The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-07-19
COAL MINERS CONVENTION
DANGER OF 4 GENERAL STRIKE
 ABOUT OYER.

<ADOCA OB A1Gs
 Little Doubt That President NlitchelI's Recommendation VIII be Adopted Matter Now in the Hands of Special mittee-Rate of Assessment Will Undoubtedly he Ten Per Cent.-IlIi- nois Votes s5O,OOo to Cause of Anthra- cite Men.
 Indianapolis, July 1S.-At the conclu- sion of a secret session, which lasted the entire afternoon, the recommenda- tions of President Mitchell for the man. agement of the anthracite strike, were referred to a special committee, which is to report back to the convention to- morrow morning. This committee con- sists of President Mitchell, Vice Presi- dent Lewis, Secretary Wilson, and the president of each district which is talk ing part in the convention.
 The committee remained in session until midnight when it adjourned with out completing it's work. It will recon vene at o'clock tomorrow morning. While it's task is unfinished it is prac- tically certain that the committee Will urge the adoption of the recommenda- tions of President Mitchell and the lowing upon the members of the union of an arbitrary assessment ot SI per week where there is no check office and of ten per cent. per week in localltles where there is check office. It was al- so decided to use all the funds to be raised for the strikers in the anthracite district.
 At the opening of the executive ses- sion Vice President Lewis took the floor and delivered an energetic speech on the amendment offered by Delegate Haskins in the morning to the effect that the fund to be raised for the aid of the anthracite miners, be extended to all of the striking miners where thelr strike has been sanctioned by the gen. eral organization.
 President Mitchell told the convention that the strikes in West Virginia and elsewhere were being protected by the general organization under the regular assessment of the union, but the assess ment which was under discussion was necessary for the support of the anthra- cite strike alone, and should not be di- verted from it's purpose.
 He declared that the cost of maintain ing strikes varied according to places and conditions.
 MT. 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 a general strike. His re- marks were greeted with enthusiastic cheers.
 Several delegates made short speeches asking the convention to hasten mat ters. A vote was then taken on the Haskins amendment and it was voted down by a decisive majority This left before the convention the original mo- ton for the adoption of the recommen- dation of the president. A number ot amendments were then offered, all re- lating to the manner in which the as- sessment should be made. One favored 10 per cent. of the net earnings of the members of the union, another 10 per cent, of the gross earnings and third suggested that in some districts the assessment should be made on the per centage basis, and in others on the basis of S1 per week. These were al pending when Secretary Wilson offered an amendment, that the matter be re- ferred to a committee consisting of the three highest officers of the national or ganization and the presidents of the dis tricts represented in the convention This prevailed and an adjournment was taken until tomorrow morning at Il o'clock.
 At the conclusion of the session Sec. retay Wilson said:
 "It will cost $500, ,000 weekly to support all the men now on strike in the vari. ous districts. An assessment of 5. per week will bring in $250.000 week an assessment of S1 per week upon eacl member of the union will result il about the same sum. This will leave $250,0 to raise each week from outside sources and from the promises and of fers that have been made us we ar, confident that we will be able to d. this"
 The convention will be informed b! the Illinois delega tion tomorrow morn ing that the miners of that state hay, voted a donation of $50,00O to the cause of the anthracite strike. The mone! will be available at once.