The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-31
MINERS CONCLUDE WORK
CLOSING SESSION OF CONVENTION
HELD YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
Amendments tn Constitution Adopted
delegates VIII Go to Meet
the Operators To-Day.

adjourned yesterday afternoon and a spe-
cial train will take the delegates TO Column
bus. o., this morning at 8 o'clock to- meet
the operators in joint convention and adopt
the wage scale for the ensuing year. The
session yesterday was taken up in the
adoption of the amendments and new CON-
stitution. Although the delegates were up
late Tuesday night on account of their
banquet, all were on hand at the open
ing of the session and a spirit of liveli-
ness and good humor prevailed during the
day.
In the middle of the afternoon the smok-
ing rule that was made effective at the
opening of the convention was abolished.
Mother Jones secured recognition
from the chair in the midst of debate
and said, MIR. President. believe every
one should have all the enjoyment out Of
life they can get, and as I know the dele
gates in this convention would like 10
smoke, L move you that they be allowed
to smoke" A loud and unanimous second
went I'D from the floor and was followed
by a roar Of ayes" when the question was
put without debate. No sooner was the
anti-snoke rule revoked than the hall re-
sounded by the rapping Of pipes on chair
rounds and little blue columns of smoke
began to make their way toward the cell
ing.
After the adoption of the new constitu-
ton the matter of selecting two additional
executive board members from the an
thracite delegation, increasing the present
board membership to ten, was taken up and
1t was decided that no selection would be
made at this convention on account of the
new constitution. which provides that the
board shall consist Of representatives from
each of the several districts after this year
CHANGES IN CONSTITUTION.
The important changes and amendments
to the constitution adopted yesterday were
that the executive board prepare plan for
a change in the representation at the an
nual convention to De submitted TO next
years convention; that no delegate shall
be allowed a seat in the convention whose
local union is in arrears for dues and as
sessments; that no race, creed or nation
atty be disseminated against: the absorp-
ton of the organization of the engineers,
firemen, blacksmths and other auxiliary
unions and the passage of an important
amendment relating to strikes.
member of the United Mine Workers is sus-
pended or discharged it shall be the duty
of the mine committee to Immediately in
vestigate the case, and If the member dis
charged is not guilty of the alleged offense
the grievance shall Immediately be reported
to the subdistrict or district president in
writing, under the seal OF the local, and II.
upon investigation. the report of the local
committee is found correct, the subdistrict
or district president shall Immediately in
sist upon the reinstatement OF the suspend
ed or discharged member. If the company
refuses to reinstate the member a strike
shall be declared All cases of this charac-
ter to be settled within one week after no.
tice"
There was considerable discussion over
| this amendment, especially over the last
| two sentences relating to the reinstatement
| OF discharged employees. 1t was argued that
| IL this part of the amendment were adopted
the union would have one continuous strike.
| eliminating the reinstatement provision.
| This is an important move as the subject
| OF reinstatement has. perhaps caused the
| miners as much trouble as any one grlev-
ance they have had to settle.
The recommendation of President
Mitchell that the officers be elected by
| referendum vote, which was embodied In
an amendment. was defeated. President
Mitchell spoke in behalf Of the amendment,
| saying it would prevent log rolling at the
| convention and there would be a greater
| interest taken in the organization at large.
| The opposition, however, was too strong
| and the amendment was lost.
| The convention closed with votes of
| thanks to the citizens Of Indianapolis Cen
| trail Labor Union and the Commercial Club
l for courtesies received while the miners
| were in the city.
SEEKING A LOST SON.
| Before the convention adjourned Presi-
dent Mitchell read a communication from
| Michael King, an aged miner in the an
thracite district, asking the delegates to
assist him in locating his son, who ran
away from home seven months ago. The
old man has asked President Mitchell to
assist him every time he has been in the
anthracite district, and also requested that
| the matter oe brought before the conven-
/ ton. The boys name is Pat King. There
was humorous mistake In the description
/ of the boy. In referring to his height the
letter said he was seven feet seven inches
| tall. The delegates expressed themselves
| willing to assist the old man in finding his
son.
Mother Jones, who has been attending
| the convention, will not go to the joint
| conference at Columbus, but instead will
| leave on an early train this morning fol
Evansville, where the women textile work
| err are on strike. She Will do what she can
| to- adjust matters.
| A resolution was passed making it the
| sense OF the convention that the delegates
| approve the election of federal judges by
| direct vote.
| After the convention Edward Gould, edi-
| tor Of the Union, had wagon load OF
! souvenir editions of his paper at the door
| 10 distribute among the delegates. The
| edition was in red cover with a picture
| of Tomlinson Hall, where the convention
! was held and where 1t will meet next year
/ on the front page. A large part of the edi-
| ton is given over to the miners and their
convention and is plentifully illustrated
with pictures of the United Mine Workers
| officers, other labor leaders and women
| prominently identified with the Women's
Label League.