Waterbury Democrat., 1902-07-19
MITCHELL CONTROLS
Plan Referred to Special Committee Which He Heads.

INDIANAPOLIS, July 19.-At the conclusion of a secret session which lasted the entire afternoon the recoIN- mendations of President Mitchell for the management of the anthracite strike were referred to a special com- mittee. which is to report back to the convention. This committee consists of President Mitchell, Vice President Lewis, Secretary.Wilson and the presi- dents of each district which is taking part in the convention. There is little doubt that the committee will urge the adoption of the recommendations and fix the rate of assessment at 10 per cent or higher.
 At the opening of the executive ses- sion Vice President Lewis took the floor and delivered an energetic speech on the amendment offered by Delegate Haskins in the morning to the effect that the fund to be raised for the aid of the anthracite miners be extended to all of the striking miners where their strike has been sanctioned by the general organization. He declared that he thought all the miners should be taken care of in like manner.
 President Mitchell then took the floor to speak for the adoption of the recom- mendations made in his speech of Thursday. He told the convention that the strikes in West Virginia and else where were being protected by the general organization under the regular assessments of the union, but that the assessment which was under discus sion was necessary for the support of the anthracite strike alone and should not be diverted from it's purpose.
 '.It is possible that other strikes may come," he said, "and then. under the precedent which general distribution of the fund to be raised would create these later strikes could claim their share in the fund, and it would be so depleted as to fail entirely of its pur- pose"
 He declared that the cost of main taining strikes varied, according to places and conditions.
 Tn the anthracite regions,'' he said, "the country is thickly settled. There are mills and factories, and it is possi- bie for the men on strike to secure en- pioyment. They are then no burden on the general organization, but are even able to help it. In West Virginia, for instance, there are but two vacations for the miner, mining or farming. The latter is out of the question for the greater part of the men, and they then have no chance for employment when on a strike. It costs much more per capita to keep up a strike in West Vir- ginia than in the anthracite regions. The anthracite strike is, in fact, the cheapest strike that we can have It is easier to maintain than any other, and we should not allow it to go down to defeat by diverting the funds neces- sary for it''
 At the conclusion of the session Sec retary Wilson said:
 Tt will cost $500,o00 weekly to SUD- port all the men now on strike in the various districts. An assessment of $1 per week will bring in $25O,0O0, and an assessment Qf E$I per week upon each member of fhe union wifi result in about the same sum. This will leave us S25o,0oo to raise each week from outside sources, and from the promises and offers that have been made us we are confident that we will be able to do thiSn