The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-21

in the questions ,at issue being submitted
to a board of arbitration appointed by
President Roosevelt, course of action
practically the same as that suggested by
the United Mine Workers before the strug-
gle began, has done more to build UP the
various organizations of workingmen and
demonstrate to wage-earners, generally,
the necessity for unity of action, than
any struggle that has ever occurred in the
history of the world
'The contest began on the 18th of May
and continued until the 23d of October.
The courage and endurance shown by the
miners and their families the suffering
they withstood without complaint, the sac
rifices they made and the marvellous en-
strike clearly demonstrated that their
grievances must have been many and
great. If their grievances had been few
and Of a trivial character it would have
been absolutely impossible for any man, or
any set of men, to have induced them to
continue the struggle beyond the point
where suffering was imminent. Yet the
reverse was the case, and no body of men
could have caused them to return to work
until they had been starved into submits
sion or some concession had been made.
This phase of the situation becomes more
clear when it is understood that for the
first ten weeks of the strike il was con-
Quoted entirely upon their own resources.
the first check for their assistance being
sent from the national office on July g.
The magnitude of the contest and the man.
ifest fairness of the position assumed by
pathies of the American people, and when
the appeal for assistance authorized by
the special convention was issued from the
national Office the response was both lib
eral and prompt. The various branches
of our own organization contributed in &C
cordance with their means with extreme
liberality. The special convention had
scarcely more than adjourned when we re-
ceived check from district No. for s10.-
600. This was followed few days later
by $500 from District 49, $4,000 from Dis
trict II. and many others.
THE TOTAL RECEIPTS.
1.-THE total amount of money donated by
the different branches of our organization
was s25S,343.94. The total amount received
from the special anthracite assessment
was 1885,, O26.34. making a total of s2,225.
3702S from the members of the United
Mine Workers to assist their brethren in
the anthracite coal fields To this amount
must be added s41995414, donated by the
trades unions and the public. making
grand total of $26i5,324. 50. Immediately
upon the adjournment of the convention
arrangements were made TO take care or
the needy who were on strike, without ref
erence to whether they were union or nom
union men. Relief committees
lected by each of the local unions, which
were instructed TO furnish orders for mer-
chandise their local grocers to any and
all strikers that might need assistance.
The necessary amount TO pay the
flee to the district secretary treaSurerS.
up to the time that the strike ended
the money being received from all sources
was barely sufficient to meet the demands
upon the treasury. Many of the operators
had permitted their mines TO fill with
water rather than employ engineers, fire.
men and pump-runners to keep the water
out, and, consequently, over $4,000 men
were unable to find employment when
work was resumed. These men had to be
cared for, and with this large body of
m wa NAT IN "A
deal of dissatisfaction would prevail
What would be the issue of such condi-
tons no one could foretell Many Wild
rumors were circulated relative TO plots
and schemes supposed to have been con-
cocted by the employers TO deprive the Mine
| Workers of the weil-earned fruits of their
victory.
"A number of newspapers supposed to
stand close to the coal operators frequently
announced that the struggle would be re-
newed at a later date. Under these cir
cumstances ii became necessary to prepare
for any emergencies that might arise. We.
therefore. decided to continue the special
assessment of the full amount levied by the
convention until the first of November and
at one-half of the original levy for two
weeks longer, and continue TO accept such
donations as the public felt disposed to give
us This policy with the reduced amount
necessary TO care for the idle men has
placed our treasury in a healthy condition.
and we have now on hand, $l021, 12O.29. We
| believe this amount with the balance still
due from local unions that have not as yet
paid the assessment in full Will enable us,
| for the present, TO meet any emergency
| that may be thrust upon US.
PAID-UP MEMBERSHIP.
THE paid-up membership. as shown by
the per capita tax for the month of De-
cember. was 19s.090. as against 232, 239 for
the same month in 1901, decrease of a.
| 1919. The average paid-up membership for
| the year computed on the basis of the per
/ capita tax received was 1887. against
l9S.024 for the year 1901, a decrease of b.
| 657. This decrease is accounted for by the
fact that we had $4,000 men on strike for
| two months and about 10000 for five
months during the year. Our laws do not
| require local unions TO pay per capita tax
| when the members have been on strike one
| month more. and il will, therefore, be
| seen that the actual membership OF the or
Ranization Is greatly In excess OF 10000.