The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-20
IN COM MlTTEt'S HANDS
The Special Strike Fund For Anthra.
cite Miners Alone.
THIS is DECIDED AFTER DISCUSSION
President Mitchell Argaes That 10 Make Oths
Beneficiaries Would Defeat the Object
and Probably Lead to Losing
the Strike.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
indianapolis, July 1S.-At the conclu-
sion of a secret session which lasted the
entire evening. the recommendations Of
President Mitchell for the management
of the anthracite strike were referred TO
special committee, which is to report
back to the convention tomorrow morn
ing This committee consists of Presi-
dent Mitchell Vice President Lewis
Secretary Wilson and the president of
each district which is taking part in the
convention.
The committee remained in session I'M
ill midnight when it adjourned without
completing its work. 1t is practically
certain that the committee will urge the
adoption of the recommendations of Pres
ident Mitchell and the levying upon the
members of the union of an arbitrary as
sessment of one dollar per week, where
there is no check office and of ten per
cent per week in localities where there
is check office. 1t was also decided to
use all the funds to be raised for the
strikers in the anthracite district.
Vice President Lewis delivered an
energetic speech on the amendment
offered by Delegate Haskins today 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 or
ganiZation. He declared that all the
miners should be taken care of in like
manner. President Mitchell told the
convention that the strikes in West Vir-
ginia and elsewhere were being protected
by the general organization under the
regular assessments of the union, but
that the assessment. which was under
discussion, was necessary for the up
port of the anthracite strike alone, and
should not be diverted from it's 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 could claim their
share in the fund, and it would be so
depleted as to fail entirely of it's pur-
pose
He declared that the cost of main
tanning strikes varied according to
places and conditions.
The anthracite strike" he continued,
sis the cheapest strike that we can
have"
Mr.. Mitchell assured the convention
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 general strike. His remarks
were greeted with enthusiastic cheer
ing
President Dolan, of District Five,
Pittsburg, said during the morning SEES
sion that the aid his district had received
had been insufficient and President
Mitchell rejoined that the Pittsburg
district had received from the national
organization the exact sum which the
officers of that district had sal would
be necessary to win the strike. The Has
kins amendment was voted down by a
decisive majority. This left before the
convention the original motion for the
adoption of the recommendations of the
president. A number of amendments were
then offered, all relating to the manner
in which the assessment should be made.
One by Mr.. Ryan, of Illinois, favored
ten per cent of the net earnings of the
members of the union, another by Vice
President Lewis. ten per cent of the gross
earnings and third by Secretary Will
son suggested that in some districts the
assessment should be made on the per-
centage basis and in others on the basis
of 81 per week. These were all pending
when Secretary Wilson offered an amend
ment that the matter be referred to the
committee mentioned. This prevailed
and an adjournment was taken until to-
morrow morning at 10 O'Clock.
At the conclusion of the session Sec
rotary Wilson said:
st will cost $500, 900 weekly to support
all the men now on strike in the various
districts An assessment of 81 per week
will bring in s25O,OOO a week, an assess
roent of ten per cent per week upon each
member of the union will result in about
the same sum. This will leave us $685.
600 to raise each week from outside
sources and from the promises and offers
that have been made u.s. we are conf
dent that we will be able to do this.
The convention will be informed by the
Illinois delegation tomorrow morning
that the miners of that State have voted
donation of $4,000 to the cause
of the anthracite strike. The money will
be available at once