Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-12

MINERS ORGANIZATION.
The fight and defeat of Thomas L..
Lewis of Bridgeport, in the convention
of the Ohio Federation OF Labor at
GAINESVILLE, last week, is one of the
chief topics of interest in local labor
circles. Tom is known as a brainy
man and popular labor leader, not
withstanding that it is considered that
he has made mistakes. He was can
didate for reelection for the presiden-
cy of the Ohio Federation, and when
the fight ended he left the convention
with his followers and took the charter
Of the organization with him.
Lewis is known to have been defeat
ed by the national administration ele-
ment which sought and secured the de-
feat of the faction that opposed Senator
Hanna in his last campaign for the
Senatorship. The Ohio Federation has
been recognized as a political machine
for one side or the other, and has been
used more largely to advance the in
terests of politicians rather than to
help the cause of labor. Lewis enc
mics charge him with manufacturing
credentials and attempting to control
the convention in his own interests by
unfairness, but men who know Lewis
and believe him to be honest do not
place any faith in these charges.
Lewis has gone to Kansas City to at
tend the convention of the American
this week. Some of the parties who
attended the GAINESVILLE convention
seem inclined to think that his defeat
there will hurt Lewis in his candidacy
for the national presidency of the
United Mine Workers. The following
special to the Register from GAINESVILLE
has something to say about the situa-
ton and of the recent fight in the Ohio
Federation:
GAINESVILLE. O., December 10-The
most animated and vigorous contest that
Workers of America is now in progress,
and West Virginia is the central point
around which the issues of the campaign
cling. The candidates for national presi-
dent of the organization are T. l.. Lewis,
of Bridgeport. o.; Patrick Dolan, of Pitts
burg, and John Mitchell, of Spring Val
ley, Ill The latter is the candidate of the
pres it national administration of the
tod
fort is being made to elect him. Sturdy
Tom Lewis, who fears no one and who
never cOnceals his sentiments. is making
a vigorous cam afsrr. in his Of
flee in Bridgeport stenographers
are at work sending letters and
circulars to his lieutenants and to the
miners apprising them of the true situa-
ton as he sees it. Lewis is secretary
and treasurer of the Ohio miners organi-
baton, and until yesterday was president
of the Ohio Federation of Labor, but
withdrew from the convention because he
said it had passed into the control of a
handful of politicians. BY a rule of the
State Federation, an organization with
six members is entitled to one vote, and
an organizat ton with one hundred and
forty members can only have one vote,
accomplished the defeat of Lewis, who
represented the strong miners organiza-
ton. Lewis said to a Register representa-
tive:
THE Ratchford administration has been
a brass band affair, and as far as practi-
cal results are concerned has been a fail
ure. Look at the situation now. There
are national organizers running over
States working for the administration
candidate for national president, when if
the best interests of the miners were to
be subserved they would be in West Vir-
ginia seeking to organize the miners of
that State. Mr.. Ratchford and his asso-
ciates should remember that at the Pitts
burg conference of miners and operators
on January g. we will have to answer the
operators on our agreement to keep West
Virginia coal out of competition. What
answer can be made? The Chicago agree
ment entered into last January provided
virtually for this, and we have done moth
ing. West Virginia can be organized,
and if elected | will organize it first of all
things. But it can not be done on the
brass band and newspaper scare head
lines policy. 1t will require systematic
and hard work and good judgment. Mr.
Ratchford will also have to answer for
why the miners of the United States are
not receiving better wages
If the national administration had
been alive to the interests of the organi-
cation we would have been in much bet
ter shape. The present situation of af-
fairs Is an outrage on the organization
At the meeting of the Ohio Federation of
Labor Mr.. Scott, the candidate of Ratch-
ford for president of the Ohio organiza-
ton, was there eXerting every influence
20 defeat me for the purpose of injuring
me with the candidacy for national pres
ident of the mine workers. Who pays
the bill for this electoneering? The min
ers who are members of the national or
ganization. A desperate effort is being
made to control the national mine work
ers' organization for political purposes
Mr.. Ratchford now holds position under
the present Republican administration
and has political debt to pay, and is now
trying to pay it. Their plan is to make
Mitchell, of Illinois. president; Davis. the
present editor of the journal, vice pres
ident, and Scaith, of Illinois, an unscru-
pulous politician. who is now out in that
State abusing me. editor of the journal
Scaith is but tool of certain politicians
and will be used as such if the plans car
ry"