The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-21
Secretary-Treas Report.

The next report was that of Secretary
treasurer w. B. Wilson. 1t shows that the
total receipts for the year 1901. including
the cash balance on hand Jan. l. 1901. was
s427, AZ, leaving a balance in the treas
ury Jan. l. 1902. of $97,O47.91. OF the
amounts expended 500. 92s.O7 was for the
benefit of strikers The balance on hand
the first of the year was $50, 1852 less than
at the beginning of the year 1901.
Concerning the financial conditions and
the decrease in the treasury the report
says:
has greatly increased the income from per
| capita tax, but Notwithstanding that fact,
/ regret TO have to report TO you decrease
In the funds as compared with Jan. j, 1901,
of $50, 759 %. This result has been forced
upon us by the large sums we have paid
for the assistance of men on strike and
the comparatively small amount we have
received during the past year from the
assessment of 1900. levied for the assist
ance of our striking members.
I'VE have paid $32, 3S4 for the relief OF
men on strike in district No II: S5S 5S7. 50
In district No. p; SlO4,300 in district No. %
which. together with the smaller amounts
paid to other districts, makes a total
| 500, S26.07 paid for the assistance of men
on strike in the various districts, while
the total amount received for assessmen
during the year was $50, SS5.S6, thereb,
fund 6S0i0.21 for relief purposes. IL the
amount received for assessment had been
equal to the amount paid for relief. as it
should have been, instead of having a de-
crease OF $50, 1882 TO report, we would have
been able to show an increase of $l32 80 60
The amount OF money We now have in
our general fund is too small for an Organi-
zatiOn covering much territory and hav-
ing as large a membership as the United
Mine Workers of America. Our paid-up
membership for the month of December
1901, was SO, 2S9, and the balance on hand
was 7,0419l, amounting TO but Al 40 cents
per capita. And when we take into con-
siderauon the large number of members
from whom, through various causes per
capita tax has not been paid, the amount
of cash we have on hand will not equal
more than 80 cents per member. an amount
so small. compared with the interests II is
expected to protect. that our numerical
strength becomes a source of trade weak
ness"
The report dealt at length with the mod
! ern blanket Injunction and condemns it
In strong terms. Several forms of iniunC-
lions were set out. one showing that the
/ from feeding strikers and prohibiting the
strikers from accepting food from the or
/ ganization-
TRANSFER CARDS.
Relative TO the issuance of transfer cards
the report says;
"Our attention has been directed to a
number OF frauds that have been perpe-
/ trated by secretaries OF local unions rela-
/ tive TO the issuance OF transfer cards in
/ districts having high initiation fee Men
| who are not practical miners, some Of them
recent importations from southern and
/ eastern Europe, who have never seen a
| coal mine before coming TO this country,
know nothing of the trades union move
ment and have never at any time been
members OF the United Mine Workers OF
America, have been furnished by local sec
retaries with transfer cards, certifying that
| they are practical miners and have been
members in good standing of the local
union OF which the secretary issuing the
| card is a member. The secretary Is given
| s. or more for his kindness and the person
/ receiving the card goes TO some adjoining
mining town, secures employment in the
mines and the transfer card he has ena-
bles him 10 become a member OF the local
union at that place without paying the
usual initiation fee The secretary makes
| no record Of the money received and does
not report IL TO his local union, as the party
receiving the card is not a member there.
| II must be said TO the credit OF, our local
secretaries. generally. that cases OF this