The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-07-19
Recommendations of Mitchell
 VIII be Adopted
MATTER GOES ID COMMITTEE
Secretary Wilson Informs Convention That 1t Will Cost $5oo,ooo Weekly
 the Men on Strike In the Anthracite Region.

Indianapolis. July 1s-At the conclusion of a secret session which lasted the en- fire afternoon the recommendations of President Mitchell, for the management of the anthracite strike, was referred to the special committee which Is to report back to the convention when it meets to- morrow This committee consists of Pres ident Mitchell Vice President Lewis, Sec- retary Wilson and the president of each district which is taking part in the con- vention.
 The committee remained in session un- fl midnight, when 1t adjourned without completing its work. It will reconyene at o'clock tomorrow morning. While it's task is unfinished, 1t is practically cer- tain that the committee will urge the adoption of the recommendation of Pres ident Mitchell. and the levying upon the members of the union of an arbitrary as- sessment of $1 per week, where there is no check office, and of 10 per cent per week in localities where there is a check office. It was also decided to use all the funds to be raised for the strikers in the anthracite district"
 At the opening of the executive commit tee, Vice President Lewis took the floor and delivered an energetic speech on the amendment offered by Delegate Haskings in the morning to the effect that the fund to be raised for the aid of the anthra- cite miners be extended to all the strik- ing miners where their strike has been sanctioned by the general organization. He declared that he thought all of the miners should be taken care of in like manner. He also warned the con- vention that it would be necessary for the convention to so word it's recommen- dations as to avoid the laws of Pennsyl- vania which, he said. might cause trouble when an attempt was made to collect the assessments or the men through the check offices, by bringing about injunctions to restrain alleged con- spiracy
 Mitchell Speaks.
 President Mitchell then took the floor to speak for the adoption of the recom- mendations made in his speech of yester- day He told the convention that the strikes in West Virginia and elsewhere were being protected by the general or ganization under the regular assessments of the union, but that the assessments which was under discussion was necessa- ry for the support of the anthracite strike alone and should not be diverted from it's purpose.
 ''It is possible that other strikes may come," said, and then under the prece- dent which a general distribution of the fund to be raised would create. these later strikes could claim their share in the fund and it would be so depleted as foD af ffc Q
 He declared the cost of maintaining strikes varied according to places and conditions.
 Tn the anthracite regions" he said. sthe country Is thickly settled There are mills and factories and it is possible for the men on strike to secure employ ment They are then no burden on the general organization, but are even able to help it. In West Virginia for instance. there are but two vacations Nor the min- ers-mining or farming and they then have no chance for employment on strike. It costs much more per capita to keep up strike in West Virginia than in the anthracite regions The anthracite strike is, in fact, the cheapest strike that we can have and we should not allow it to go down to defeat by diverting the funds necessary for 1t
 Others Will Be Looked After.
 MT. MlIcnel dSSuT6Q lut COnNenllOl that the strike in the Pittsburg division and all other strikes would be looked af- ter without splitting up the fund for the anthracite men and again urged the men to dismiss from their minds all thought of g general strike.
 President Dolan of District g. Pittsburg. made a long explanation of the manner in which the fund provided for the Pitts burg district had been expended and told of the condition surrounding the strike here
 Several delegates then made short speeches asking the convention to hasten matters and the Harkins amendment was voted down by decisive majority. , This left before the convention the ori- ginal motion for the adoption of the rec concentrations of the president. A num- Der of amendments were then offered. all relating to the manner in which the assessment should be made. One by Sec retary Wilson suggested that In some districts the assessment should be made on the percentage basis and in others on the basis of $1 per week. One by MT. Hahn favored 10 per cent of the net earn ing of the members of the union and an- other. by Vice President Lewis. 10 per cent of the gross earnings. These were all pending when Secretary Wilson offer ed an amendment that the matter be referred to committee made up of the three highest officers of the national or ganization and the presidents of the dis tricts represented fn the convention. Thus prevailed and an adjournment was taken until tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock
 Will Cost $500, ,00o Weekly.
 At the conclusion of the session Secre- tary Wilson said:
 Tt will cost $500000 weekly to support all the men now strike in the various districts. An assessment of SI per week will bring in $250.000 weeK; assess- ment of 10 per cent per week upon each member will result in about the same sum. This will leave us s25o,0O0 to realize each week from outside sources and from the promises and offers that have been made us we are confident that we will be able to do this'
 At the morning session, after the re- port of the credential committee, show ing 2255 votes in the convention, had been accepted. the convention took up the recommendations of President Mitchell. President Haskins of the Ohio district of- fered an amendment that the proposed fund cover all existing strikes sanctioned by the executive board. President MitRh-