The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-10
MINERS CONVENTION.
Gathering Of the National Organ
ization at Pittsburg.
THREATENED WITH A BOLT.
The Delegates Representing Over a
Hundred Thousand Mine Workers
Open Proceedings With a Clash-Op-

The Delegates Representing Over a
Hundred Thousand Mine Workers
Open Proceedings With Clash-Op-
ponents Of Ratchford Hold Caucus.
Pittsburg. Jan. 10.-The delegates to
the tenth annual national convention
of the United Mine Workers Of Amer
lea were slow In arriving at Old City
Hall yesterday, and 1t was nearly II
o'clock before National President M. D.
Ratchford raped for order and de-
livered his annual address. 1t was the
largest and most representative gath
ering of miners ever held, and the con-
vention, which will continue through
out the week, promises to be the most
important in the history of the mine
workers organization.
At the last national convention but
five states, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West
Virginia, Indiana and Illinois, were rep
resented. At this convention the al
ditional states sending delegates are
Alabama Kansas Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Michigan, Iowa, Arkansas and In
dian Territory. The delegates in at
tendance represent over 900 miners.
Immediately after the opening Of the
session a dispute arose between Presi-
dent Ratchford and District Presiden.
Dolan over the appointment of the Gre
dentials committee, and the entire ses-
sion was taken up with an acrimonious
discussion as to the right of the chair
man to name the committee. At 1880
o'clock the convention adjourned with
out having taken a ballot for the new
officers
After adjournment the delegates con-
gregatedin groups and much excitement
was evident. Charges of trickery came
thick and fast and today there may be
a bolt from the convention.
One of the principal causes for oppo-
sition to the administration faction is
that the president M. d. Ratchford,
now holds government office, and 1t is
thought he should not exercise the
functions of the presidential office and
take so much interest In the election Of
officers as he is doing.
President Ratchford was supported
yesterday in his contention against Dis
trict President Dolan for the right
appoint the committee on credentials by
vote of 207 against 121. Dolan want
ed one delegate from each state on the
conn. ittee, and claimed the president
has no constitutional authority to ap-
point.
After adjournment the Ohio delegates
were in an ugly mood, and a caucus
was called for o'clock. Every dele
gate was present W. H. Haskins, the
president, announced that matters
were being run by persons to suit
themselves, and that it was time to
enter protest. A number of hot
speeches denouncing the action Of the
convention were made, Patrick Nc
Bryde making the principal address.
He said that the books of the organiza-
ton ought to be investigated as to the
standing of the delegates. He claimed
that under the constitution no delegate
could sit until he had paid dues into
the organization for six consecutive
months.
A committee consisting of T. l..
Lewis, Patrick McBryde and John
Richards was appointed to wait on
Secretary w. c. Pearce and ask for
the standing of delegates. The COM
mittee returned with the statement
that they had met with covert re-
fusal. It was then decided that If the
tactics of unfairness were to be con-
tinued all candidates for office from
Ohio and Pennsylvania withdraw in
favor Of Illinois, and give that delega
ton full sway. In other words 1t
means bolt from the convention. TIL
program for today will probably be to
rush matters and get through with the
work as quickly as possible.