The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-07-24
ACTION IS DELAYED.
Miners Debate Recommendations Of
President Mitchell.

indianapolis, Ind, July 19.-At the
conclusion of secret session, which
lasted the entire afternoon, the rec
concentrations of President Mitchell
for the management of the anthracite
strike were referred to special COM
mittee, which is to report back to
the convention when it meets this
morning. This committee consists of
President Mitchell, Vice President
Lewis, Secretary Wilson and the presi-
dent of each district which is taking
part in the convention.
Probable Action.
The committee remained in session
until midnight, when it adjourned
without completing its work. 1t will
reconvene at nine o'clock this morn
ing While its task is unfinished, it is
practically certain that the commit
tee will urge the adoption of the rec
concentrations of President Mitchell
and the levying upon the members of
the union of an arbitrary assessment
of one dollar per week, where there is
no check Office, and of ten per cent. per
week in localities where there is a
check office. 1t was also decided to
use all the funds to be raised for the
strikers in the anthracite district.
AT the opening of the executive SEES
sion Vice President Lewis took the
floor and delivered an energetic
speech on the amendment offered by
Delegate HaslSins in the morning. to
hn eff hat h. - L 4
for the aid of the anthracite miners be
extended to all of the striking min
ers where their strike has been sane
toned 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 conven-
ton that it would be necessary for the
convention to so word its recon-
mendations as to avoid the laws of
Pennsylvania, which he said might
cause trouble if an attempt was made
to collect the assessments of the men
through the check officers. by bring
ing about an injunction to restrain al
legged conspiracy.
President Mitchell Speaks.
President Mitchell then took the
floor to speak for the adoption of the
recommendations made in his speech
of Thursday. He told the convention
that the strikes in West Virginia and
elsewhere were being protected by the
general organization under the regu-
lar assessments of the union, but that
the assessment which was under dis
cussion was necessary for the support
of the anthracite strike alone, and
should not be diverted from its pur-
pose. 1T is possible that other
strikes may come" he said> "and them
under the precedent which a general
distribution of the fund to be raised,
would create, these later strikes could
claim their share in the fund, and il
would be'so depleted as to fail en-
tirely of its purpose" He declared
that the cost of maintaining strikes
varied according to places and condi-
tions. SIN the anthracite regions" he
said, "the country is thickly settled.
There are mills and factories, and it is
possible for the men on strike to Sc
cure employment. 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 vocations for the undermining
and farming. The latter is out of the
question. for the greater part of the
men, if not all of them. and they then
have no chance for employment when
on strike. 1t costs much more per
capita to keep up strike in West Vir-
ginia than in the anthracite regions.
The anthracite strike is, in fact, the
cheapest strike that we can have. 1t is
easier to maintain than any other,
and we should not allow it to go down
to defeat by diverting the funds neces-
sary for it," Mr.. Mitchell assured the
convention that the strike in the
Pittsburg district and all other strikes
would be looked after without split
ting up the fund for the anthracite
men, and again urged the men to dis
miss from their minds all thought of
general strike. His remarks were
greeted with enthusiastic cheers.
Question Is Referred.
After several other speeches had
been made vote was taken on the
Haskins amendment, and it was voted
down by decisive majority. This left
before the convention the original
motion for the adoption of the recon-
mendations of the president. A num-
Der of amendments were then offered,
all relating to the manner in which the
Il L..
Mr.. Ryan, of Illinois, favored ten per
, cent. Of the net earnings of the mem
bers of the union; another, by Vice
President Lewis, ten per cent. of the
gross earnings, and third, by Secre-
tary Wilson, suggested that in some
districts the assessment should be