Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-07-19
MINERS IN SECRET SESSION
Recommendation Of President Mitchell Re-
ferred to Special 0OmmittsO.
ALL DANGER OF GENERAL STRIKE PAST
Indications that suggestions of Pres
ident of Union Will He Adopted
by COnyention with Lit
~ tie Opposition.


clal committee, which is to report back to
the convention when 1t meets tomorrow.
The committee consists Of President
Mitchell, Vice President Lewis, Secretary
Wilson and the president OF each district
which Is taking part in the convention
There is little doubt that the committee
will urge the adoption Of the recommenda-
tions, fixing the rate of assessment at 10
per cent or over.
At the opening OF the executive session
Vice President Lewis took the floor and de-
livered an energetic speech on the amend
ment offered by Delegate Haskins in the
morning, to the effect that the fund to be
raised for the aid of the anthracite miners
be extended to all Of the striking miners
where their strike has been sanctioned by
the general organization. He declared that
he thought all of the miners should be taken
care Of in like manner. He also warned
the convention that it would be necessary
for the convention to so word its recon-
mendations so as to avoid the laws of Penn
sylvania, which he said, might cause trouble
when an attempt was made to collect the
assessments of the men through the check
offices by bringing about injunction pro-
ceedings to restrain alleged conspiracy.
President Mitchell then took the floor to
speak for the adoption OF the recommenda-
tion made In his speech of yesterday. He
told the convention that the strikers in
West Virginia and elsewhere were being
protected by the general organizations under
the regular assessments of the union, but
that the assessment which was under dis
cuysion was necessary for the support Of the
anthracite strike alone and should not be
diverted from its purpose.
1T is possible that other strikes may
come" he said, "and then, under the pre-
cedent which a general distribution OF the
fund to be raised would create, these later
strikes could claim their share In the FUND
and 1t would be so depleted as to rail en-
tirely of its purpose"
Cost of Strikes Varies.
He declared that the cost Of maintaining
strikes varied according to places and con-
ditions.
"In the anthracite regions" he said, "the
country is thickly settled. There are mills
and factories and II is possible for the men
on a strike to secure employment. They
are then no burden on the general organi-
zation, but are even able to help It. In
West Virginia, for instance, there are but
two vocations for the WITHDRAWING or
farming The latter is out OF the question
for the greater part OF the men, II not for
all Of them, and they have no chance for
employment when on a strike. 1t costs
much more per capita to keep up a strike in
West Virginia than in the anthracite reg
ions. The anthracite strike is, in fact, the
cheapest strike that we can have. 1t is
easier to maintain than any other and we
should not allow 1t to go down to defeat by
diverting the funds necessary for It."
Mr. Mitchell assured the convention that
the strike in the Pittsburg district and
all other strikes would be looked after
without splitting up the fund for the an
thracite men and again urged the men to
dismiss from their minds all thoughts Of a
general strike.
His remarks were greeted with enthu-
siastic cheers.
President Dolsn of district No. s, Pitts
burg, got the floor to explain conditions
in his district. He had said in the morn
ing session that his district had not re-
ceived aid; that the aid 1t had received
had been insufficient, and President Mitch
ell had rejoined that the Pittsburg district
had received from the national organiza-
| tion the exact amount which the officers
OF the district had said would be necessary
to win the strike.
DOIan Makes Explanation.
Mr.. Dolan made a long explanation Of
| the manner in which the money had been
expended and told of the conditions in
the surrounding district of Pittsburg.
When he had concluded several delegates
made short speeches. asking the conven-
| tion to hasten matters. A vote was then
taken on the Haskins amendment and 1t
was voted down by a decisive majority.
! This left before the convention the orig
| inal recommendations Of the president.
number OF resolutions were then
offered, all relating to the manner the
| assessment should be made.
| One OF Mr.. Ryan's OF Illinois favored 10
| per cent of the net earnings Of the mem
bers Of the union; another by Vice Presi-
| dent Lewis, 10 per cent OF the gross earn
ings. and q third, by Secretary Wilson,
/ suggested that In some districts the as
sessment should be, made on the percent
age basis and In others on the basis OF 81
per week.
These we're all pending when Secretary
! Wilson offered an amendment that the mat
ter be referred to a committee made up
1 OF three Of the highest officers Of the ma
tional organization and the presidents Of
| the districts represented in the eonven-
| tion. This prevailed and adjournment was
| taken until tomorrow at 10 o'clock.
At the conclusion Of the session Sec
retary Wilson said:
! 1t will cost $4,000 weekly to support all
! the men now on strike in the various dis
| tricts. An assessment of 81 a week win
| bring In S250OO0 a week, an assessment OF
| 81 per week upon each member of the
| union win result in about the same sum.
| This will leave us S250.0O0 TO raise each
! week from outside sources, and from the
| promises and offers that have been made
us, We are confident We will be able 10 do
| this
This morning the sentiment among the
delegates to the miners convention was
fully as strong as ever against a strike and
all danger OF such an event is now passed.
The anthracite men favoring a strike ad-
mitted that there was no chance of a walk
out.
They were helpless last night, when a
| majority OF their own men we're opposed
TO a strike, and this morning they came
into the convention determined to stand
as unit by the recommendations of Pres
ident Mitchell.
Thomas L. Nichols. president Of district
| No. !, anthracite. which was chiefly instru-
mental in calling the convention, denied
this morning that he had been in favor %
general strike. He said:
I never was personally in favor OF a
1 strike, but, knowing how the majority Of
/ our people feel should have voted for a
/ general strike IL the question had come be-
fore the convention Just now guess Il
(cOntinued on Fifth PASsl