The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-19
COST OF THE STRIKE.
100000 Week Needed for Anthra.
cite Men.


Indianapolis. July 1S.-At the conclu-
sion of a secret session which lasted
the entire evening, the recommends
tions of President Mitchell for the
management of the anthracite strike
were referred to a special committee,
which is to report back to the conven-
tion tomorrow morning. This COM
mittee consists of President Mitchell,
Vice President Lewis, Secretary Will
son and the president of each district
which is taking part in the convention.
There is little doubt that the commit
tee will urge the adoption of the rec
concentrations and fix the rate of as
sessment at 10 per cent, or higher.
Vice President Lewis delivered an
energetic speech on an amendment Of
fered by Delegate Haskins to-day that
the fund to be raised for the aid of
the anthracite miners be extended to
all of the striking miners where strike
has been sanctioned by the general or
ganization. He declared that all the
miners should be taken care of in like
manner. President Mitchell told the
convention that the strikes in West
Virginia and elsewhere were being pro-
tected by the general organization,
under the regular assessments of the
union, but that the assessment which
was under discussion was necessary
for the support of the anthracite strike
alone, and should not be diverted from
it's purpose.
1T is possible that other strikes may
come" he said, land then under the
precedent. which a general distribu-
| ton of the fund to be raised would
! create, these later strikes could claim
their share in the fund. and it would
be so depleted as to fail entirely of
its purpose
He declared that the cost of main
| tanning strikes varied according to
places and conditions.
Anthracite Strike Is Cheap.
1.-THE anthracite strike" he conclud-
ed, lis the cheapest strike that we can
have"
| Mr.. Mitchell assured the convention
| that the strike in the Pittsburg dis
trict and all other strikes would be
looked after without splitting up the
! fund for the anthracite men, and
again urged the men to dismiss from
their minds all thought of a general
strike. His remarks We're greeted with
enthusiastic cheers.
President Dolan of District No. 5,
Pittsburg, said during the morning
session that his district had not re-
ceived aid that the aid 1t had received
had been insufficient. and President
Mitchell reioined that the Pittsburg
district had received from the national
organization the exact sum which the
officers of that district had said would
| he necessary To win the strike.
| The Haskins amendment was voted
! down by decisive majority, This left
before the convention the original mo-
| ton for the adoption of the recommen-
| dations of the president. A number of
! amendments were then offered. all
| relating to the manner in which the
assessment should be made One by
Mr.. Ryan of Illinois favored 10 per
cent. of the net earnings of the mem
bers of the union, another by Vice
| President Lewis, 10 per cent of the
| gross earnings and third by Secre-
| tary Wilson suggested that in some
districts the assessment should be
made on the percentage basis and in
others on the basis of 81 per week
These were all pending when Secretary
Wilson offered an amendment that the
matter be referred to the committee
mentioned. This prevailed and an adj
morning at 10 O'Clock.
viii Need $5OO,OOO "A Week.
At the conclusion Of the session.
Secretary Wilson said:
ut will cost 100000 weekly to sup
port all these men who are now on
strike IN the various districts. An as
sessment Of 81 per week will bring in
$25O,O00 a week, an assessment of 10
per cent. per week upon each member
of the union will result in about the
same sum- This will leave us $3.50, 900
to raise each week from outside
sources and from the promises and Of
fers that have been made us, we are
confident that we will be able to do
this"
Illinois Donates $4,000.
The convention will be informed by
the Illinois delegation tomorrow morn
ing that the miners of that state have
voted donation of $500 to the cause
of the anthracite strike. The money
will be available at once.
The committee remained in session
until midnight, when 1t adjourned with
out completing its work. 1t Is practi-
cally certain that the committee will
urge the adoption of the recommended
tions of President Mitchell and the
levying upon the members of the union
of an arbitrary assessment of 81 per
week, where there is no check office
and of 10 per cent. per week in locali-
ties where there is a check office 1t