The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-22
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR HOME
FOR MITCHELL Is KILLED.
Several Resolutions Affecting the
Wages of Observation-Disclosures of
the Day.

uIlll y CLOCK tflS morning, AFTER d
to omit the afternoon session had carried
The morning session was busy one dur
ing the earlier hours, but toward noon had
resolved itself into experimenting. Mother
Jones. the woman friend of the miners,
who was enjoined by Judge Jackson's order
prohibiting infammatory speeches in the
coal-mining district. was called on for an
address. Her speech was typical of the
woman and socialistic in tone. Her recon-
mendation to the miners was that they
use their votes citizens to change condi-
tons in the trade. Mother Jones was pes
simistic in her views on the possibility of
friendly relations between capital and la
Dor. She thinks there is such gulf be-
tween the two classes that it can never be
bridged except by change in government.
The miners could adjust the conditions by
their vote, she said, If they voted right.
Now miners in America are existing as
miserably as the serfs in Russia, and will
continue so until all of the changes are
made in the government which she sug
gests, she insinuated in her speech.
RESOLUTIONS REPORTED.
The report of the resolutions committee,
a partial report of which returned to the
convention many resolutions deemed I'M
wise for adoption, was submitted and
adopted. One of the resolutions reported
was that presented by an Illinois local.
which appropriated $4,000 for the purchase
of a permanent home in Indianapolis for
President Mitchell. Mr.. Mitchell now lives
In apartments on East Vermont street and
his family lives at his home in Spring Val
ley, ILL., His time is occupied in travelling
from district to district during the greater
part of the year, whether a strike is in
progress or not, and for this reason he has
retained his residence at his native home.
He disapproved the purchase for many
reasons. Among them was that the mine
workers have no money TO expend in this
manner and should not be guilty of ex-
travagance. The committee, knowing Mr..
MitchelFs views, reported as not concur
ring in the resolution.
n Pennsylvania local district passed
resolution calling on the local organiza-
tions i'm all States to ask legislative action
from their various Legislatures providing
for the establishment OF state relief fund
for manned and injured miners who were
injured in service, the fund TO be raised
by the taxation of per cent of the money
realized from the sales of coal The resolu-
tions committee reported as not concurring
in this resolution also. The committee I'M
favorably reported a resolution adopted by
the local at Keb. Ia, ,providing for the
semi-annual report of all executive officers
of their expenses In attending their duties
Ottumwa, Ia, presented two resolutions
that were rejected. One was for the estab-
lishment of cooperative stores by the mine
workers. This resolution was also adopted
by many locals, but because of its imprac-
ticability and infeasibility was killed. The
Ottumwa local also wanted to provide a
permanent strike relief fund by the levying
of a % cent monthly tax on all men,
bers, to be devoted TO relief fund, but this
source would not raise money enough for
the purpose, and was decided to be unde-
sirable for passage
FROM BURNETT. IND.
The coal miners of the Burnett. Ind, local
secured a favorable report of a resolution
providing for reduction of the working
hours of engineers from twelve to eight
hours, without corresponding decrease in
their pay. The resolution adopted by the
local asking an exemption from dues of all
miners over the age of sixty was reported
unfavorably.
Several resolutions affecting the wages of
the miners passed by locals were introduced
during the session. The resolutions all de-
manded increases in pay of between Is and
% per cent. Some locals demanded that an
increase as high as % per cent be made,
and one of them, that In Spring Valley,
ILL.,, wants the working day cut down from
eight to six hours. and the pay increased
% per cent All of these resolutions were
referred to the wage committee, which is
now at work under its chairman. w. H.
Haskins. of Ohio. The committee Is hear
ing all of the requests from delegates and
attempting to bring about average in
crease TO be asked. The wage committee s
report is for the guidance of the scale COM
mittee, which will demand the increases
recommended from the operators and enter
| into the conference with representatives
| from the operators. The only Indiana local
which proposed an increase was that of
| Burnett. which recommended a 20 per cent.
| increase.
A resolution providing for the publication
of miners paper in the Polish language
was adopted after the warmest discussion
of the convention. Patrick Dolan, head of
| the Pittsburg delegation. supported the res
| olution. He said that If the Polish miners
could get paper printed in their own Ian
guage they would be kept informed of
what was going on. and consequently would
| act more in concert with the organization.
| He said a majority of them could not read
/ English, and knew absolutely nothing of
! the happenings of the world unless II were
/ told them. Vice President T. l.. Lewis also
| supported the resolution, and said that 40.
cit either Ter read or speak English Would be Dc
/ helped by the paper. The resolution was
| adopted after much discussion and referred
TO the executive committee for action.
PRESENT FOR FELTMAN.
| At the close of the morning session John
| l.. Feltman. chairman of the local recep-
ton committee from the Central Labor
| Union. was presented with an anthracite
inkstand by the Pennsylvania delegates
Miss Lille Fredericks. president of the local
organization of garment workers, extended
an invitation TO the dance, and was prom.
| ised the presence of many of the delegates
as we'll as the company of President Mitch.
| ell in leading the grand march.
| President Mitchell announced the appoint
/ ment OF Davis of West Virginia, and Bow.
| den. of Tennessee. 10 the wage committee
He also announced the committee author
| lied TO draft resolution of thanks 10 the
| persons who assisted the miners in raisne
! the relief fund. This committee is com.
| posed of William Treager. District s: Pau
! T.. Pulaski. District 8; John Manning Dis
trict IA: Gilbert Brown, District 21: William
! Monahan. District u; John +. McEhenney
| District z: Arthur Blakely. District 30
The committee on Injunction, the com
mittee which is to try TO bring about tn.
| drafting OF a law regulating the issuance
I OF injunctions in strike cases as recon-
| mended by President Mitchell and Vic,
! President Lewis in their reports was an
| nounced as composed OF I. l.. Lewis. Dis
| trict s: w. Il. Wilson. District .: Adam
| Pow. District 20: John Fallon. District
| Edward Cahill. District r. Patrick Smith
/ District .: James ID. Wood. District %