The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-18
FORECAST OF THE RESOLUTIONS
THE COMMITTEE Is GIVING MUCH
THOUGHT TO ITS TASK.
Matters to BE Considered Prepare
tory to the Conference with the
Operators Next Week.


operators next week. The necessity of
many changes in the constitution was en-
phasized yesterday morning when the COM
mittee on credentials reported. There are
about $50 miners who claim to be delegates.
and there is little doubt in the minds of
the members of the committee and others
that all but very few are duly authorized
by their local unions to come here and act
as delegates. But there are many who
will be excluded from participating in the
deliberations of the convention if the con-
stitution is construed literally. Technical
errors in the manner of their appointments
or in making out their credentials by the
local unions are responsible for this state of
affairs The subject will be taken up and
discussed in the convention and the COM
mittee on constitution will be advised to re-
port such amendments as will simplify the
manner of selecting delegates. This is i'm
portant on account of the expensive delay
which has attended the present convention.
The postponement of the election of off,
GERS was also made necessary on account
Of the uncertainty of the rights of certain
delegates. The convention may have to
take vote to seat all delegates who are
barred by mere technicalitleS.
THE HALL CROWDED.
Masonic Hall was crowded when the con-
vention opened yesterday morning. The
reading Of the report OF the committee on
credentials occupied so much of the morn
ing session that President Mitchell barely
had time to announce the standing COM
mittees before the noon recess. The COM
mittees named are as follows:
Order Of Business-Thomas Davis, Ohio;
Stephen Corven, Michigan; Barney Navin.
Indiana.
Reports of oficers-John Mclaughlin,
Kansas; p. z. Friday. Ohio; Malcolm Rog-
ers Illinois.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Evans, Ohio; Joseph
Vasey, Tennessee; NJ. Joyce Iowa; WILL
lam Morris. Illinois; Allen, Pennsylvania.
Appeals and Grievances-G. w. Lackey.
Indiana; G.. w. Britain, Indian Territory;
Thomas Reynolds, Illinois; William n.
Cochrane, Pennsylvania; George Scott,
Resolutions-w. r. Farley, Alabama;
Charles Duncan, Illinois; w. l.. Davies,
Maryland; stephen Recer, Pennsylvania;
William Dodds, Pennsylvania.
Transportation-James d. Wood, Ken
lucky; William H. James, Illinois; Benja-
min James, Pennsylvania Thomas Cairns,
Ohio; James Cantwell. Indiana.
Scale-W. ID. Ryan. Illinois; w. II. Has
kins. Ohio; w. ID. Van Horn, Indiana;
Patrick Dolan, Pennsylvania; w. b. Will
son, Pennsylvania; Allen Barber, Mary
land; William Wilson, Indiana; Hugh Nc
Peak, Illinois.
Tellers for Election-Joseph Pope, ILL
nois; Richard Gilbert, Pennsylvania.
The reports of the president and secretary
We're not reached until afternoon and after
their reading the convention broke up into
special delegations and committees. Sew
/ eral States held caucuses on election and
for the purpose of selecting spokesman and
| to instruct the latter The various commit
tees met and some of them will be ready
to make full or partial reports this morn
| ing. The most important committees are
those on resolutions, on scale and on con-
stitution.
Just before the close of the session the
secretary read number of communications,
| two of which attracted more than the usual
attention. One was a telegram announcing
| the death at Chenille, Ohio, of X. l.. Davis,
a former member of the national execu-
| tive board A committee was appointed to
draft suitable resolutions.
A DELEGATE KISSED.
The other communication was from the
rector Of Christs Church inviting the dele
gates to attend services Sunday. No SOON
er had the last word been read than a
delegate jumped to his feet and demanded
the tabling of the letter, declaring that
the miners had come here ito work for
labor interests and not for the priests"
He was Kissed and hundred delegates
President Mitchell stated that it was not
a subject that required formal action;
that those who wished to accept the invi-
tation could go to church and those who
thought otherwise could stay away. The
matter was passed for the time but later
delegate demanded that the invitation be
accepted. If the matter had been allowed
TO take the usual course without COM
ment," he said. II would have said moth
ing; but the remark OF the delegate makes
1t necessary that we accept the invitation
now. Our constituents require us to work
only the scheduled forty-eight hours
week and have no claim on our time Sun
day. AS matter OF courtesy and to show
that all of us do not agree with the dele
gate who spoke, We ought to accept the
invitation"
His motion was carried with hurrah
and but single negative vote.
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
The address of President John Mitchell
contained over seven thousand words. In
II he reviewed the work of the organization
during the past year. dwelling particularly
upon the success of the miners in securing
advances in the scale OF wages In various
districts; briefly sketched the growth of the
organization, and reviewed the strikes that
have occurred during the year. the one now
in progress in the Indian Territory and
Kansas in detail. He advised that the con-
vention take steps for the support OF the
$500 miners. and their families, now out OF
employment in these districts. On this SUBJ
ject he also recommended that a permanent
defense fund be established, the standing
of every member being made contingent
upon the prompt payment OF his monthly
assessment, the assessment not to be re-
quired of those that are out of work by
reason OF any action brought about with
the consent OF the national executive
board.
Concerning the federal Injunction which
has played such a prominent part in all
big strikes in recent years, President
Mitchell said:
There is probably no weapon that has
been used so effectually by the opponents
OF labor TO retard the progress of our or
ganization and prevent the successful ter
mination of strikes as the indiscrimate is
suance of injunctions by the federal ju-
dietary. So obnoxious has this evil become
and its effects so disastrous TO wage earn
ers, that we believe that this convention
should adopt some plan TO secure legis-
lation curtailing the powers or federal
judges. In this connection i desire TO
report that the American Federation OF
Labor, through its executive council. OF
which 1 have the honor 10 be a member
has decided to secure the introduction OF a
bill In Congress defining the authority and
limiting the powers OF federal judges.
THE arrest and incarceration OF Nation
al Board Member John Il. Reese, and other
members of our organization, at Fort
Smith, Ark. and cartervile. ILL.,, Is
matter OF such recent history that you are
no doubt. all familiar with its every detail
Possibly never in the history OF move