The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-18

vide some means of aid for the soft coal
strikers.
some of the delegates that there would be
forced action Delegate Ryan secured the
floor and assured the impatient ones that
attempt was being made to railroad
the recommendations through the conven-
ton and that ample time would be given
for consideration.
was opposed to a general suspension of
work because the bituminous miners would
have to break their contracts He said he
had had thirty years experience with labor
unions and the thing which held him in the
United Mine Workers was its constitution.
which prohibits the miners from breaking
contracts.
Delegate Lorenzo Lewis. of the anthracite
field, said I'VE did not come here TO ask
YOU 10 break your contracts. Keep your
contracts. remain at work and help US
make contracts, that in turn we may
some day be in a position to offer you as
sistanCe if you need IL.
The only speech for national suspension
of work was made by Delegate Fitzpatrick
from one of the balconies He is gray
haired and apparently aged. but his vigorous
speech showed that he had plenty of life in
him. There are peculiar ideas expressed
in this convention about contracts" said
he land which l fail to understand. A phil
osOpher has said contracts are not eter-
nal and by the heavens they are not. If
Napoleon wrote a contract one day he
would break it the next if he thought it
would be to his benefit. What we want is
turn to work until contract is signed by
all of the miners. Now is your time Now
is the time TO throw off the shackles and
manacles of slavery and be free men Down
the men that have held us I'm bopdao a Wit
their Infamous tactics for so many years"
There was little applause when he finished.
the only approval coming from a few dele
gates from the anthracite district
Delegate Davis, OF the anthracite field.
followed and took the opposite view of the
situation. He said: Il wish to saw TO the
hi tarO 1fy7aY M W
We do not want you TO strike; we want you
to help us strike. That's the stuff" in
terrupted another anthracite man. 'Is
there anything more inspiring" continued
Davis than plenty of money to feed the
mouths of our children and smile at the
operators and say to Mr.. Baer, Go down
with you bare" hands and dig out your
coal Again 1 say. keep your contracts and
help us make contracts"
OPPOSED GENERAL STRIKE.
Patrick Finney, a young man from the
anthracite. opposed a general strike and
rebuked Fitzpatrick, who made the radical
speech. 1T is frequently said that young
men, or young bloods, try TO storm con-
ventions and carry a wild sentiment with
them, but when old men try TO carry men
in that manner ii amounts TO more than
the action of young bloods' What can be
done with an empty treasury? II the BIZ
luminous men break their contracts next
year, Wnen the time OF a Joint convention
arrives. the opera tors viii not be here and
there will be no contracts made There
will be dissension, and IL these contracts
are broken what assurance can be given
that we will keep others Keep your con-
tracts and build up the treasury -
Delegate Dempsey, secretary OF one of
the anthracite districts, said the question
Of a strike ought 10 be considered as we'll
as the recommendations of President
Mitchell, but he did not commit himself TO
either policy.
Delegate Campbell, colored, of Kentucky,
called the conventions attention TO the
strikes that now exist in the bituminous
field, and said the recommendation ought
10 be amended so as 10 provide for them
President Mitchell explained that the ma
tional organization is already providing for
the bituminous strikers.
Delegate Mcbride said he thought a COM
mittee ought 10 be selected TO act upon the
proposition. saying he thought il would
come 70 a better conclusion than the pres
ident
Delegate LAWYER. of the anthracite dis
trict. said: we are striking over there for
better working conditions. and what we
want is money"
John Fauon. OF the anthracite. called for