The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-10
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 Bessemer, December 9.-(Special.) )-To- day has been a busy day with the United Mine Workers. Yesterday was practi- cally lost to the deligates from the mis- take made by the committee on order Of business in their report. It was of such a nature as to force the convention to refer 1t back to the committee for revi- sion and to report at the opening of to- days session. This was done, and it was unanimously adopted
 Two sessions daily are provided for, a. m. and 1:9O D. m. limiting discuss sions to five minutes to the speaker. Then officers report Then annual election of officers Then the detailed business.
 Flynn Makes Report.
 The first session tday was taken up by the reports of President Flynn and Secretary Treasurer Clemo. The former reported verbally and gave a clear review of the history of the organization in this district the past year. He spoke of the progress it had made in membership and in financial strength and then of the various difficulties it had encountered and overcome; of the striks that had threatened it and of their peaceful ana satisfactory settlement. With the excep- ton of those pending at Aldrich ana Faliston, which were still expensive and vexatious.
 President Flynn spoke of one good re- sulting from the big Pennsylvania strike. That it had demonstrated the discipline ottfh fxr If tha aafz tions, that assessments could be made and enforced, and that their safety and permanence rested on obedience to the higher authorities.
 Secretary-Treasurer Clemo read his re- port first commenting on progress made and congratulating the miners upon the advantage made
 MT. cIemo's Report.
 The report of Secretary Treasurer J. L. Clemo, in part, is as follows:
 Bessemer, Ala, December 9, 1902. MT. President, Officers and Delegates of
 District 20 United Mine Workers of America in Fifth Annual Convention Assembled:
 Fellow Workmen-In accordance with constitutional requirement and custom it affords me great pleasure to submit for yola inspection and consideration a state melt of the financial transactions of the sec-etary-treasurer' office for the year ending November 30, 1902.
 The year just closed Is the most impor- tant in the mining history of Alabama. Both in rates and wages and conditions of employment, notably so in the adop- tion of a uniform day wage scale at the highest rate of wages ever paid in the state.
 The system of miners being paid for coal by measure has been removed need not remind you that this has been one of the most serious evils the Ala bama miner has had to contend with, and has been a bone of contention in every. convention held in this district Another growing evil was abolished in fixing a uniform grade that the miner will be required to push his cars.
 The agreement of this year Is vast improvement over the past custom, and has caused several local strikes to en- force the same, and in the aggregate has cost the district the sum of S449.36. The following table shows the paid-up mem bership of the organization for the past five years:
 Paidup membership for 1S9S......." 2,S57 Paidup membership for 1899. ........ h236 Paidup membership for 1900......... 6,4S9 Paidup membership for 1901......... 9,OOS Paidup membership for 1902......... 9,393 The increase in membership in 1902 over II ized in 1902 was 15; number of locals dis banded was 10; net gain 5.
 I would recommend changing section of Article 5, district constitution, by striking out the following words: And nothing but the totals shall be published in the press" The reason assigned for the above change is that every member of our organization may have the op- portunity of knowing the financial con dition of the district.
 It is cert tainly gratifying to say that the executive work for the past year has been very successful. Notwithstand- ing the heavy expenditure Of money nec- essary for the work performed, our dis trict is in a more prosperous condition than at any time in its history
 In conclusion I take pleasure in re- turning to one and all, officers and mem- bers, my appreciation of their confidence bestowed
 The report was received.
 At the afternoon session the annual election of officers began.
 Opposition to Fairley Withdrawn.
 All opposition to w. B. Fairley for member of the national executive board was withdrawn and he was elected unan- imously.
 In the ballot for president, Ed Flynn received 119, William Kirkpatrick 21, Ed Browning or Hlper lz, ana Eugene Suill- van 3l
 For vice. president, B. L. Greer (coloreO of Bocton, received 167 and William Nor ton (white), of West Pratt, received 16.
 l. L. Clemo was unanimously elected secretary treasurer.
 Balloting commenced for members of the district board. There were twenty four candidates. Only four received majority vote, viz: Adam Stewart of Cardiff, Eugene Sullivan of Belle Ellen, George Barbour and w. P. Bynum of Pratt City. There are eight on the board. The time for adjournment was reached before another ballot could be takes. Completing the election will be the first order of business at the morning session tomorrow Three auditors and members of the credentials committee are also to be elected, for which there are four can didates.
 Much Business to Come Up.
 There Is a great deal of business yet to come up before the convention and 1t is expected that final adjournment can- not take place before Saturday,
 A smoker was given the delegates at the hall last night and there were ad-