Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-07-18
MITCHELL ADVOCATES ANOTHER POLICY
President Of Union Assumes Conservative
Attitude in Meeting,
STRIKE WOULD NOT HELP SITUATION
Gan Do More Good by Remaining at Work
and Aiding Financially.
SOME DELEGATES ARE DISAPPOINTED
Insist that Sympathetic Strike Should
ne Ordered, but Iowa and Illinois
Members Think Different
and Act AccOrdingIy.

INDIANAPOLIS, July 17.--If the voice
and influence Of President Mitchell Of the
United Mine Workers prevail with the mem
bers OF his organization, there will be no
general strike Of the organization. The
chances Of such a step being taken now
are very remote. In his speech in the con-
vention this afternoon Mr.. Mitchell ad-
vised strongly against strike and urged
that the bituminous miners continue at
work and that system Of assessment upon
ithe members OF the order, which he out
lined, be carried into effect as the best
means of affording aid and support to the
striking anthracite men in the east.
His recommendations, II adopted by the
convention this afternoon, would have set
tiled the entire question for which the con-
vention was called and an immediate ad-
journment would have followed. motion
to adopt the suggestions Of President
Mitchell provoked a long debate, In which
the general sentiment was against the
ordering OF the strike. The men from the
anthracite regions finally made request
that they be allowed to hold caucus to
determine upon an expression Of opinion as
to what they thought the convention should
DO and asked an adjournment OF the con-
vention for this purpose. Their request
Vas granted and the adjournment taken.
The men who were in favor Of strike were
in a decided minority in the convention.
Convention Called to order.
The hour for calling the convention was
10 o'clock. At ten minutes before that
time President Mitchell came upon the
platform and was greeted with cheers. Sec
retary Wilson, following close after, shared
the applause. Prompt TO the second President
Mitchell brought down his gavel. saying:
'The hour OF 10 o'clock having arrived. the
convention will be in order" Secretary
Wilson then read the call for the convention
and President Mitchell called for the report
Of the committee on credentials. The read
ing of this by Michael McTaggart Of the
committee consumed much time, as the re-
port contained the name Of every delegate.
with q statement of the number OF votes
possessed by each man.
Delegate Campbell, colored man from
Kentucky, moved the acceptance Of the
report ana the continuation Of the COM
mittee. This was done and the conven-
tion adjourned until 1880 .. m.
When the convention met In the after
noon a motion was made and carried that
the convention go at once into executive
session. John p. Reese Of Iowa moved
reconsideration Of the vote by which this
action was taken. He declared secret ses-
Bions undesirable.
The speech of Mr.. Reese in support OF
his motion carried the day, the vote was
reconsidered and 1t was decided that the
meetings Of the convention would be open
to the public.
Mitchell Makes Address.
President Mitchell then made his address,
which was. in part, as follows:
GentIemena In opening this convention iSG l
nary remarks and to suggest in a series
OF recommendations the policy which
interests % 5 OF the striking anthracite, mine
workers and preserve unlmpairea the IN
'eE1d oI spFs the sraVe and
question which now confronts you--namelyi
the advlsability Of inaugnrating a national
suspension OF coal mining in defense OF
our struggling telow-workers In the an
thracite Held OF Pennsylvania--it is inn
Greatest Greatest possible 1l care the momentous prob
lem with which you have g deal Neither h,sr
have been SO closely associated with
the struggles Of the anthracite mine work
ers that II grieves me more than language
can express 20 say that my views are not
in accord with the views expressed by
coal mining, have during all my life In
the labor movement declared that CON
life be kept inviolate; and while at times
1t may appear to the superficial observer or
vantage could be gained by setting agree
ments aside. such advantage, II gained,
pcry IN sna sas wond In d
astsr besspse disreEsTd OF of S0ntTssets contracts
labor. a The efrect Of such action would be
10 destroy confidence, to array In open
hostility y, to oqT cause a spfsnt 9L Sgeie3y 10 %
Sympathetic strikes have many, adherents
Strongly S T to those who. being directly in,
yoHed In trouble. do not always recognize
mind, but the past history of the labor
movement teaches lessons that should not
be forgotten today.
sympathetic Strikes Fail.
As far as my y,sIS ssRIowIsags goes ! dS no. 9.
any magnitude which has been successful;
on the contrary. the most conspicuous
have resulted In ignominous and crushing
defeat not only for the branch Of indus
divisions participating through sympathy.
In my Judgment the United Mine Workers
sstones % @ mark the patS trodden ni3s By hs the
laboring classes in their neYer-endng
am Arm In my conviction tnat the strike
In the anthracite fields can and will be won
with the 6ituminous operators, provided
the 6itumlno9s miners miners viii rise TO the oe-
struggling fellow-workers and with this
In mind / desire TO submit for your con-
alteration the following specific recon-
mendattOne.
First-That the national secretary treas
urer be authorized and directed 20 imme-
diately appropriate xO,pOO Irom the funds
IN the national treasury and place Ii at the
disposal OF the officers OF districts No /. I
sscond-Thet all districts, sub-districts
and local unions be appealed TO TO donate
large amounts as they can AFFORD.
Third-ThaI an assessment OF not less
than 81 per week be levied on all members
OF local unions, the amount 80 levied 10 be
collected al the earliest possible moment
and forwarded TO the national secretary
treasurer.
cent be levied on all national, district and
sub-district officers whose salaries amount
10 $50 per month or more.
Ftfth-That an appeal be made TO all
American trade unions and 10 the general
public for financial assistance 20 carry the
strike TO a successful issue.
sixth-That a committee be selected for