The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-30
The Convention by Resolution Speaks
Its Mind About Federal In
functions.
WILL MEET HERE AGAIN
HEREAFTER OFFICERS WILL BE
ELECTED DIRECTLY.
The Morning Taken Up in Amending Z
the Constitution of the Or
ganizatiOn.

The United Mine Workers held a special
session last night in order to conclude their
business and be prepared to meet the coal
operators of Indiana, Illinois. Ohio and
Pennsylvania, who are in the interstate
agreement, in joint conference at 10 o'clock
this morning The meeting will be held in
Tomlinson Hall, where the miners have
been in session for the last ten days. Pres
ident Mitchell will call the convention to
order, and as has been the custsm, an oper-
ator will be selected to preside at the
sions
The scale formulated by the miners is one
that will not be adjusted without serious
debate. 1t is believed by many operators
and miners who have expressed themselves
that there are questions other than de-
mand for an increase in wages that will be
paramount in effecting settlement The
demand of the miners for run of mine
system throughout the competitive field
will meet with most serious opposition
from those operators not working their
mines on that system, particularly from
Ohio and Pennsylvania. Illinois is already
on a run Of mine basis and the run of mine
or screen basis in Indiana depends upon
how the coal is sold. The movement in
gradually working eastward and the miners
will try, at this conference, to place the
entire field on that system The differential
between pick and machine mining is also
an important question that will not be de-
cided until both sides have debated and
are willing 10 meet each other half way.
INDIANAPOLIS CHOSEN.
The mine workers finished the business
of NV mi
ing indianapolis for their meeting place
next year. Other places contesting were
Scranton, Pittsburg Birmingham. Colum-
bus. o.; Kansas City. Springfield, H.;
New York city. Spring Valley, Ill., and
Watcher, Ia. 1t was decided that the
city receiving the highest number of votes
be the choice of the convention. Indian
apolis was first on the list, and when the
vote was taken nearly every delegate in
the hall arose to his feet and cheered. The
vote was so nearly unanimous that all of
the other cities dropped out of the race,
and a motion 10 make the vote unanimous
was carried with a whoop Added to this
an amendment was added to instruct the
delegates that will be represented in the
conference with the operators to vote for
the next joint conference to be held in In
nomination by w. d. Ryan, secretary
treasurer of the Illinois district
On convening last evening the delegates
first disposed of the report OF the constitu-
tion committee. After the amendment pro-
viding for the election of officers was
adopted yesterday the committee was di-
rected to draw up a suitable amendment
for the constitution which was read and
IaS ofuhr
eral arguments technical amendments
before 1t was adopted. but important
changes were made.
An amendment was passed providing that
all assessments levied by the executive
board must be made by not less than a
two-thirds vote.
DISTRICT VICE PRESIDENTS.
Another amendment providing THAI dis
trict vice presidents shall be called 10 con-
ference with the other district officers be-