Evening star., 1902-01-21
Miss Meredith Creates Sensation in
Miners Convention.
ACCUSES PRESIDENT MITCHELL
Alleges That He Covered Up De-
falcation of Treasurer.
READS STATEMENT HERSELF

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. January 21.-
Charges against President Mitchell, Sec
retary Wilson and the executive board of
the United Mine Workers of America were
the first order OF business before the con-
yention this afternoon. and the unexpected
announcement that the charges would be
taken up caused a furry of excitement in
the convention. President Mitchell. In a
voice fun of emotion, in. addressing the
convention. said: .s-s-5-s
Gentlemen of the United Mine Workers:
The election Of officers was to have been
the first thing on the program today, but
have to say with deep feeling and regret
that charges have been made by Miss Mil
lie Meredith. an ex-employe Of the national
loffice, effecting myself as president of the
national body, against your national secre-
tary, Mr. Wilson, and also against the ma :
tional executive board.
Ihe time has come for the election of
national officers: l am unwilling to have
this proceed until these charges have been
heard. 1 therefore ask the convention to
near these charges and 1 ask Mr.. William
u. Van Horne of Indiana to take the chair
Whlle the charges are being heard"
Opposes u Closed Session.
When Mr.. Van Horne took the chair
Delegate Love of Iowa moved that the
convention go into closed session and that
all newspaper representatives be excluded
! while the charges were heard.
Delegate Mackay of Pennsylvania op-
posed the motion.
Delegate Nichols Of district No. In the
anthracite region said that some delegates
seemed too anxious to have the charges
aired He thought those making the
charges ought to ask permission to appear
and make them. A committee was ap-
pointed to escort Miss Meredith to the con-
vention hall to explain her charges.
President Mitchell took a seat back upon
the stage and awaited Miss Meredith s
coming.
Delegate Reese. on returning to the hall
bringing Miss Meredith, said she had pre-
pared the charges in the form of type
written manuscript. Reese said Miss Mere
dlth would read the statement and would
be at the disposal of the convention.
The reading OF the charges presented an
unusual scene in a miners convention.
Miss Meredith Is a tall. slender brunette, of
excellent appearance. She was dressed in
black and wore a Gainsborough hat as sn.
stepped to the front of the platform and
started to read. There were cries OF
Louder from the rear parts of the hall.
one delegate moved that Reese read the
statement for the young woman, but Miss
meredith insisted on reading the charges
and. raising her voice, read in a clear
tone.
Miss Meredith's Charges.
Miners" said Miss Meredith, "I wish to
read this myself. and then il It has not
been heard. some one else may read It,"
go on. Mollie." put in Acting President
Van Horne. Miss Meredith went on and
finished her statement.
The young wOmans statement concerned
the alleged defalcation of ex-Secretary-
treasurer Pearce. and alleged that Presi-
dent Mitchell and Secretary-treasurer Will
son did not give out all the facts concern
Ing Pearce's actions, and that they will
fully lied to the miners committee year
ago. She demanded an investigation of the
books to see how much Pearce's alleged
defalcation really was. She intimated that
both Mitchell and Wilson sought to pro-
tect Pearce. and for that reason did not
give out all the facts, and charged that
Pearce frequently presented bills for dou-
BILE the amount of purchases. She also
said that Pearce's extra money" amount
ed to 5000 year, while Mitchell and Will
son reported that he had taken only S160.
Miss Meredith declared that Mitchell al
lowed Pearce to go away as a sick man"
and send in his resignation from French
Lick Springs,