The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-21
PAT DOLAN'S DISTRICT
1T Is TROUBLED AND DISRUPTED
AND ITS JOYS ARE FEW.
Socialists Have Invaded His Terri
tory and Pat Is at War with All
Kinds of lists"
What is the matter with Pat Dolan's dis

What is the matter with Pat Dolan's dis
trict?"
That was a leading question in the con-
vention of the United Mine Workers which
closed Saturday. From the time the min
ers began holding national conventions and
Pat Dolan was president of District of
Pennsylvania. known as the Pittsburg dis
trict. he has had troubles. many and
varied as could be incorporated in the juris-
diction of his office. At every convention
Pat is neck deep in trouble over some
thing; sometimes it is a strike or two in
his district several local unions are behind
in their dues. there is an internal dissatis-
faction in the ranks of the union, somebody
is fighting his policy in ministering the
affairs of his district, the Socialist Labor
party is after him and his miners, and in
the convention just closed he said the ma
tional office had not properly provided for
the strikers IN his district and complained
of having 25.000 unorganized miners thrown
into his territory.
Pat has gained a reputation among the
miners for standing up in conventions and
making his periodical complaints and for
fighting socialism in all its forms and
phases. His position in a convention is
usually in the back part of the hall. where
he is not seen, but heard by the delegates
He has a sOnOrOuS voice that can be heard
both inside and outside the hall and there
is no difficulty in identifying the speaker
by sound.
To engage Pat in conversation on the sub
ject TO socialism is equivalent to hearing
a sermon on the rascality of the human
race. He makes no DISBURSEMENT in de-
nouncing Socialists. whether they belong
to the Socialist Labor party. which Op-
poses trades unions, or the plain Socialist
party, which Endorses the trades union
movement. They're all bad and there 5
no good in them" Pat declares. He calls
them ''rascals scoundrels, thieves. rob-
bers," and eXcitedly relates his experiences
in his district. His grievance, however,
is not without provocatiOn. fer the De
Leonites have done more to disrupt his
district organization than any other one
cause. The first real trouble he had with
this branch of the Socialists was about
justed. Just at the critical moment and
when the strikers were on the verge of vic
tory. several organizers of the IS. L. P"
invaded his district and created such a
furore among the miners by denouncing
their leaders that the strike was lost. Since
that time the same propaganda has gone
on, and in many instances, when Pat fin
ished addressing a crowd of miners. an IS.
/. I" man would secure the attention OF
the crowd before il dispersed and talk
anti-unionism. The agitation has continued
until Pat brands every Socialist as an
eternal enemy 10 organized labor
\ large per cent. of the membership OF
the United Mine Workers are Socialists
not of the De Leon kind, but the class that
Is in sympathy with the trades union move
ment. At every convention these Socialists
try 70 convince Pat that there are two
Socialistic parties. entirely different in their
is a trades union" Socialist, cannot refrain
from mentioning socialism whenever she
talks, and when she does IL is the signal
for Pat to raise I'D in wrath and object.