The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-01-23
MINERS CONVECTION LISTENS
TOA STATEMENT AGAINST
NATIONAL OFFICERS.
THE COMPLAINANT A WOMAN
Alleges That President Mitchell and
secretary-TreasurerN Wilson Sought
to Protect Former Treasurer Pearce
and Withheld Facts In the Case.
Officers Say Charges Are outgroWth
If Cpife
Of Spite

Indianapolis, Jan. 22.-Charges
against President Mitchell, Secretary
Wilson and the executive board of the
United Mine Workers of America, was
the order of business before the con-
vention during the morning and the
unexpected announcement that the
charges would be taken up caused
furry of excitement in the convention.
President Mitchell, in a voice full OF
emotion, addressing the convention,
said:
"The election of officers was to have
been the first thing on the programme
but have to say with deep feeling
and regret that charges have been
made by Miss Mollie Meredith, a for
mer employee of the national Office, af-
fecting myself as president of the ma
tional body, against your national Sec
rotary, Mr.. Wilson, and also against
the national executive board. The
time has come for the election OF ma
tional officers, but I am unwilling to
have this proceed until these charges
have been heard. therefore ask the
convention to hear these charges and
I ask William D. Van Horn of Indiana
to take the chair while the charges
are being heard"
There was much suppressed excite
ment throughout the convention as it
awaited the hearing of the charges
President Mitchell took seat back
upon the stage.
The reading of the charges present
"a an unusual scene in a miners con-
vention. Miss Meredith is tall bru-
nette, slender and good looking. She
was dressed in black and wore large
Gainsborough hat with ostrich plumes
dropping over her forehead. When
she began reading there were cries OF
louder" from the rear parts of the
hall. One delegate moved that Reese
read the statement for the young wo-
man, but she insisted on reading the
charges and raising her voice, read in
clear tone:
Insists on Reading It Herself.
miners, l wish to read it myself,
and then, if it has not been heard,
some one else may read it."
Acting President Van Horn said:
miss Meredith will read this herself,
then if it has not been heard it will be
read by some one who can make you
hear. Go on, Mollie.'
Miss Meredith went on and finished
her statement.
The charges concern the shortage
of Former Secretary-T Treasurer Pearce
and allege that President Mitchell and
Secretary-Tre Wilson did not
give out all the facts concerning
Pearce's actions and that they will
fully lied" to the miners committee a
year ago. An investigation of the
books is demanded to see how much
Pearce's shortage was. 1t is init
mated that both Mitchell and Wilson
sought to protect Pearce. Miss Mere
dith charges that Pearce frequently
presented bills for double the amount
of purchases. She also says that
Pearce's "extra money" amounted to
81, 900 year, while Mitchell and Will
son reported that he had taken only
$780, Miss Meredith also says that
Mitchell allowed Pearce to go away as
sick man" and send in his resigna.
ton from French Lick Springs.
At the conclusion of Miss Meredith
statement Secretary-Tr Treasurer Wilson
arose and spoke at length. He denied
the truth of the statement and said
it was the outgrowth of spite. Miss
Meredith was recently let out as an
assistant secretary. She is the young
woman to whom gold medal was pre-
scented for discovering the Pearce
shortage.
When the convention reassembled
Mr.. Mitchell addressed the delegates,
denying the stories contained in Miss
Meredith's statement. The conven-
tion appeared to be with the president
as his remarks were frequently inter.