Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1902-07-19


prevail with the members OF his or
Fonization. there win he no general
strike cf The organization. Tn his sDeech
fn tae convention this afternoon. Mr.
Mitchell advised strongly against a
strike end urged that the biturnin0us
miners continue at work. and that e
6, ssem ~ assessmen; upon the mem
beers or the order. which NJ outlined De
earTied into effect as tho best means 81
n0ording aid ana support % the strik-
tn@ anthracite men in the east.
flis recommendation. II IL had been
adopted by the convention. this after.
-oon. would have settled the entire
question fcr which the convention was
called. and an immediate Adjournment
would have followed. a motion TO adopi
chem provoked "a long debate in winch
She general sentiment was against tho
"fatring cf The strike. The men from
me anthracite reg'ons finally asked
mat they be- allowed 20 hold a caucus
10 determine upon an expression Of
opinion as To what the convention
tnol.o 40 and asked an adjournment
penang the caucus This was granted
In the convention three sna,rhos
were made hy members % the anthra-
cite districts. asking shat the soft coal
men walk OUT. and twice as many were
MADE ~ the anthracite men urging
sort coal men go continue II work.
said
In determining the advisability 4
inauguratinE national suspension OF
coal mining in defense 81 our sfrurrlfno
Fellow workers in the anthracite field 81
fennsy lNnuia- it IS imperative that
neither passion nor Prejudice should in
I.
trust that your decision whatever h
may De-. shall carry hope and inSnira-
ZION 90 that great army of men. women
ar1 children. In The anthracite fields.
who are watching and PRAYING Ga ex-
peclaLon mat this assem- bly, viii devise
some measure which shall prove SUI
ncient 20 enable them living wages ana
human. American conditions OF ernp,ov-
ulent Their success VIII be yours. and
ther defeat VIII be your defeat more
over. the destruction Of the United
Nine workers organi cation ln the an
thracite coal Fields 81 Pennsy1vauia
would prove the greatest uoss tHla shock
% the American trade usLoh move
nnent
The past fistpry OF the. labor move
fnent teaches Lessons that should noe be
forgotten to-day. I do not know or one
SOLITARY sympathetic strike Of any mag
nituce. which has been successful. on
=
among the Eympathetic labor struggles
have resulted IN fgnominious and
crushing defeat. not only Tor the branch
% industry originally involved. but also
Tor the divisions participating through
sympathy
In this supreme crisis a failure 90
i've up 20 the high standard that has
made our union pre-enrfnent among or
CARNATIONS % labor. would prove a
Eubstantiation OF all the charges and
cileEations made against us by our
enemies and would confirm beyond
the possibility OF refutatlon. the spe-
clous argument OF the anthracite coal
operators that the United Mine Work
ers ~ America is an irresponsible and
unsafe body with which 20 deal
u am firm in my conviction that the
strike in The anthracite. fields can and
Viii he won without Tepudlating our
solemn contracts with the hiturufnous
Operators. provided the bitumInous
miners VII rise 70 the occasion and do
their fun duty by their struggling fel-
low workers. I submit the following
specific recommendations
"F1rst-lhat the national secretary
treasurer be authorized and directed 20
Immediately appropriate fifty thousand
dollars from the funds in the national
treasury and place 90 az the disposal OF
the officers q Districts I and g
~%cond-Ihat all districts eub-dfs-
tricts and local unions be appealed 10
10 devote from the surplus In their
treasures az large amounts as they car
afford.
--Third-That an assessment OF not
less than one dollar per week be levied
upon al members OF local unions the
amount 80 levied 90 De collected al she
earliest possible moment and forward
e 70 - national secrctary-treasurer
'FOurfh-Thaf an assessment OF y
per cent. Re levied upon an national.
district and sub-dlstrict officers. who's
salaries amount 10 sixty dollars per
month OF more.
Flfih-Ihat an appeal be made 10
All American trade unions and 20 IN.
general puhlc Tor financial assistance
70 carry che strike through 60 a sue
cegsful issue
"Slxth-That committee be selected
froul this convention 20 draft an adj
trcss 90 the american people. setting
forth boz proper form. the policy OF the
rnirrre' organization ana appealing 10
ne people o. bring all possible pressure
- bear apon the officers and stock
rcI4elf ~ the anthracite coal carrying
railroads 20 c1-npei them 40 treat con-
1fratfly the appeals cf their en-
r.Cyees for araitfation.~
nr speech was greeted with great
80 1ufe from both anthracite and
titalHinous miners.
President Ryan. of the Illinois nalnera
f'-rref. onf e, was promptly seconded.
hat IRE rerctneuen1afiore 81 adopted
- question WAS being put when q
9eleEaic ro1e 20 ask for Information.
fuc thea btga the debate which con
nnuc1 Until go 30urnulens.
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