The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-20
THE ANTHRACITE MINERS
PRECIPITATE A WARM DISCUSSION
IN THE CONVENTION.
Want to Choose Their Own Organ
izers-President Mitchell's speech
The Days PROCEEDINGS.

tary w. =. fearce Dy dccldnation. was
the precipitation of a fight between the
anthracite ard bituminous coal miners
over the request on the part of the form
er that they be allowed TO choose their
cwn organizers. The matter came up in
the shape of a resolution late in the aft
ernoon. 1t provided that when the national
executive officers desire to send an organ
izer into any territory they shall consult
the local and district officers. who will
recommend a man acceptable to them and.
in their opinion, fitted for the work. The
resolutions committee reported noncon-
currence in the resolution and then the
discussions began and speedily became
warm enough to warrant President Mitch
ell in relinquishing his chair in order to
take the floor in opposition to the reso-
luton.
Chairman Farley of the resolutions
committee. fired the first gun by saying
that he was opposed to ii, because lit
made the head of the organization act
as a tail to the dog instead of being the
dog itself" 1t developed. however. that
the resolution had it's friends and they
made themselves heard for time. One
delegate from the anthracite miners said
that, while 1t was true that the anthracite
district had not paid into the treasury
the amount of money spent in organizing
the field, he felt that the reform sug-
gested in the resolution was necessary TO
the field and that If IL were adopted the
per capita tax would be doubled in a
year.
PRESIDENT MITCHELL TALKS.
After several more speeches on both sides
of the subject President Mitchell took
the floor and vigorously attacked the an
thracite miners, saying that until they
were willing to pay as much proportion
ally as the bituminous miners. they were
not entitled to any more consideration than
they were receiving. He said the best or
ganizers came from the best organized
States and the far-reaching effects OF the
resolution in hampering the work of the
national officers could not be estimated
Furthermore, he said, it was unjust to hold
the national officers accountable for the
Disbursement of funds and allow local au-
thorities to dictate how the money should
be spent He said If the disposition of the
convention was to curtail the power Of
the national officers a mistake had been
made in re-electing them. He said 1T came
in bad taste from the anthracite miners
to offer such a resolution, when the ma
tional body had been compelled to donate
money to feed strikers in that district,
when. although strikes were on In other
districts, not a cent had been asked for
or given to any but the anthracite miners
He also said it had always been the policy
of the national officers to consult with
local officers. Finally delegate called at
tention to a constitutional provision regu-
lating the employment of organizers ana
en- a motion the matter was referred TO
the committee on constitution.
ACTION PREVENTED.
Yesterday morning Chris Evans, chair
man of the committee on constitution, re-
ported that his committee could do lit
tie work because the principal thing de-
sired was some provision for a national de-
Tense fund to be used in case of prolonged
strikes, and that the absence of a con-
stitutional provision covering the matter
prevented any action being taken. 1t was
called to mind that President Mitchells
annual report recommended such a pro-
vision and, as the report had been adopted,
Ii was decided to have the committee draft
an amendment To the constitution requiring
the levy of a tax for such a fund and max
ing members standing contingent on
the payment of such assessments as the
executive board should levy for the pur-
pose.
On the call of the credentials commit
tee, Secretary Pearce said he had received
prepared the ballots accordingly. 1t was
then decided to go into the election OF
officers and with this decision came
scramble to withdraw NAMES of candidates
for various offices, mainly from the execu-
tive board, auditor and credentials commit
tee.
Before anything could be done toward
making arrangements for voting, Miles X.
Dougherty, of Pennsylvania, who had been
the only candidate in opposition to Presi-
dent Mitchell, arose and moved that Mr..
Mitchell be elected by standing vote.
This was later amended to include Secre-
tary Pearce, who was left without any
opponent by the withdrawal Of II. j. Short,
Of Knightsville, Ind
Both men were elected without a dissent
ing vote and responded with appropriate
but short speeches.
A recess was then taken until afternoon
when the balloting began for the other OF
ficers with the indications that the con-
test for the vice presidency would De ex-
citing.
During the voting recess, the delegates
went in a body to the Statehouse to be
photographed. After reassembllng the pal
lot-boxes were locked and put away for
ton will not be known until some time to-
day. r,o>,
During the afternoon Secretary Evans
woollen, of the Commercial Club. extend
ed an invitation on the part Of the club
to the miners to join with the operators In
an entertainment to be given in their joint
honor next Thursday night at the German
House. He was cheered and his invitation
accepted with thanks
During the afternoon the resolutions COM
mittee reported resolution providing that,
as the funds of the organization largely
exceed the needs of the miners and as
no provision has been made for the In
vestment of the funds of the organization
an authorization be given the president to
take $50 600 from the fund and employ Or
ganizers in territory not unionized yet.
After some argument this vas laid on the
table Another resolution asking the vari-
.ous state and district organizations TO
apply for charters in their respective States
In order that they might have corporate
existence was also killed.
In order to simplify the balloting In fu-
ture elections of officers, IL was decided
to adopt the suggestion Of Mr.. Reese that
all candidates drop out after the first bal
lot except three for each office, which would
leave three candidates for vice president.
twenty-four for the executive board and
nine each for auditors and members CT the
credentials committee.