The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-18
Convention viii Follow His
Suggestion BY Large
Majority
FIERY SPEECHES ARE
DECIDEDLY IN MINORITY
President of Miners Union Says Sym
pathetic Strikes Never Do Much
Good-Soft Coal Men Should
Carry Out Contracts.

indianapolis, Ind. July 17.-If the voice
and influence of President Mitchell of the
United Mine Workers prevail with the
members of his organization there will
be no general strike of the organization.
The chances of such step being taken
now are very remote. In his speech In
the convention this afternoon Mr..
Mitchell advised strongly against a
strike, and that the bituminous miners
continue at work and that system of
assessments upon the members of the
order, which he outlined, be carried into
effect as the best means of affording aid
and support to the striking anthracite
men In the East
His recommendations If adopted by the
convention, this afternoon, would have
settled the entire question for which the
convention was called, and an immediate
adjournment would have followed A
motion to adopt the suggestions of Pres
ident Mitchell provoked a long debate in
which the general sentiment was against
the ordering of the strike. The men
from the anthracite regions finally made
a request that they be allowed to hold
caucus to determine upon an express
sion of opinion, as to what they thought
the convention should do, and asked an
adjournment of the convention for this
purpose Their request was granted and
the adjournment taken. The men who
were In favor of strike were in de-
cided minority in the convention. Three
speeches were made by members of the
anthracite districts asking that the. soft
trxria
were made by anthracite men, urging the
soft coal men to continue at work.
Called to Order.
The convention was called to order at 10
a. m. by President Mitchell. The reading
Of renorts of various committees occu-
MED nearly the entire morning session.
When the convention met IN the after
noon a motion was made and carried that
the convention go ct once into executive
session. John P. Reese of Iowa moved
reconsideration of the vote by Whieh
this action was taken, declaring tnat IN
view of the momentous issues depending
upon the action of the convention, secret
sessions were undesirable
1.-THE entire country is watching this
convention" said Mr.. Reese, and we
must take no chance of being placed be-
fore the country in a wrong light. IL we
go into executive session the newspapers
always get the proceedings of the con-
yention when it goes into executive ses-
sion, and they always Will, even il they
have to buy their news from sorEe of the
gentlemen who are Ia favor of an execu-
tive session"
The speech of Mr.. Reese carried the
day the vote was re-cons'dered, and 1t
was decided that the meetings of the con-
vention would be open to the public.
MitcheIrs Address.
President Mitchell then delivered his
address, which was as follows:
.Gentlcmen In opening this convention
l deem 1t my duty to make a Few prelim-
mary remarks. and to suggest, in series
cf recommends tiops the policy which
would, In my judgment best protect the
interests of the striking anthracite mine
workers, and preserve unimpaired the in
tegrity of our entire organization.
In determining the grave and import
ant question which now confronts you
namely, the adyisability Of inaugurating
a national suspension of coal mining In
defence of our struggling fellow-work-
ers in the anthracite field of Pennsyl-
vania-it is imperative that you should
weigh with the greatest possible care
the momentous problem with which you
have to deal; neither passion nor prejud-
ice should influence your action in any
particular, and / sincerely trust that
your decision, whatever 1t may be- shall
carry hope and inspiration to tnat great
army of men, women and children in the
anthracite fields, who are watching and
nraying in expectation that this assembly
will devise some measure which shall
prove sufficient to enable them to OBJ
tain living wages and humane, American
conditions of employment. Personally. l
wish to impress upon you realization
of the fact that their successes will be
vonr successes and their defeat will be
your defeat; moreover, the destruction OF
the United Mine Workers organization In
the anthracite fields of Pennsylvania
would prove the greatest possible shock
to the American trade union movement.
The eyes of the entire nation are cen
tered upon that contest; the hearts OF all
liberty-loving, patriotic citizens beat IN
sympathy with it and l feel sure that
great victory will be achieved If the coal
miners themselves will set the example
and take the initiative by doing their
fully duty.
Difference of Views.
II have been so closely associated with
the struggles of the anthracite mine
workers have taken such part in their
success and failures. and have felt so
keenly their joys and sorrows, that 1t
erieyes me more than language can ex-
press to say that my views are not in
accordance with the views expressed by
some in favor OF a national suspension
of coal mining but much as cherish the
esteem. friendship and confidence of my
subordinetes signally l cannot and will
not forfeit my right to that esteem, conf
dence and friendship by subordinating my
personal conviction of the right and ad-
vocating a policy which would in the
end bring disaster and dshonor upon the
organization over whose destiny II Is my
privilege to preside. / have, during my
fa in he luh mn declared
contracts mutually made. should. during
their life, be kept in violate; and while at
times 1t may appear to the superficial
observer to those Immediately concerned.
that advantage could be gained by setting
agreements aside Such advantage, II
gained, in the very nature of things would
be temporary and would ultimately re-
suit in disaster because of a disregard of
contracts strikes at the very vitals of
anixed Labor The result of such actinn