Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-01-24
LEADERS ACCUSED.
Officials of United Mine Workers
Under Fire.
A SENSATION AT THE CONVENTION.
Miss Meredith, q Former Employs,
Presents Serious Charges Against
President Mitchell and Others
Inquiry Ordered.

presents Serious Charges Against
President Mitchell and Others
Inquiry Ordered.
indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 22.-Charges
against President Mitchell. Secretary
Wilson and the executive board OF the
U. M. w. OF America were the first or
der OF business before the convention
Tuesday and the unsupported an
nouncement that the charges would
be taken up caused a furry OF excite
ment in the convention. President
Mitchell, in voice full of emotion, ad-
dressing the convention said:
Gentlemen Of the United Mine Work
ers: The election of officers was to have
been the first thing on the programme to-
day. but have to say with deep feeling
and regret that charges have been made
by Miss Mile Meredith, an ex-employe
Of the national Office, affecting myself as
president OF the national body, against
your national secretary, Mr.. Wilson, and
also against the national executive hoard.
1.-THE time has come FOR tie election OF
national officers I am unwilling to have
this proceed until these charges have been
heard. therefore ask he cor vention to
hear these charges. and ask Mr. William
D. Van Horne, of Indiana, to AXE the
chair while the charges are being heard
Miss Meredith Sent For.
When Mr.. Van Horne took the chair
Delegate Harrison, of Illinois, moved
that Miss Meredith be sent for and
asked to explain the charges.
Acting President Van Horne put the
motion and it carried, and he appointed
Delegates Nichols, of Pennsylvania;
Reese, OF Iowa, and Haskins, of Ohio,
a committee to go to the Denison hotel
to escort Miss Meredith to the conven-
ton hall.
There was much suppressed excite
ment throughout the convention as it
awaited the hearing of the charges.
President Mitchell took seat back
upon the stage and awaited Miss Mere
dith's coming.
Miss Meredith Appears,
Delegate Reese, on returning to the
hall, bringing Miss Meredith, said she
had prepared the charges in the form
of typewriter manuscript. Reese
said Miss Meredith would read the
statement and would be at the dis
posafsot the convention.
The reading of the charges pre-
sented an unusual scene in a miners
convention. Miss Meredith is tall
brunette, slender and good-looking.
She was dressed in black and wore a
large gainsborough hat with ostrich
plumes dropping over her forehead.
The Charues
The charges concern the shortage
Of observation-disclosures Pearce and
allege that President Mitchell and Sec
retary-Treasurer Wilson did not give
out all the facts concerning Pearce's
actions and that they "wilfully he'd"
TO the miners committee year ago.
An, investigation Of the books is de-
manded to see how much Pearce's
shortage was. It is minated that
both Mitchell and Wilson sought to
protect Pearce and for that reason did
not give out all the facts. Miss Mere
dith charges that Pearce frequently
presented bills for double the amount
OF purchases. She also says that
Pearce's "extra money" amounted to
$4,000 year, while Mitchell and Wilson
reported that he had taken only $780,
Miss Meredith also says that Mitchell
allowed Pearce to go away as "sick
man" and send in his resignation from
French Lick Springs.
Wilson Denies Charges.
At the conclusion of Miss Meredith's
statement secretary-Treasurer Wilson
arose and spoke at length. He denied
the truth of the statement and said it
was the outgrowth of spite. Miss
Meredith was recently let out as an as
sistant secretary. She is the young
woman to whom gold medal was pre-
sented for discovering the Pearce
shortage.
Mr.. Wilson finished his denial at the
noon hour. Then President Mitchell
made it known that he wished to reply
to the charges. The delegates were
hungry and stood for adjournment
for dinner. Wilson appealed to them
and insisted that President Mitchell be
heard, but after a parliamentary ex.
change the convention adjourned un.
til 1880.
Mitchelps Defense.
When the convention reassembled
Mr.. Mitchell addressed the delegates
denying the stories contained in Miss
Merdith's statement. The convention
appeared to be with the president, as
his remarks were frequently interrupt
ed by applause.
President Mitchell made affidavit
that the statement he made to thu
mine workers. convention year age
was the truth, and the whole truth
He submitted the affidavit to the con
yeptioR.
investigation Ordered.
Following the conclusion of Presi
dent Mitchell's statement there was 6
protracted discussion, many delegate.
being DESTROYS of being heard at the
same time. A resolution was offered
| during the confusion expressing con.
fdence in President Mitchell and the
other accused officials and condemna.
ton for Miss Meredith, but it was
voted down and National Organizer
Evans submitted substitute resolu
ton calling for the appointment of g
committee of seven to investigate all
charges and report to the convention
This was adopted. President Var
Horn appointed the following com
mittee: ]. H. Kennedy and Samuel
Lynch, of Indiana, Districts No. an6
IL; W. d. Ryan, of District No. IL, ILL
nois; T. D. Nichols, District No,
Pennsylvania; J. d. Wood, District