Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-07-26
ACTION OF MINERS.
Indianapolis Convention Issues an
Appeal to the Public.
American People Asked to ContFtb-
ute $1,OOO,OOO a Month to Aid
Strikers MitcheIl's RECON-
mendations Adopted.

indianapolis, Ind, July 21.-Having
declared against general strike,
adopted a report calling on the Ameri-
can people to contribute 100000 a
month to aid the striking anthracite
miners. provided for maintenance
fund and issued stirring appeal to
public opinion, the United Mine Work
ers' convention sang America" at one
o'clock Saturday afternoon and ad-
journed.
The Appeal
The appeal to the public recited at
length the hardships and low wages
of the miners, declared that they had
lived up to the letter and spirit of their
contracts and still refused to violate
them, intimated that the purpose of
the operators was to destroy the min
ers' union and then urged the people
at large to bring all possible pressure
to bear on the officers of the anthracite
coal interests to induce them to treat
considerably the appeal Of the min
ers for arbitration. It continues:
1.-THE miners believe that the best inter-
ests of the country are opposed to gen.
eral strike of the coal miners, and while
they feel that in the present fight their
union may be destroyed, nothing can COM
pei them to break their agreements. The
miners request the American people to
bring such pressure to bear upon the an
thracite operators and anthracite railroads
as will compel them to submit to arbitra-
ton
THE expenses of the miners call for a
contribution of 81 ,O0O, 900 per month from
sources outside the union. and with this
amount the miners are confident that they
can win the anthracite strike
Text of Recommen
The recomme nda tons brought in by
the special committee appointed in the
executive session Friday, which were
practically identical with those sug
gested by President Mitchell in his ad
dress on the first day of the convention
and which were adopted unanimously
by the convention, were as follows:
First, that the national secretary-treas
urer Of the United Mine Workers be au-
thorized to appropriate $4,000 from the
funds of the national treasury for the
benefit Of the districts l, and 9. (These
are the anthracite districts)
Second, that all districts and sub-d dis
tricts and local unions be asked to donate
whatever they can afford for the support
Of the strike.
Third that an assessment of ten per
cent. be levied the earnings of mem
bers Of the unions 6, s, r. Is, 10, % and %,
anG that an assessment Of one per cent
per week be made on the members OF dis
tricts 2, 5, II, Il, 10, Is, 20 and q. This as
sessment is not to be made against men,
bers Of unions now on strike, but in such
cases the assessments are to commence
when the strikes are over, the manner Of
this being arranged by the unions.
re n he L.
rect by the local unions to Secretary-Treas-
urer Wilson.
Fifth, that Is per cent. be deducted from
the salaries of all national district officers
and organizers.
Sixth, that the assessments begin from
July 16.
Seventh, that all contributions be made
by the national organization be distributed
pro rata to the anthracite district pro
rata, as shown by the last Coal Reports
Eighth, that each local union be request
ed to aid as far as possible in securing
work for men now on strike. In this con-
nection the good offices of the American
Federation Of Labor will be requested.
Ninth, that an address be submitted
to the American people,
The reading of the report of the COM
mittee and the appeal to the public
was listened to in absolute silence, but
as the voice of Secretary Wilson ceased
there came a tremendous cheer from
the delegates that foreshadowed their
unanimous adoption which followed a
few minutes later.
Cost of Maintaining the Strike.
President Mitchell has made an esti-
mate Of the number of strikers and de-
pendents in each district, and the
weekly revenues to be derived from
L
convention, together with amounts
of weekly assessments by districts.
He fixes the total number of strikers
at $4,000; total dependents, $4,000;
estimated weekly expense, 100000.
Total estimated weekly contributions
from districts, subdistricts, locals and
the general public, $4,000.