The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1904-01-29
MINERS CONVENTION ENDS.
Will Meet the Operators to Discuss
the Wage Question.

Indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 26.-The ma,
tional convention of the United Mine
Workers, before adjournment Monday,
went into executive session to consider
the report of the scale committee
which it was announced by Chairman
Reynolds, was ready.
Probably the most important fea,
ture Of the consideration of the con,
stitution committees report was the
decided action taken by the conven-
ton against adopting the stamp sys-
tenn for the collection of per capita
taxes and dues. There was considera,
BILE discussion and the recommends
ton of the committee that the system
be adopted was killed under the lead
ership of Illinois and Ohio.
By an amendement the initiation fee
is fixed at $40 for practical min
ers. For others the fee is left
to the discretion of the district
A resolution was offered to introduce
the Australian ballot system and an
other was introduced providing for the
increase of salaries of national officers
as follows:
President John Mitchell, $4,000;
Vice President Lewis, $4,000, and Sec
retary-Treasurer Wilson, $4,000. Both
were defeated.
indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 27.-The
United Mine Workers completed the
work of the 18th annual convention
Tuesday. Having no more committee
reports of Importance to consider be-
fore meeting the operators in the joint
wage conference, which begins Thurs
day, the convention adjourned until
Wednesday afternoon at 8 o'clock,
when Mrs. Virginia Barlow Leroy, of
Streator,- Ill.,, will address the dele
gates. The convention will also re-
ceive the report of e committee ap-
pointed to draft a memorial on the
death of the 200 miners in the Hart
wick mine explosion at Cheswick, Pa.
The joint wage conferences general
ly last about one week. 1t is thought
that it will take that long this year to
reach an agreement over the demands
for the run of mine basis and the diff
ferential The demands are always
made for the entire state of Indiana,
all the Western Pennsylvania district
and for the Hooking valley in Ohio
and the Danville district in Illinois as
the basis for those two states. The
operators will make the assertion that
while the miners are not asking for an
increase in the mining scale now in
effect the run Of mine basis and the
differential of seven cents fiat would
mean a heavy increase.
President John Mitchell practically
declined an increase of $4,000 a year
in his salary when a resolution was
introduced to increase it from $4,000
to $4,000 When put to vote it seem
ed that fully two-thirds of the house
voted aye He declared the resolution
lost, and when there was a call for a
division he ignored it. With rap Of
his gavel he declared the motion lost
and closed the debate. Several dele
gates objected, saying that they de-
sired to go on record as favoring the
raise and they were told that they
could submit their objections in writ
ing.
indianapolis was chosen for the con-
vention next year.
The report of the tellers on the cleo
ton of national officers fthe Unit
ed Mine Workers was received by the
convention. President Mitchell. Vice
President Lewis and Secretary-Treas-
urer Wilson are reelected. The full
vote of the organization was not cast.
Mitchell, as the head of the ticket, re-
ceived 92,633 votes. Lewis received 81
$40 votes, and Wilson 91,S75.