The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-23
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.


The question Of raising a national de-
tense fund with which to support miners
when on strike was the most important
matter taken up yesterday afternoon and
although the usual hour for adjournment
came. no further attention was paid to
1t than to adopt a motion to continue in
session until the matter was disposed Of
Fully two hours were spent in discussing
the matter, which came before the conven-
ton on a report from the committee on
constitution, recommending the adoption Of
a new article in the constitution. 1t covered
several sections, but only the first one
was read or acted on because that was
enough to precipitate all the argument
necessary to last the rest of the after
noon.
So warm did the debate become that the
convention was about to adjourn without
taking any action on the portion of the
programme which provides that ii will
meet I'm joint conference with the opera
tors to-day. Apparently no two delegates
held the same views and they Were mo-
mentarily drifting further and further
apart when amid the most pronounced
confusion Delegate Lewis. of Ohio, called
out: us this convention taking leave of
Its senses that IL is about to adjourn
Witncul Saying dlfytIlilS dDOut WHtu y
viii meet the operators as agreed on to
fix the scale?"
Immediately Delegate Dolan, of Penn
sylvania, moved to name a committee to
confer with the operators and fix the scale
for the competing States. but this was
voted down, as IL was felt that the inter-
ests oil the organization demanded that the
entire body be present at the conference.
THE DEFENSE FUND.
The resolution providing for the raising
OF the defense fund provided that the ma
tional executive board pe empowered to
levy a tax of 10 cents week on every
member of the national organization for
a period Of ten weeks to support any min
ers on strike, but that not more than two
such levies should be made in any year.
OF this amount it was proposed to turn
over rs per cent. to the national treasurer
and rs per cent to the state treasurer, and
that all funds be subject to the order of
the national executive board. When the
first section was read for the adoption
OF the convention Delegate Ryan, of IL
linois, spoke against 1t, saying that while
he wanted to see a defense fund raised he
wanted one that would defend against
something and he felt sure the one under
consideration would be too small to be
of any practical use.
Delegate Dolan. of Pennsylvania, also
urged that the figures be raised to some
thing much higher than those proposed.
I'VE want a fund of a million in our
treasury, and then we will have no
strikes" said he, ''for IL the operators
know that We have much money as they
have they will think twice before they
try to be arbitrary" He then urged that
the amount Of the tax be fixed at 81 a
month.
Delegate Warren, of Pittsburg, one OF
the national organizers, took exception to
axyfn that .
lars in the treasury would prove the des-
truction of the union. His remarks did
not meet with genera support, however
as groans and cries from various parts OF
the hall cut him off before he could fully
explain his position.
Organizer Reese, Of Iowa. then took the
floor and pleaded for consideration for
some measure which would cover the crea-
ton OF a defense fund. He said IL was
manifest that the entire membership was
in favor of such a fund and that it was
badly needed was proved by the fact that
the national organization was unable &c
attempt the unionizing of several States
because to do so would precipitate strikes
in which the national body would be NOR
ally bound TO care for the families OF the
strikers. Ii being impossible to do so now
because of the lack of funds for such pur-
poses, such fields as Pennsylvania, Colo
RADIO and Wyoming were still almost un.
unionized. He said the intention of the
committee had been TO devise some
organization would pay equal assess
ments To common fund and not as
at present permit the miners Of Hi.
nois to pay many times what the miners
OF Iowa paid 10 secure the same benefits
He urged that committee composed OF
men from all the States be appointed &c
present the matter 10 the convention In
some form agreeable TO a majority present
and this was agreed TO.
CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSION.
Another resolution introduced by the
committee on constitution brought on con.
siderable discussion. II was to the effect
that where a single local had "A membership
OF 500 or more 1t could send a delegate e
the national convention and have his car
fare paid and that where there were sever.
al locals in one locality whose membership
equaled 500 delegate could be sent under
the same conditions, but where any single
local having less than that many member.
wanted TO send delegate TO the conVen.
| tion IL could do so but the delegate could
not draw railroad fare from the national
| treasury when the local was less thar
| five miles from the nearest other local
| This IL was explained had been offered by
| the committee in order 10 have the con
vention define what was meant by an ''iso
lated local" Ii was explained that las
year at Pittsburg the question assumed