The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-28
Afiidavits Presented by the President
Opened the Eyes of the
Delegates.
FUND TO TERMINATE STRIKES
CONVENTIONS ACTION AT THE AFT
ERNOON SESSION.
Delegates from the Anthracite Field
Ask for More Time-Other
Matters of Interest.

Much Of the time Of the convention of the
United Mine Workers of America was
taken up yesterday afternoon in hearing
the report of the committee on appeals and
grievances. The report was submitted i'm
mediately after the convention adopted the
button to be used in the anthracite region
instead of the union card, but the choice
was left optional with the miners The
first matter reported by the committee was
that of the charges that passed back and
forth between President Mitchell and Dele
gate James Mooney, of Missouri, when the
Meredith charges were being heard by the
convention. In the progress of that argu-
ment Mooney took the floor and, waving a
handful of papers over his head, said Pres
ident Mitchell had made statements that
were misleading in another matter and that
he had papers to show that he had not done
his duty. President Mitchell replied to
Mooney by saying that if the convention
knew as much about him as he did he
doubted if the delegate would be allowed
TO remain in the hall.
Mooney presented his charges against
Mitchell to the grievance committee, but.
upon the advice of friends, withdrew them.
President Mitchell, however, insisted they
be heard. Mooney was disqualified from
the Missouri convention held in Kansas
City last summer. He said that other
miners had worked against" him and that
the convention refused to allow him to pre-
sent his side of the case when he was
charged with making remarks derogatory
to the character of President Mitchell and
criticising the scale made at that .conven-
ton. He was dismissed from the mines by
his coal operator. and afterward wrote to
President Mitchell concerning the matter
and claimed that he did not receive proper
consideration from that quarter.
THE CHARGES HEARD.
The committee merely reported the mat
ter without recommendation and the con-
vention agreed to hear the charges Pres
ident Mitchell produced three affidavits
signed by delegates to the Kansas City con-
vcntion stating that Mooney was overheard
in a converse ton to say that the scale was
rotten" and that Mitchell had sold out
President Mitchell offered these affidavits to
explain the language he had used toward
Mooney on the floor Of the convention
Mooney was then given the platform TO
state his side of the case. He denied say
ing that President Mitchell had sold ont
ana SAID ne WOULD make afhdaVlt that
effect if the convention so desired. He said
ne did say the scale was rotten" Then
he gave a history of a strife that seems 10
have been going on in his locality in Mis-
souri, and why certain men had worked
against" him.
The hearing concluded with several oues
tiOns being asked and motion TO refer the
matter back to the Missouri district conven
ton for settlement. An amendment was
made to carry with IL the exOnora ton of
President Mitchell from the charges. in
view of the fact that he had afidavits 10
support his argument. Pat Dolan then
moved as a substitute TO table the whole
question and drop the matter After con
siderable debate his motion carried
A complaint from a local in District II
asked that $3.50 per capita tax paid into
the national treasury for the defense fund
be refunded because that local had apDro-
priated that amount for the benefit of
strikers The local was asked assist i'm
making crusade into "A locality where
there was a strike 20 encourage the strik-
ers. and upon the advice of Dictrict Vice
President Lee $3.50 that was raised for the
defense fund was used for that purpose
upon the representation OF the district vice