The age-herald., 1902-01-28
Convention Authorizes Assess mGnt to Aid Fights Now On
MOVE TO RAISE SALARIES
MltcheIPs Record Assaulted By Dele qate With Whom the President Afterwards Declares He
 Would Not Associate.

Indianapolis, January 27.-The United Mine Workers took today what is regard ed by many of the delegates as the most important action of the convention. resolution came from Indiana District No. il providing that the convention should levy an assessment of all members of the organization sufficient for tie purpose of carrying to a speedy and successful ter imitation all strikes now engaged in by the entire organization.
 After considerable debate the recom- mendation of the committee to refer 1t to the national executive board was vot- ed down. and a sub-motion that the con- vention itself make the assessment was passed.
 Another motion that the amount of the assessment be left to the national exec utive board to determine was passed after much discussion, as some members thought the board should be made to as- sume the responsibility. Delegate Reese of Iowa then moved that the board be instructed to report to this convention This was concurred in. The levy will cover only such strikes as have the in- dorsement of the international board, 1t is the purpose of the miners to fight the operators to the end in all these strikes.
 To Raise Salaries.
 An Illinois delegate has presented resolution raising the salary of the na- tonal President to $2500 year. The Presi- dent now gets $500. Many of the dele gates, the district officers especially, 1t is understood, favor the resolution.
 Several times during the last year 1t has been reported that President Mitchell intended to resign because the salary was not enough.
 It is said however, that he has noth- ing to do with the movement to make the salary higher. The report of the constitution committee contains nothing of unusual interest.
 More or less fervor characterized the afternoon proceedings of the convention when the committee on appeals and griev- ances submitted a recommendation that, the grievance of delegate James Mooney of Missouri district No. be referred back to the convention of that district, which is soon to assemble to hear charges which have been pending. for some time against Mooney.
 Last Tuesday when the charges pre- ferred by Miss Molle Merdeith against President Mitchell and Secretary Treas l urer Wilson were under discussion, Moon- | ey, while urging the investigation of the i Merdeith charges. said he had in his | possession evidence that President Mitch- 1 ell, in another matter, had not acted in good faith and had gone so far as to make statements which were not true.
 President Mitchell replied that if the delegates knew what he CMitchelD knew about Mooney they would not care to as- sociate with him in the convention and would not tolerate him in it's delibera- tion.
 The convention decided to drop the mat ter thus leaving MT. Mooney in the hands of the convention of his own district
 The convention settled the button card controversy by the adoption of a resolu- tion directing the button to be used the color and number to be changed quar- terly In all those districts where the check off system is not in vogue.
 The convention referred to the special committee to arrange scale districts resolution providing for establishing five scale districts to hold point conferences with operators. The fourth district is to consist of Kentucky, Tennessee and Ala bama. and the fifth of the states west of the Mississippi.
 To Ask Increase.
 The scale demand was finally disposed of late tonight at a meeting of the com mittee the scale as decided upon will de- mand an increase of 10 per cent absolute run-of- the mine and the differential be- tween pick and machine mining left at cents, the figures fixed by the conven- tion of 1901.
 The committee will also include in it's report a demand for an increase of 15 cents for inside drivers.