The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-25

Withdraw from the joint convention and
the proposition met with a warm discus
sion. John p Reese and President Green.
OF the Iowa delegation. took the position
that nothing could be accomplished by
hghting the operators in the joint conven-
ton to give the Iowans a representation, as
the Iowa operators would refuse TO accept
seats into which they had been Iorced
against the will of the other operators and
that all of them had announced their in
tention of leaving. for their homes this
morning. Mr.. Reese said the only vital
point in the matter was that ii presaged
similar treatment for outside operators
next year and that some provision ought TO
De maze Dy which operators and miners
from any State should be accorded seats
and rights in the conventions after this
time He said IL really made little difference
so far as Iowa was concerned, as perfect
understanding existed between miners and
operators in that State and that State
meeting would be held next month to ac-
cept any scale adopted at the joint conven-
ton. IF the joint convention must bust,
said he. ''let ii bust on something bigger
than this question"
Some of the more radical urged the adop-
ton of resolution to the effect that If the
Iowa delegation was not seated to-day all
the other miners would withdraw. but this
was not entertained.
PLAN FOR DEFENSE FUND.
Probably the most important feature of
the session was the report of the special
committee selected to draft plan for the
defense fund. 1t provided for tax of %
cents month, payable to the district sec
retaries, subject to the order of the district
executive boards. OF the total amounts
raised % per cent. would be forwarded to
the national treasury to be subject to the
order of the national executive board. 1t
was provided that district secretaries
should furnish sworn statements every
three months as to how much money was
in the funds, which would be placed in
banks TO the joint credit of the members OF
the district boards. In case strikes were
ordered or Endorsed by the district boards
the money in the district funds would all
be available and at the expiration of thirty
days call might be made on the national
officers, who, after investigating the strike
and 1ndorsing 1t. might use whatever por-
ton of the national fund may be nee
essary to win the strike and support the
strikers, but that in no case could any ma
tional funds be used until the strike had
been on for thirty days. The plan was to
take effect April l.
Quite a discussion started over this and
several unusual incidents arose out of it.
Delegate Mclaughlin introduced resolu-
ton In which he said that, inasmuch as
there was mo blue blood in the organiza-
ton" and that 1.-The officers were the same
as the rank and fle." although paid better
wages, and were mot better equipped
mentally than their subordinates except
that some had the gift of oratory to
greater degree and owed their positions
largely TO this fact, it was but just that
the officers be made to pay their share of
strike assessments and levies for the de-
Tense fund on the following basis: All SUBJ
district, state or national officers whose
salaries were from $50 to SO month should
pay per cent; those who earned from 500
to 500 a month should pay 10 per cent, and
all over 800 a month 25 per cent. This was
promptly defeated.
One of the colored delegates arose and
,fxrt.tx fnlr IN f1n
Blackville sections in case the defense
fund was organized on the lines suggested
by the committee and that the colored min
ers were inclined to think they Ought
to have representation the national
board and in the national offices"
Then came series of amendments. Dele
gate Dolan moved to receive the report and
submit 1t to the locals with the request
that they report on 1t by June i. Dele
gate Schilling moved to change 1t so as to
have members pay / per cent. Of their
gross earnings instead of % cents month
which, he said, would equalize the burden
on all. Vice President Lewis moved TO re-
ceive the report and consider 1t by sections
but in the end other business interviewed
and the matter was lost in the excitement
THE ANTHRACITE FIELDS.
A resolution introduced by Delegate Hun
ter, urging the national board TO make ex-
traordinary efforts to unioniZe the anthra-
cite fields was adopted and then Delegate
Green, of Arkansas, asked that $4,000 be
taken from the treasury to support the 49,
600 suffering women and children of the
Southwest" where, he said, many men
who had gone out on strike had been
forced to return to work because the union
could not take care of their families. All
of these men, he said, were willing to
strike again any time the money was sent
to keep their children and wives from
want.
For time ii seemed as though the con-
vention was about to vote money. but
President Mitchell took the floor and called
attention to the fact that terms mad not
been made with the operators yet and
that TO take out $4,000 for the strikers in
the Southwest would mean that those of
Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and Southern
Indiana would also be entitled to draw
from the national treasury. probably to
the total amount of $4,000 and that this
with 5000 to be paid out for transporta-
ton to the various delegates, would leave
the treasury almost empty. 1t was then
executive board with power to levy assess
ments for the relief of the strikers until
such time as the defense fund should be
created. This was agreed to-
The final business was regarding the Sc
lection of the place for holding the next
convention, and Delegate Lewis moved that
those who had Inducements to Offer be
allowed to take the floor and state them.
4 Ills pciuS dSIctu w. ueleSdle ITOI0
Springfield. ILL.,, told of the beauties OF his
town without, however, offering anything
except climate and welcome.
+. b. Cameron and John Mcbride, repre-
senting the Columbus, o.. Board of Trade.
made the offer of a free convention hall
and urged the claim of the city. which. they
said, had been the mother of the organiza-
ton. 1t was finally decided in view of the
fact that many delegates We're absent to
defer action until the next meeting.
Before adjournment Executive Commit
teeman Purcell said he wished to explain
why he was charged in the secretary's re-
port with $50 bond money" He said
when he was arrested I'm Kentucky he was
compelled to deposit that amount with a
man who agreed to furnish the bond and
that the money is now in the bondsman's
hands.
Anthracite Operators stubborn.
NrTnNY