The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-07-25
TAKE, P||REsIDENT
RCHELl'S ADVICE.
miners Decide Finally Against
a General Strike, But Vote
Monetary Assistance.
AN ADDRESS TO PEOPLE
Statement Will Be Issued Setting
Forth the Salient Points of
Dispute Between Miners
and Operators.


Indianapolis Ind, July 22-The mine
workers adopted Mitchelrs recommen-
,dations with a few notifications. The
sgist of MitcheLs recommendations was
opposition to a general strike and an
assessment Of biturlinous miners to
support the striking anthracite work.
.ers.
at the opening OF the miners con-
vention this morning Mother Jones
was given the floor. She made an i'd
dress which was enthusiastically APP
Dlauded. She declared that before COM
ing to indianapolis she favored a gen
'eral strike, but since coming to the
convention she had reached the opinion
that the conclusion reached by the
delegates to avoid such a movement
was the wisest course. She urged the
delegates to oppose at the congression-
al elections this fall every man who
was favorable to government by in
Junction"
The special committee not being pre-
y pared to make a report, the convention
at 1O:45 recessed for thirty minutes to
await the report.
-.
At 1l:55 the special committee was
ready to report. Its recommendations
are as follows:
E l. That the national seccetary-treas-
4 urer of the United Mine Workers be
authorized to appropriate $4,000 from
n the funds of the national treasury, for
\ the benefit of districts /, and 9. These
are the anthracite districts.
M 2. That all districts and sub-districts
and local unions be asked to donate
Il whatever they can afford for the sup
port of the strike.
3. That an assessment of 10 per cent
be levied on the earnings of members
OF unions of districts 6, s, -, 10, 10, %
and rs, and that an assessment of
per cent per week be made on mem
s bers Of districts 2, S, /, IA, 49, &c. 20
and p. This assessment Is not made
against members of unions now on
strike, but in such cases assessments
s are to commence when the strikes are
& over the manner of this being ar
ranged by the unions.
q Assessments shall be paid direct
L by local unions to Secretary Treas urer
5 Wilson 5-a9'
s. That 25 per cent be deducted from
the salaries of all national district Off
3 GERS and organizers.
&@ 6. That assessments shall begin
from July 16. w. -
Z. That all contributions made by
the national organization be distrib-
Utter pro rata to the anthracite districts
pro rata as shown by the last coal re-
ports.
That an address be submitted to the
g American people stating the salient
points of the dispute between the min
ers and operators. The reports was
adopted unanimously.
Mitchell made a short speech declar-
ing there was in the treasurer of the
Mo 1,<r1,o,
approximately s1,OO0,OOO and that his
opinion of what the unions could af-
z ford to contribute to the cause was half
II this money.
Mitchell Pleads for Honesty.
President Mitchell's address last
evening opposing sympathetic strike
won ever the few wavering delegates
He said:
Il have, during all my life In thu,
labor movement. declared that con-
tracts mutually made should during
K their life be kept inviolate; and, while
Sat times it may appear to the super
u. fetal observer or to those immedia tely
concerned that advantage could be
" gained by setting agreements aside
such advantage, if gained, would, in
the very nature of things, be temper
AIRY, and would ultimately result in dis
81 aster, because a disregard of contracts
strikes at the very vitals Of organized
y labor. The effect of such action would
be TIC destroy confidence, to array in
open hostility to our cause all forces
of society, and to crystalline public
u sentiment in opposition to our move.
ment.
Sympathetic strikes have many adj
herents, and the efficacy Of such meth
s+ods appeals strongly to those who, be-
ing directly involved in trouble, do not
~. always recognize the effect of thei,
action upon the public mind; but the
past history of the labor movement
teaches lessons that should not be for
II gotten today. AS far as my knowledge
goes, i do not know of one solitary
strike of any magnitude
which has been successful on the
K s!scontrary. the most conspicuous among
the sympathetic labor struggles have
in ignominious and crushine
Isl defeat.
this convention acts wisely, If Il
legislates judiciously,iI feel confident that
public sentiment will be so concentra tee
gainst the arrogant and unreasonable
attitude Of the anthra cite coal operators
that they Will be forced to yield and Il
Z make a settlement with their employees
which shall insure living wages and fab
conditions Of employment, and establish
"a basis for future adjustment of wage
questions that shall render strikes, with
their attendant sufferings and losses, un
necessary y 5ists
II am frr1 in my conviction that The
strike In the ant cite fields can ane
38tFy will be won without repudiatng our sol
5ernn contracts with the bituminous op
orators, provided the bituminous mine
& will rise to the occasiGsa and do their full
duty by their struggling fellow worke rs
The conv ention adjourned at a O'Clock
singing s. America