The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-01-10
MINERS CONVENTION.
Gathering of the National Organ
ization at Pittsburg.
THREATENED WITH A BOLT.

rhe Delegates representing over n
Hundred Thousand Mine workers
Open Proceedings with Clnsh-Op-
ponents of Ratchford Hold n 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 it was nearly IL
o'clock before National President M. d.
Ratchford raped for order and de-
livered his annual address It 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 ad
litional states sending delegates are
Alabama Kansas, Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Michigan, Iowa, Arkansas and In
dian Territory. The delegates in at
tendance represent over 100000 miners
Immediately after the opening of the
session a dispute arose between Presi-
dent Ratchford and District President
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-
gregated in 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 NJ. d. Ratchford,
now holds a government office, and it 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 to
appoint the committee on credentials by
a vote of 207 against 121. Dolan want
ed one delegate from each state on the
| committee, and claimed the president
has no constitutional authority to APP
point.
After adjournment the Ohio delegates
were in an ugly mood, and 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 a 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 delegata
could sit until he had paid dues into
the organization for six consecutive
| months.
committee consisting of T. l.
! Lewis, Patrick McBryde and John
Richards was appointed to wait or
Secretary w. c. Pearce and ask fol
the standing of delegates. The COM
mittee returned with the statement
that they had met with a covert re-
fusal. it was then decided that If the
tactics Of unfairness were to be con,
tinued all candidates for office from
I-Ohio and Pennsylvania withdraw in
favor Of Illinois, and give that delega'
tion full sway In other words, II
means bolt from the convention. This
program for today will probably be tC
rush matters and get through with the
| work as quickly as possible.