The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-19
President Mitchell Reads Annual
Message, Crowded with Rec
concentrations.
SCALE NOT MENTIONED
Makes a Careful Review of the
Strikes at Present Existing
In Six States.
BASIS OF RUN-OF-MINE
To-Day's Work Will Open with
Appointment of Committees
by the President.

Opening without hitch OF any kind. the
fifteenth annual convention OF the United
Mine Workers OF America in Tomlinson Hall
is well begun. With the promputude charac-
teristic of their organization. the one thou
sand attending delegates and miners from all
parts OF the country filled the floor space.
the forward boxes and the galleries directly
overlooking the platform when the conven-
ton was raped TO order on the minute Of 10
O'Clock by President John Mitchell
From the moment his gavel fell until the
close of the days session. the Introductory
exercises and preliminary affairs OF the con-
vention passed off with a smoothness and
rapidly which betokened that the rugged
miners are here for business and that they
know how TO transact il according TO par
liamentary rules of order. Never has an an
nual meeting OF the miners begun so aus
piciously and pleasantly as the present one.
Said John Mitchell last night: 81 do not be-
lieve that any former convention that we
have held ever started off so nicely ana rap
idly as the one OF to-day. Last year we
spent the entire first day in getting the pre-
liminary routine aside and did not get TO the
officers reports until the second day. I do
not remember a convention in which we got
through the three officers reports on the
first day"
When the convention was called TO order
at 10 o'clock yesterday Mayor John w.
Hoffman came forward and on behalf OF
the city. welcomed the miners TO Indian
apolis. In doing so he expressed his views
on organized labor in a firm and clean-cut
manner. At the close OF Mayor Holtzman's
address Edward p. Barry, president OF
the Central Labor Union of this city, rep
resenting that body Of fifteen thousand
wage workers. briefly but heartily well
coined the delegates. In answer to the ad-
dresses of welcome President Mitchell re-
piled in a few words in which he vouched
for the statement that the convention would
commend itself to the people OF Indian
apolis, and related the advantages accru-
ing TO the city as a result Of labor con-
vention and headquarters coming here.
Then began the routine business OF the con-
vention.
COMMITTEES ARE NAMED. -
President Mitchell appointed the COM
mittee on rules and order of business and
then called for the report OF the auditing
committee, which consumed the remainder
of the morning session and made an hours
inroad into the afternoon session. At its
conclusion the committee on rules and
order of business reported back and the
remainder Of the day was spent In hearing
the annual reports of President John Mitch
ell, Vice President Thomas l.. Lewis and
Secretary William B. Wilson.
The report of committee on rules and
order of business was adopted by the con-
Vention and outlines the plan by which
the body will proceed with its business. -
The reports Of officers.
The report of the different committees.
which will be appointed to-day.
(a) Auditing committee.
(b) Resolutions committee.
| (c) Constitutional committee.
(d) Transportation committee.
! Report Of the delegates to the convention
1 of the American Federation OF Labor.
The report OF the tellers.
Report of the committee on officers re-
| ports.
Report Of the grievance committee
Report OF the scale committee.
New business before the convention.
Two changes were recommended in the
/ report OF the committee on rules and order
| of business. The committee recommended
! that the convention adjourn each day at
/ $50 O'Clock and that any delegate who
violates the rules OF order be expelled from
/ the convention and reported TO the ma
tional secretary. BY motion adopted
curtailed thirty minutes. while by a close
| vote the latter clause was laid upon the
table. A motion was also made by Dele
! gate Lackey that the convention seat all
/ locals in good standing who had paid up
their dues within the past month.
The convention Will reconvene this MORN
ing at o'clock. The days work before the
! body consists Of the appointment OF COM
! mittees at the outset by President Mitchell.
after which the amended report OF the
credentials committee and the report Of the
| telleTs will be heard. Opportunity will then
be given prominent men from other organ
izations OF workingmen who are in
the city to address the delegates. Henry
Fisher, Of Louisville. president OF the
! Tobacco Workers Union, and o. p. Smith.
! general organizer of the American Feder-
! alton Of Labor, are among those who viii
| speak to-day.