Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-19
MINE WORKERS, CONVENTION.
President Mitchell Submits His Report
at Indianapolis Meeting.

A dispatch from Indianapolis, Ind, last
night says:
The fifteenth annual convention of the
United Mine Workers of America began in
Tomlinson Hall today, with approximately
1000 delegates present Brief addresses of
welcome were made by Mayor John Holtz-
man and President Barry of the Central
Labor Union, which were responded to by
President Mitchell
In his annual report President Mitchell
urged that the convention be moderate in
speech and conservative in action, adding:
I'VE should keep in mind that the enc
mics of labor and the opponents OF trade
unionism as represented by the Manufac-
turers' Association and the Citizens Indus
trial Alliance, are ever ready to make CAPT
tai out Of the smallest indiscretion, and to
magnify out of all reasonable proportion
the slightest mistake that trade unionists
may make"
The report then outlines the situation in
each district. Of the anthracite field he
says: ut is a pleasure to report that since
the close of the anthracite strike the rela-
lions of operators and miners have grown
steadily more cordial With very few ex-
ceptions the award of the commissioners
has been rigidly observed, and an era of
comparative peace and contentment has
reigned in that territory"
Taking the capitation tax received during
December of each year as basis of COM
putation. the report says that the organiza-
ton has increased in membership from
81 900 in 1899 to 2S7, 545 in 1903, which does
not include members idle or on strike. Dur
ing the past year there was a net gain of
1856 unions, making a total of 1922 unions
in twenty-three districts.
OF the Colorado strike Mr. Mitchell says:
THE strike In district Is has been, and is,
source of heavy expense to our organiza-
ton, but our people are standing firm, and,
much as we desire amicable and honor
able Spttlpmpnt CT att
tude of the companies leaves us no choice
but to continue the contest until fair terms
OF settlement are reached Or our people go
down in defeat" 5;r- gaTf
The report refers to the causes for the
Meyersdale and West Virginia strikes, and
says: THE result is that approximately
5000 men are idle in these two DISTRICTS
and there appears TO be no immediate pros
pect of settlement
President Mitchell insists upon the uni
versal adoption of the run of mine basis
The increase in machine mining is shown
to have been from II per gent of the total
production in 1896 to rs per cent In 1902,
the report claiming that in districts in
which the differential is widest machine
mining has increased disproportionately
Vigorous support of the anti-iniunction
bill and the eight-hour bill now in Congress
is urged.
President Mitchell voices his earnest SUD-
port of legislation prohibiting boys under
sixteen from being allowed to work in the
mines. SF
Secretary Wilson in his annual report
said he had hoped to report a larger
amount of money-on hand but the large
number of strikes requiring aid from the
national organization had been a great
drain on its resources. There has been re-
ceiVed from the anthracite strike assess
ment and in donations listed as defense
fund so7,6tG, and from the 10 per cent as
sessment S2oS,351. There has been paid to
assist unions needing help $30S, $50. The re-
celpts Tor strike purposes have exceeded
the expenditures by s721S, while the net in
crease in the funds of the national organi-
zat1on for eleven months ended on Noyem-
Der 30 is $19.01S On that date there was i'm
Indianapolis banks belonging to the organi-
cation 81, 129, 1877