The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-11
UNITED MINE WORKERS.

Entire Time of Convention Taken Up
With Discussion of Charges of I'M
fairness OF the administration Fac
ton. ~
PITTSBURGH, Pa. Jan. 1O.-The Bit
ter wrargle over the appointment OF the
credentials committee. which occupied
the entire session OF the national con-
ventior OF United Mine Workers yester-
day, was renewed Immediately upon
the opening OF the convention to-day.
Charges Of unfaIrness were freely made
by the anti-administration faction, and
these accusations were promptly denied
by President Ratchford, acting presf-
dent Mitchell and Secretary-Treasurer
Pearce. go. 8
When the session was called TO order,
Chairman Keenan,. of the committee on
credentials. reported tina. all the dele
gates entitled 10 representation had
been seated. aHd ,that number had
been rejected because the locals had
not fully complied with the constitution.
Before the report could be- adopted.
however, eX-Presldent Mcbride created
surprise By announcing that the Ohio
delegation had decided to withdraw all
candidates for office from that state,
and that they would refuse to serve on
any committee until Il thorough inves-
tigation had been made. This was done,
he said. because the Ohioans saw that
outsiders were seeking to delay matters
In orde: to secure election OF their own
candidates. This reopened the discuss
ion, and Patrick Dolan. Pennsylvania s
candidate fo:, president, said that he
was willing to withdraw his name from
the list of candidates and leave clear
field 10 the book padders.
T. L. Lewis. OF Ohio. said that yester-
day he was looked upon as u candidate.
To-day he was delegate. He alleged
that the united officers had used their
influence in favor OF certain candidates
for office and that the funds OF the mi
ners had been used for electioneerlnc
purposes. He said that he wcutd make
these charges in writing art was pre-
pared TO prove all his alterations.
Acting President Mitchell said the
charges were made without proofs and
denied that the organization had been
used In his behalf. The charges, he said,
were untnsnly.
He was followed bH President Ryan,
Of Illinois. who caused some eScitemen;
by offerinN TO donate 500 10 the organ
lzation il fthe charges were proved.
Dolan said he obtained his info"ma .
ton from Edward Mckay. at Columbus,
before the convention last year.
I The report OF the credentials commit
tee was then taken up. II showed G27
delegates divided us follows: .,el .ta J.
Pennsylvania. 76: Illinois. 2l3: Ohio.
142: Indiana. 6S: Indian Territory, .:
Arkansas. 10: Kansas. 10; Michigan. l.:
West Virginia, G: Tennessee, Iowa, 20;
Kentucky. 10: Alabama. 81.
At the afternoon session nothing was
done. the time being devoted TO nd
dresses by several labor leaders until
adjournment. The committee on inves-
tigatior will be in session during the
greater part of the night and Is expect
ed TO report Tomorrow 10
After adjournment the Ohio deIega-
ton held conference and decided to
contest tomorrow the right of PcesI-
dent Ratchford to hold office on the
ground that he Is member of the ma
tional Industrial commission, and can
not therefore complt' with section ., ar
tlcle .. of the constitution which re-
quires the president TO devote his time
md attention TO the interests OF the
union.
The springinT OF this subIec. is cx-
nected 10 1reclpltate another heated
wrangle. The appointment OF the In
vestiGutlon committee Is considered n
Victory byi the anti-adminlstration fac
tion