The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-23
Delegate Haskins Explains that He
Did Not Intend to Criticise the
journal, but Its Informant.
WORK OF THE COMMITTEES
THEY ARE GETTING IN SHAPE To
REPORT To THE CONVENTION.
Gossip Picked Up Among the Dele
gates That Is of Interest To Those
Attending the Meeting.

Little was accomplished at yesterdays
session of the United Mine Workers con-
vention as the proper order of business was
the election Of officers and President Mitch
ell and Secretary Wilson refused TO be re-
elected until they had been exonerated of
the charges made by Miss Mollie Meredith.
When President Mitchell entered the hall TO
preside over the convention yesterday
morning he was greeted with cheers, indi-
eating that he retained the good will of the
delegates. The longer the Meredith matter
is discussed the more confirmed the dele
gates seem TO be I'm the feeling that the in
vestsating committee will exonerate Pres
ident Mitchell and Secretary Wilson and
that they will be reelected.
Shortly after President Mitchell took the
chair he said he thought it would give bet
ter satisfaction to the delegates to have a
representative of the two additional dis
tricts that received copies OF Miss Mere
dith's charges appointed on the investi-
eating committee. He called on w. ID. Van
Horn. who presided at Tuesdays session
when the matter was discussed, to preside
and the latter made the following appoint
ments: Delegate Lawrence Love, of Dis
trict 13. of Iowa, and Delegate Pat DoIan.
Of District s. of Pennsylvania. President
Mitchell then took tie chair and appointed
the following committee on constitution: ].
w. Howe, District 49, Chris Evans, District
s. Peter Hanraty. District 2l; John T.
Dempsey, District /; w. r. Morris, District
II; c. w. Purcell, District IL; Paul p.
Pulaski. District 9.
STATEMENTS IN NEWSPAPERS
Delegate w. III. Haskins. president OF
District G, of Ohio, secured the floor and
denied statements made in the Journal
yesterday morning that the Ohio delega-
tion was assisting Miss Meredith in pre-
senting her charges to the convention. In
the afternoon session the press was again
brought before the convention, when a
resolution was introduced TO exclude the
representatives of the Sentinel from the
hall because of a bulletin posted in its
window. and because of the statement that
Miss Merediths expenses to the conven-
tion had been paid. There was some dis
cussion, when President Mitchell arose and
said there was a misunderstanding among
the delegates. He said the Journal had
contained the allusion TO the Ohio dele
gauon, While the Sentinel had. posted a
bulletin, stating that there was an ''up-
roar in the convention" He said IL was
not advisable 10 take such action; that the
newspapers would print anything they de-
sired about the convention regardless of
its action, and advised the delegates TO
drop the matter. while Delegate Has
kins may have the right to object TO the
article in the newspapers, vet that article
was based on Miss Meredith's own state
ment, in an interview" he said. This COM
pletely ended the discussion. and the mat
ter ended without further debate.
MR. HAsKINS EXPLAINS.
Delegate Haskins said yesterday that he
was not criticising the Journal but the
statement, no matter who made IL. He
said the Ohio delegation is not backing
Miss Meredith I'm her charges, but that she
was brought here to be present when they
were made and in order that the matter
might be satisfactorily settled in justice to
all. The district convention passed a reso-
luton inviting Miss Meredith TO attend the
convention. and amendment provided
that her expenses should be paid He said
ne knew that she had been invited. and
that if she presented a bill IL would be
paid by the district. He said he did not
wish the Ohio delegation placed I'm the
Mine Workers, for, so far he knew, IL
did not.
The afternoon session was short and no
business was transacted. speech was
made by Ben Tillett. and he also sang
a couple OF songs, one a labor song 10
the tune of John Browns Body Lies a
MOldering in the Grave" and the other in
cockney dialect. William Mates. OF Wilkes
barre, sang the Mitchell Song" a ballad
composed when President Mitchell conduct
ed the miners of the anthracite district
through a successful strike. The song
brought forth great applause.
The convention then adjourned II Is
not likely that much business will be trans
acted until the investigating committee re-
ports IL Is expected 10 be ready 10 re-
port to-day or tomorrow