The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-22
MlICHELl'S PLAN WINS
Provision is Made for Raising a Strike
Fund.
AN APPEAL ISSUED TO THE PEOPLE
Asked TO Com, to the SuppNt Of The Miners
Now On Strike in the Anthracite Field.
The Miners Conv .ntion
Adjourns.
(By the Associated Press.)

Indianapolis, Ind, July 19.-At one
o'clock this afternoon the convention of
United Mine Workers adjourned after
declaring against general strike, pro-
viding for the raising of fund with
which to aid the striking anthracite
miners. and issuing an appeal to the
American people for support.
The recommendations brought in by a
special committee. and which are prac-
tically identical with those suggested
by President Mitchell, and unanimously
adopted by the convention, follow:
Il. That the national treasurer be
authorized and directed to Immediately
appropriate $4,000 from the funds of the
National Treasury and place it at the
disposal of the officers of districts Nos.
l. and 8, (these are the anthracite dis
tricts.)
2. That all districts, sub-districts and
local unions be appealed to, to donate
from the surplus in their treasures as
large amounts as they can afford.
49, That an assessment of ten per
cent. be levied on the gross earnings of
Nos. 6. 8. II, 10. % and %, and an as
sessment of 81 per week upon all menu
bers of local unions in district Nos. 2,
5, IL, Is, IA, 10, 16, 20 and Il. The mem
bers of districts now on strike, which
may resume work before this assess
ment has been removed, shall be assessed
either ten cent of their gross earnings,
or 81 per week, whichever their district
may decide from the time work is re-
sumed.
"a. The assessment shall be paid di-
rect from the local unions to the Ma
tional Secretary and the local unions
will be held responsible for the payment
of the same.
90. An assessment of rs per cent will
be levied upon the wages, salary or per
eentage received from the organization
of all national, district and sub-district
officers and organizers.
sc. The assessment shall begin with
the 10th of July, 1902.
a. All contributions made from the
national offices to the anthracite region
will be divided pro rata to each anthra-
cite district in accordance with the num-
Der of miners and mine laborers in each
of them, as shown by the most recent
coal reports.
"S. That a circular be issued to the
American people"
The following amendment, submitted
by President Nichols, of anthracite dis
trict No. ], was included:
"That each local union in the regions
that are at work select committee
which shall secure work fof as many
of the men on strike as possible and the
locality where the local union is sit
uated, and that the local inform secre-
taries of the strike districts of the num-
Der of men needed, the kind of work,
wages and arrangements for transpor-
tation. That the same proposition be
submitted to all local unions in the
American Federation of Labor.
so That the circular to our local un-
ions shall include recommendation that
committees to be appointed to canvass the
business men and other citizens of their
localities for subscriptions.
The circular to the public states the
line of action determined on and the
reasons therefor. 1t says:
..When we look upon enormous fortunes
that our labor has made possible, and
the luxuries it brings to the people at
large. and then examine the paltry pit
lance we received as wages for the LABOR
we have to perform, the dangers we
undergo. the dampness we must endure,
the foul air we must breathe and the
neeuliar rheumatic and lung troubles,
sunerinduced by these conditions which
we must bear, we naturally feel that
we are being unjustly dealt with. The
extremely low wages paid to anthracite
miners: the refusal of the coal COM
nonies tn have the coal properly weighed,
or nermit the miners to employ man.
81 tbeir own expense, to see the coal
thew have mined weighed. measured or
credited. the great number of hours the
minor must work each day in the most
,nsanitarv conditions; their cruel and
rniust treatment by petty bosses, the
arbitrary assumption by the employers
that neither the miners nor the pub
lie has any rights that are entitied TO
consideration by the men have forced us
to organize, not to take from the opera
tors that which belongs to them, but
to secure, by business methods, Detter
treatment and fair recompense for our
labor
.Jf it is the purpose of the coal opera
tors to destroy our uiiloE, 'heh upon Inv
principle that self-preservatlon is the
first law of nature. we would De 1ully
justified in taking drastic measures to
prevent the accomplishment of their de-
signs.
1--WE believe that our interests in the
community and our obligations to the
GENERATORS. with whom we have agree
ments. REQUIRE that we shall not inaugu-,
rate a general suspension OF work In the
coal trade. They may destroy our union,
hut they cannot make us violate our
contracts.
"The struggle in the anthracite region
~, ha continued until our demands
,,oyn been granted or a competent board
80 arbitration has declared that we are
The circular appeals for all possible
nraesure on the officers and stockholders