Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-07-24
A SECRET SESSION.
The Convention at Indianapolis Con.
siders the Anthracite Strike.
Mr.. NI1CHELL'S RECOMMENDATIONS.


Indianapolis, Ind, July Dat the
conclusion Of secret session which
lasted the entire afternoon the rec.
concentrations Of President Mitchell
for the management Of the anthra-
cite strike were referred to q spe-
cial committee which was to report
back to the convention when it met
this morning. This committee con-
sisted Of President Mitchell, Vice
President Lewis, Secretary Wilson
and the president Of each district
taking part in the convention. There
was little doubt that the committee
would urge the adoption Of the rec
concentrations, fixing the rate Of as
sessment at ten per cent or higher.
At the opening Of the executive
session Vice President Lewis took
the floor and delivered an energetic
speech on the amendment offered by
Delegate Haskins in the morning, to
the effect that the fund to be raised
for the aid Of the anthracite miners
be extended to all of the striking
miners where their strike has been
sanctioned by the general organiza-
ton. He declared that he thought
all of the miners should be taken
care Of In like manner. He also
warned the convention that it would
be necessary for the convention to
SO word its recommendations as to
avoid the laws Of Pennsylvania,
which, he said, might cause trouble
when an attempt was made to col
lect the assessments Of the men
through the check Offices, by bringing
about injunction proceedings to re-
strain alleged conspiracy. President
Mitchell then took the floor to speak
for the adoption Of the recommends
tlon, made in his speech Of Thurs
day. He told the convention that
the strikes in West Virginia and else
where were being protected by tho
general organization under the regu-
lar assessments Of the union, but
that the assessment which was under
discussion was necessary for the sup
port of the anthracite strike alone
and should not be diverted from its
purpose. ut is possible that other
strikes may come" he said, land
then, under the precedent which a
general distribution Of the fund to
be raised would create, these later
strikes would claim their shares in
the fund and it would be so de-
pleted as to fall entirely of its pur-
poses" He declared that the cost of
maintaining strikes varied according
to places and conditions.
SIN the anthracite regions" he
said, "the country is thickly set
tied There are mills and factories,
and it Is possible for the men on
strike to secure employment. They
are then no burden on the general
organization, but are even able to
help it. In West Virginia, for in
stance, there are but two vocations
for the Undermining or farming.
The latter is out of the question for
the greater part of the men, If not
for all of them, and they then have
no chance for employment when on |
a strike. 1t costs much more per
capita to keep up strike in West
Virginia than in the anthracite re-
gions. 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 necessary for It,"
Mr.. Mitchell assured the conven-
ton that the strike in the Pittsburg
district and all other strikes would
be looked after without splitting up
the fund for the anthracite men and
again urged the men to dismiss
from their minds all thought of a
general strike. His remarks were
greeted with enthusiastic cheers.