evans of Ohio secretary of the executive
board, called the convention to order. after
which the committee on credentials reported the
presence and accredited power of the following:
Ohio-John Mcbride N r. Hysen A. Johnson
delegates at-lsrge; " E. Sullivan Harvey Phelps.
Dennis Sullivan d. G. North John FL. Taylor j. E.
Short, John McCambridge, James Mclaughlin and
John Klein.
Pennsyvania-George Harris. John H. Davis, dele
gates atlarge; John Brill. John T. Johnson Ed
Hughes and ]. ". Killduf.
Tndiana-Patrick McAdams J. r. Smith P. HI.
Penna, David Burton, VIM. Houston. James Can't
wei. Henry Hargraves, Newton Edwards, John Fl.
Kennedy, John Harkins VIM Daughton and Michael
Sullivan.
ninois-Daniel Mclaughlin, P. H Donnelly. at
large; George Harrison, Thomas J. Arm strong Geo.
A Ramsey. David Ross, John Connolly, John Robert
son, Michael Bacon and Frank Weisen berger
Missour-W b. Watts.
Mr.. Hughes, of Pennsylvania, also held Gre
dentials for Maryland and Virginia. In organic
ing permanently John Mcbride, of Ohio, was
chosen chairman, with P H. Donnelly as as
sistant to the executive secretary. Mr.. Mcbride,
on taking the chair said the business of the con-
| vention would be of oature to call for great
differences. 1t was but natural to look for radi-
| cal views, but he hoped they would
pass beyond the standpoint of the
narrow sphere that limited interests
to States aud localities. They were there not to
advance any special interests as to locality dis
trict or State, but t. do what wise in ad-
vanclng the craft as whole "When we as
sem led here year ago. be continued, 1--WE had
a convention of many organizations, local and
State. We found district interests clashng
with each other, that the old market lines had
been obiiterated and that old methods were OBJ
solete. This movement has not led to all we
hoped for, but it has gained for surely more
than we had a right to expect within one snort
year. Bitterness OF feeling between employers
and employees has been greatly lessened,
and what we want to do now IL
to draw the two nearer to each other He also re-
ferred to the vexed question of justng prices,
in getting at the solution of which this conyen-
ton could indirectly do much He also suggest
ed that the proceedings be open to everyone, ex-
cept where 1t was necessary to go into executive
session.
Secretary Evans read lengthy report of the
executive boards action during the year in
which he congratulated the delegates on what
had been done The miners and operators,
through this organization had been enabled to
fix a scale Of prices last February, at Co!um-
bus o., which is to be in force until the 1st of
May, next year. 1t was one of the grandest eff
forts ever made in behalf of miners
He suggested modification of the
Of the executive board. which, without dAtriment
to the federation, could be reduced. A recon-
mendaion as to an increase of fees was also Of
fered. He favored forming trades-uniors, for
they contributed TO the general advancement Of
workingmen, but he wanted fine internal admin
istraton of eacn trades society left to itself He
did not approve of losing the identity of the fed
Grafton by joining the knights of Labor in a
body. Some of tbs miners were opposed to
cret orders, others could not belong and yet more
would not tolerate coercion in any form. On
motion of ME-. Johnson, of Ohio, the report was
referred to the committee on resolutions
The treasurer, Daniel Mclaughlin of Illinois,
reported receipts from Dec II, last year. to
Sept 4. So. 523 %, OF which Ohio gave 1898 81
Indiana $l04 II; Illinois, $43l. 46: Iowa, $50:
Missouri, $31 68, Kansas, $50. 80; West Virginia,
$1l96 Virginia, So; Maryland, $l49 90 From
per cent of sales miners soap, S70l.S 50
was received from the manufacturers. A bal
ance in the treasury of 1901 60 was given after
deducting 81, 92l 46 for expenditures
Chairman Mcbride appointed the following
committees:
On observation-disclosures, of Virginia; Ross,
Of Illinois; Cantwell, of Indiana; johnson, of
Pennsylvania; Watts, of Missouri; Mclaughlin,
of Ohio.
On DEMONSTRATIONS of Illinois; Nc
Adams, OF Indiana, and johnson, Of Ohio
On Ways and Means-Hysell, of OHIO; Harris,
of Pennsylvania Houston of Indiana Bacon,
of Illinois
On Auditing-K illduff, of Pennsylvana;
Short. of Ohio: Sullivan, of Indiana and Ram
sey Of Illinois.
An adjournment was then ordered until
O'clock this morning.