The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-07-22
recommendations OF PRESI-
DENT MITCHELL REFERRED
WILL PROBABLY BE ADOPTED
Committee Will Report Back to
Convention in the Norning-Has-
kins Amendm-nt Voted Down.
Several Other Amendments offered
1t VIII Cost S50c, 900 n Week to
Support Anthracite strikers-wfII
Have to Raise half of This from
Outside Sources


conclusion Of a secret session which
lasted the entire evening, tie recon-
dations Of President Mitchell for the
management Of the anthracite strike
were referred to a special committee,
which is to report back to the conven-
tion tomorrow morning This commit
tee consists of President Mitchell, Vice
President Lewis, Secretary Wilson, and
the president of each district which is
taking part in the convention
Vice President Lewis delivered an en-
ergetic speech on the amendment of
fered by Delegate Haskins today that
the fund to be raised ior the aid of the
anthracite miners be extended to all of
the striking miners where their strike
has been sactioned by the general Or
ganization. He declared that all the
miners should be taken care of in like
manner. President Mitchell told the
convention that the strikes in West Vir-
ginia and elsewhere were being protect
ed by the general organization, under
the regular assessment of the union,
but that the assessment which was un-
der discussion was necessary for the
support of the anthracite strike alone
and should not be diverted from it's
purpose.
1T is possible that other. strikes may
eome,' he said. 'and then under the
precedent, which a general distribution
of the fund to be raised would create,
these later strikers could claim their
share in the fund. and it would be so
depleted as to fail entirely of it's pur-
pose"
He declared that the cost of MAIN
tanning strikes varied according to
places and conditions
hra n ctr:L lie he nd
ed'' is the cheapest strike that we can
have
Mr.. Mitchell assured the convention
that the strike in the PittSburg district
and all other strikes would be looked
after without splitting up the fund for
the anthracite men and again urged the
men to dismiss from their minds all
thought of general strike His re-
marks were greeted with enthusiastic
cheers.
President Dolan, Of District No. 5,
Pittsburg, said during the morning ses-
sion that his district had not received
aid, that the aid it had received had
been insufficient, and President Mitchell
had rejoined that the PIttsburg district
had received from the natioral organi-
zation the exact sum which the officers
of that district said would be necessary
to win the strike. The I1asklps amend
ment was voted down by a decisive ma
jority. This left before the convention
the original motion 70: the adoption of
the recommendations of the president.
A number of amendments were then
offered all relating to the manner in
which the assessment shOuld be made.
One by Mr. Ryan, OF Illinois, favored
ten per cent. Of the net earn1ngs of the
members of the union, another by Vice
President Lewis, ten per cent OF the
gross earnings and a third by Secretary
Wilson suggested that in some districts
the assessment should be made on the
percentage basis and in others on the
basis of 81 per week. These were all
pending when Secretary offered an
amendment that the matter be referred
to the committee mentioned. This pre-
vailed and an adjournment was taken
until tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock
At the conclusion of the session Secre-
tary Wilson said: ''It will cost $500,0OO
weekly to support all the men now on
strike in the various districts. An as
seSSment of 81 per week viii bring In
S250, 900 a week, an assessment OF ten
per cent per week upon eacn member
of the union will result in about the
same sum. This will leave us $25O,OOO
to raise each week from outside sources
and from the promises and offers that
have been made US, we are conndent
that we will be able to do this. The
convention will be Informed by the 1lll-
nOlS deleSatlOn toiIlorro" liloi IiiiS IiiA'
the miners of that state voted dona-
tion Of $50, 600 to the cause of the an
thracite strike. The money Will De
aVaila BILE at once.
The committee remained in session
until midnight when it adjourned with
out completing its work. 1t is practi-
cally certain that the committee will
urge the adoption Of the recommenda-
tions of President Mitchell and the
Ievving upon the members of the union
of an arbitrary assessment Of one dollar
per week. where there is no check office
and of ten per cent per week in local
tiles where there is check office. Ii
was also decided to use all the funds to
| be raised for the strikers in the anthra-
| cite district.