The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-11
PUBLIC WILL BE ASKED To
CONTRIBUTE
To AID STRIKING MINERS
They VIII First Use All Their own
Funds, and Have This if they Need
Assistance-Newsp and Other
Unions to be Asked to Cooperate
yentiOn-An Effort of Organized
Labor on Behalf of the Anthracite
Miners.

WilkesbaITe, Pa, July S.-A national
defense fund to which all organized
labor and the public in general will be
asked to contribute is the latest propc-
sition placed on foot to help !ha st TX
ing anthracite coal miners if they need
assistance in their struggle for higher
wages and a shorter work day. Harry
White, of New York, secretary of the
National Garment Workers ana mam-
ber of the conciliation committee Of the
national civic federation, hell d long
conference with President Mitchell to-
day, during which the plan was ap-
proved by the miners convention ana
Mr.. White will at once begin prepara-
tions to carry out the plan. President
Mitchell wants it understood, however.
that the miners union Will accept no
aid until their own resources are ex-
hausted. Mr.. White came hre author
lied by several labor organizations.
Mr.. White says:
Mr.. Mitchell says that before solicit
ing outside support the miners at work
must set the example themselves by
contributing a considerable portion of
their earnings to sustain their fellow
members in the hard coal field who are
fighting their common battle. This
will be determined upon at the Indian
apOlis convention.
Efforts will also be made to origi-
nate a movement throughout the coun-
try that the unions and others may be
prepared to collect funds when the
time is prOpitious.
Public men will also understand an
Independent movement and receive
subscriptions from those not connected
with labor organizations. This move
ment will be inauSurated in New York
and the labor organizations and SYM
phatizers in all the principal cities OF
the country will be called on to ap-
point committees to carry on similar
work
"All friendly newspapers will be
asked to cooperate. The scheme, IN
brief, contemplates the concentration
of the energy and resources 20 organ
lied labor on behalf of the miners
cause, a result which has never before
been achieved. 1t involves the raising
of a given amount of money each week
with which provisions and other neCes-
stiles of life will be purchased. The
plan has the approval of President
Samuel Gompers.
the Indianapolis convention CT mine
workers voting down a molten for a
general strike, as in that event. the
aid which the soft coal miners would
be able to render would be CIT off, as it
would be out Of the question to try TO
maintain the vast number OF people
who would be involved
The operators are counting upon the
means of the miners soon becoming
exhausted and when it is demonstrated
to them that the funds will be forth
coming to prolongate contest indefinite
lY, if need be, the 81 ,;aticn will lie
changed materially
Personally, Secretary White disap-
proves Of the proposed general suspen-
sien order of mining, as Wei as of
sympathetic strikes in general.
The Lehigh Valley Coal Company 20
day succeeded in starting up IT'S Henry
Washery at Plains. The Caol thus
taken from the Culm banks is not sent
market. but is used in the company's s
boilers.