The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-01-23
LEADERS ACCUSED.
OfReials CT United Mine Workers
Under Fire.

indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 22.-Charges
against President Mitchell, Secretary
wilson and the executive board of the
u. NJ w. Of America were the first or
der of business before the convention
Tuesday and the unsupported an
nouncement that the charges would
be taken up caused furry of excite
H1snt ia tie convention. President
Mitchell. in voice full Of emotion, ad-
dressing the convention said:
Gentlemen Of the United Mine Work
ers: The election OF officers was to have
been the hrst thing on the programme to-
-etssssalHls'ee.-44 haYe-ts say with deep feenng
and regret that charges have been made
~ Miss 1rliiie Meredith. an ex-employe
OF the national Office. affecting myself as
president Of the national body, against
your national secretary, Mr.. Wilson, and
also against the rational executive board.
'srhe time has come :rr tie election OF
ratioral officers. 1 am unwilling to have
this proceed until these charges have been
heard i therefore ask me cor yention TO
hear these charges. aid ssk Mr. William
u. Van Horne. OF Indiana, to AXE the
Miss Meredith Sent For.
when Mr.. Van Horne took the chair
delegate Harrison. of Illinois, moved
that Miss Meredith be sent for and
asked to explain the charges.
Acting President Van Horne put the
motion and ii carried, and he appointed
Delegates Nichols, of Pennsylvania;
Reese, OF Iowa, and Haskins, Of Ohio,
q committee to 90 to the Denison hotel
to escort Miss Meredith to the conyen-
ton hall.
There was much suppressed excite
rnent throughout the convention as it
awaited the hearing of the charges.
President Mitchell took a seat back
upon the stage and awaited Miss Mere
ciyh's coming.
Miss Meredith Appears.
Delegate Reese, on returning to the
hall, bringing Miss Meredith, said she
had prepared the charges in the form
of fype-written manuscript. Reese
said Miss Meredith would read the
statement and would be at the dis
posai Of the convention.
The reading Of the charges pre-
sented an unusual scene in miners
convention. Mss Meredith is tall
brunette, slender and good-looking.
She was dressed in black and wore
large paingborough hat with ostrich
piumes dropping over her forehead.
The Charges.
The charges concern the shortage
Of ex-secrefary-T Treasurer Pearce and
allege that President Mitchell and Sec
retars-Treasurer Wilson did not give
ont All the facts concerning Pearee's
actions and that they "wilfully lied"
10 the miners committee year ago.
An Investigation Of the books is de-
ynanded TO see how much Pearce's
shortage was. It is intimated that
both Mitchell and Wilson sought to
protect Pearce and for that reason did
not give out all the facts. Miss Mere
d;th charges that Pearce frequently
presented bills for double the amount
~ purchases. She also says that
pearee,a aextra money amounted to
~ 400 4 year. while Mitchell and Wilson
reported that he had taken only S16o.
Miss Meredith also says that Mitchell
allowed Pearce to go away as "sick
man" and send in his resignation from
French Lick Springs.
Wilson Denies Charges.
A. the conclusion Of Miss Meredith's
statement Secretary Treasurer Wilson
arose and spoke at length He denied
ne truth Of the statement and said II
was the outgrowth Of spite. Miss
1fefedith was recently let out as an as
a;stant secretary. She Is the young
woman 10 whom gold medal was pre-
eented FOR discovering the Pearee
shortage.
ar. Wilson finished his denial at the
noon hour, Then President Mitchell
made Il known that he wished 70 reply
~ the charges. The delegates we're
hnngry and stood tor adjournment
ens insisted that President Mitchell be
henrd but after parliamentary ex-
change ne oonEspticn adjourned UNI