The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-22
CHARGES PREFERRED
MISS MEREDITH SAYS OFFICERS
 FLEECED MINERS.
President Mitchell Denies Charge, and Committee is Appointed to Investigate-Election
 Postponed.

Indianapolis, Ind. Jan. Exchanges against President Mitchell. Secretary Wilson and the Executive Board of the United Mine Workers of America were the first order of business before the United Mine Workers convention today President Mitchell, in voice full of emotion, said:
 "Gentlemen of the United Mine Work ers' Conventions: The election of officers was to have been the first thing on the program today, but charges have been made by Miss Mollie Meredith. an ex- empIoye of the national office, anectlnS myself as President of the national p09y' against your national secretary, MT. Will son and also against the National Ex- ecutive Board. - ~
 T am unwilling to proceed with the election until these charges have been heard. and I ask Dr. Van Horn Of ln- diana to take the chair while the charges are being read.
 Delegate Harrison of Illinois moved that Miss Meredith be sent for ana asked to explain the charges.
 Acting President Van Horn put the motion, and 1t carried. and he appointed Delegates Nichols of Pennsylvania, Reese of Iowa and Haskins of ohio a commit tee to go to the Dennison Hotel to es- cort Miss Meredith to the convention hall.
 There was much suppressed excite ment throughout the convention as IL
 
 Delegate Reese. on returning to the hall. bringing Miss Meredith, said he had prepared the charges in the torm of typewriter manuscript. Reese sald Miss Meredith would read the statement. The reading of the charges presented an unusual scene in a miners convention. One delegate moved that Reese reao M tile statement for the young woman, Dut Miss Meredith insisted on reading the charges and raising her voice, read Tn a clear tone:
 Miners" said Miss Meredith, 'I wish to read this myself. and then if 1t has not been heard some one else may rea'
 Acting President Van Horn said: Miss Meredith will read this herself Go on' Mollie.''
 The charges concern the shortage uo or ex-Secretary-Treasu surer Pearson ana a!ie- cations that President Mitchell ana sec retary-Treasurer Wilson did not give out all the facts concerning Pearson actlon and that they "wilfully' lied to the NH CTS Committee a year ago. An investl- gation of the books was demanded to see how much Pearson's shortage IS.
 It is intimated that both Mitchell and Wilson sought to protect Pearson ana TOT that reason did not give out all the. 1acts' quently presented bills for double the amount of purchases. She also says Pearsons extra money amounted to s, 900 a year, while Mitchell and Wilson reported that ne ndu ttheI oIy @h'o. Miss Meredith also says that Mitchell allowed Pearson to go away as sick man. and send in his resignation from French Lick Springs.
 When the Con yention reassembled M. Mitchell addressed the delegates, deny ing the stories contained in Miss Mere dith's statement. His remarks were ire quently interrupted by applause.
 President Mitchell today announced the following Scale Committeeman: John F. Reese, District No. 13; w. H. Haskins, No. 6; w. D. Van Horn, No. II; w. k. Russell. No. F; Vim. Wilson, No. 8; John Fahy, No. 9; Thomas Duffy, No. '; Pat rick Dolan, No. 5; Bernard Rice, No. p; James D. Wood, No. g; George Rich ards, No. 25; Henry Collins. No. l. The chairmen of the other committees are Committee on Transportation. G. w. Say age. District No. 6; Committee on Off, cers Report, George w. Hartlein. No. 3; Appeals and Grievances, ". F. Williams No 24; Committee on Resolutions. Thom- as Reynolds, District No. 12.
 President Mitchell made affidavit that the statement he made to the Mine Workers Convention year ago was the truth and the whole truth. Following the conclusion of President Mitchells state ment there was a protracted discussion. A resolution was adopted calling for the appointment of a Committee of seven to investigate all charges and report to the CnpUantiOn