The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-22
MINE WORKERS ACCEPT RECON-
MENDAIIONS OF MITCHELL.
APPEAL To AMERICANS.
Miners Declare Against m General
strike-They Provide for the Rais-
ing of a Fund to Aid the Striking
anthracite Workcrs-An Appeal
Issued to the American People for
Aid-Recomme IN N ndations Are Prac-
tfcally Those of President Mitchell

Indianapolis, Ind, July 19.-At
o'clock this afternoon the convention of
United Mine Workers adjourned, after
declaring against a general strike, pro-
Viding for the raising of a fund with
which to aid the striking anthracite
miners and issuing an appeal to the
American people for support.
The recommendation brought in by
a special committee. and which are
practically identical with those suggest
ed by President Mitchell and unani-
mously adopted by the convention, fol-
low:
Il. That the national treasurer be
authorized and directed to immediately
appropriate $4,000 from the funds of the
national treasury and place it at the
disposal of the officers of districts num-
bers l, Z and Chose are the anthracite
districts.)
"2. That all districts, sub-districts
and local unions be appealed to, to do
nate from the surplus III their treasures
as large amount as they can afford
). That an assessment of ten per
| cent be levied on the gross earnings of
| all members of local ultions in districts
numbers 6, s, j. 19, % and %, and an
assessment of 81 per week upon all
members of local unions in districts
Nos. ?, 5, II, Ia, Is, 16, 20 and 81. The
| members of districts now on strike.
which may resume work before this
assessment has been removed shall be
| assessed either ten per cent of their
gross earning of s1.OO per week, which
ever their district may decide from the
time work rs resumed.
Il. The assessment shall be paid di-
rect from the local Unions to the ma
tiona1 secretary and the local unions
will be held responsible for the pay
ment of the same.
%. An assessment of % per cent.
will be levied upon wages, salary or
percentage received from the organiza-
ton of all national districts and sub
districts Officers and organizers.
| +6. The assessment shall begin with
! the 18th of July, 1902
-. All contributions made from the
| national office to the anthracite region
will be divided pro rata to each anthra-
1
| number of miners and mine laborers in
| each of them, as showa by the most re-
| cent coal reports.
'tS. That circular he issued to the
American people,"
The following amendment submitted
by President Nichols, OF anthracite dis
| trict No. 1 was included:
THAT each local union in the regions
| that are at work select committee
| which shall secure work for as many
| Of the men on strike as possible in the
locality where the local union is situated,
| and that the local union inform the.sec-
retaries of the strike districts Of the
work, wages and arrangements for
| transportation. That the same PROPOSE
ton be submitted to all local unions in
the American federation OF labor.
%. That the circular to our local
unions shall include recommendation
that committees be appointed to can
vass the business men and other cIti-
zens of their localities for subscrip-
tions.''
The circular to the public states the
line of action determined on and the
reasons therefor. 1t says in part
When we look upon enormous for
tunes that our labor has made possible,
and the luxuries it brings to the people
at large and then examine the pittance
we receive as wages for the labor we
have to perform, the dangers we under
CO. the dampness we must endure, the
foul air we must breath and the pecu-
liar rheumatic and lung trouble, super
induced by these conditions which we
must bear. We naturally feel that we
are being unjustly dealt with.
1.-THE extremely low wages paid to an
thracite miners; the refusal of the coal
companies to have the coal property
weighed or permit the miners to employ
a man, at their own expense, TO see the
coal they have mined weighed, measur-
ed or credited: the great number or
hours the miner must work each day in
the most unsanitary conditions; their
cruel and unjust treatment by petty
bosses, the arbitrary assumption by the
employees that neither the miners nor
the public has any rights that are en-
titled to consideration by them, have
forced US to organize, not to take from
the operators that which belongs to
them. but to secure. by business meth
ods. better treatment s.nd fair recon-
pense for our labor.
50 10 ~<,n1 ON, GRO