The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-14
THE DELEGATES AREHERE
FOR NATIONAL CONyEN.
TIOS OF NINE WORKERS.
The Indiana Delegation Holds q Meet
fng-Matters That VIII Be
Considered.


convention Of the United Mine Workers of
America arrived In the city yesterday
morning. did delegation from Iowa.
and few OF the delegates from Illinois.
Ohio. Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Few
delegates came in during the day and the
majority are expected to-day and early
Monday morning.
The only meeting OF the day, aside from
those OF committees on the national ex-
ecutive board, was that OF the Indiana
delegation. which met In the Stevenson
building to discuss matters which will be
brought before the convention. President
Van Horn said nothing transpired which
was OF interest or could be given out be-
fore being presented to the convention.
The weekly payment Of wages. the wage
scale and the machine wage scale were
the subjects discussed.
In speaking of conditions in Indiana,
President Van Horn said that district No.
H. which Is under his leadership, had as
few idle men as any State In the Union,
and the relations between miners and OPP
orators were as friendly as could be ex-
pected. The miners, he said. were asking
for an increase of the wage scale and the
operators admitted the business Of the de-
mands. He anticipates no trouble in ar
ranging satisfactorily all differences. Mr..
Van Horn said the increased use OF ma
chimes in Indiana and the present machine
scale brought about a condition which was
unfair to the miners OF this State and that
those in Illinois Ohio and PENNSYLVANIA
were more favored by the scale. An equal
iZation of the differences will be sought in
the convention.
BLOCK COAL MEN.
Delegates from the Indiana block coal
region, which is under the supervision of
District No. s, William Wilson. of Perth
president, met with the No. II delegates
yesterday for consideration of matters of
mutual interest.
The convention will open In Masonic Hall
tomorrow morning. President John Mitch
ell. of this city, will preside.
The committee on credentials, which has
for several days been in session in the
Stevenson building, will be ready to report,
anu though objections are liable to be
made. 1t is thought the report of this COM
mitteee will be satisfactory and the bus
mess will proceed smoothly.
The reports OF the general officers will
be one OF the first In the order of business
and the reports Of President Mitchell and
Secretary-treasurer Pearce Will contain
many things of interest to the unions. the
report OF the president covering some
twenty subjects OF Importance.
The national executive beard is composed
OF q. w. Purcell. of Indiana j. Boston, of
illinois; John Reese, or Iowa; William
Farley, of Alabama; Benjamin James, OF
Pennsylvania; Edward Mckay, of Penn
sylvania: Fred Dilcher, OF Ohio; Henry
Stephenson, of West Virginia, and Presi-
er ". c. Pearce. All were on hand at
noon yesterday for a meeting which had
been called by President Mitchell, but the
meeting was not held, for reasons I'M
known, II being stated that the causes for
the meeting had disappeared.
Henry Stephenson, of the executive board,
said the miners OF West Virginia were
demanding an advance Of 10 cents per ton
fore the convention. He said the organiZa-
ton among the miners in his State had I'M
proved greatly during the last few months
and especially since the State convention
in December. Mr.. Stephenson said the
operators there were not very favorably
inclined toward the United Mine Workers,
but seemed to have an inclination to treat
with a miners association. weaker or
ganiZation. He thought none OF the oper-
ators would be here for the joint confer
ence.
Fred Dilcher, Of Ohio, said the miners
from his State were in favor of demanding
an increase of 20 cents per ton and a differ
entail rate of cents per ton for machine
mining.
Board members from the other States say
their delegates all asking for increase
of wage scales. AT the present time there
are but few strikes on and few Of them are
of great import.
JOHN REESE HERE.
John Reese, member of the executive
board from Iowa, is the man who was sem
fenced to Imprisonment by the federal
court for addressing miners meeting in
Kansas. He is yet under bond awaiting a
decision in his case.
j. Boston, of Illinois. another member OF
the executive board, was once threatened
with Imprisonment If he did not keep away
from the mines.
President Gompers. OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, declares his visit is in
no maner connected with the meeting
or the mire workers, but simply to visit
with friends and confer with President
Mitchell. who Is also vice president OF
the American Federation of Labor. The
question under consideration is the boycote
of Chicago papers by the Chicago FEEDER
alton. The result of the conference was
not made public.
The Indiana delegates will hold another
meeting this afternoon TO further consider
the question OF weekly payment of wages
and arrange for the matters to be brought
before the convention.