The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-01-26
IOWA DELEGATES
VA|NLY URGE POINT
DEFEATED IN DEBATE AT THE
MINERS CONVENTION.
FOR JOINT WAGE CONFERENCE
Head Officers Opposed Change, AS
They Feared it Unwise to Have
All Contracts Expire At
One Time.

h One Time.
Indianapolis, Jan. 21--A resolution
o providing for the admission to the
S joint wage conference Of the central
: competitive district, to be held in In
: dianapolis during January, 1906, of the
southwestern competitive districts,
g and the state of Iowa, was reported
unfavorably by the committee in the
National Mine Workers convention
today. The report encountered seri-
Gus opposition, and for more than an
hour delegates from the southwestern
district and Iowa waged a serious de-
bate in favor of the adoption Of the
resolution. A vote finally resulted in
the defeat Of the resolution.
The measure was opposed by a ma.
jority of the national officers on the
| ground that it would be unwise to
adopt such a resolution so far in ad-
vance Of the joint conference. The
argument advanced by the supporters
OF the resolution was founded upon
their belief that if all wage contracts
were to expire on March 81, 1906, there
could be but one motive-that of call
ing a general strike in the event of a
failure of the central competitive dis
tr1ct to agree upon a scale in Joint
conference; granting this motive, they
contended, they should be given a
voice in the central district Joint con.
ference.
In explaining his opposition to the
resolution, President Mitchell said in
view OF the fact that the joint wage
conferences of the central and south.
western competitive districts were to
be held in Indianapolis at the same
time, he would use his influence to
prevent the signing of wage scale
Tor other districts until such a scale
was ready for signature by the miners
and operators of both competitive
helds. He did not, however, believe
tnat the central competitive district
at this time should consolidate with
the southwestern district and Iowa,
Liquor Men Tabooed.
A rule was adopted in the miners
convention this afternoon excluding,
saIoen S32af,t1 on keepers and bartendermsfrom
RS will thus be affected.
The Expulsion of Randall.
Ind, Jan. 21.-Robert
andall, delegate to the United Mine
orkers' convention from DietZ, Wy
ming, who charged President Mitchell
lth having sold out the operators dur
G the recent Colorado strike, was eX-
,lled from the organization Friday by
e national convention. Randall took
e floor and made statement which
as marked by an absence of\the abuse
President Mitchell which he used
thursday. President Mitchell replied
him2 and demanded that either him
II of Randall should not be in the
invention. In his statement Presi-
mt Mitchell said:
This man Randall says that my ac-
Isation that he made false statements
his local forced him to his attack.
anything wepe needed to prove his
lplicity, that statement does 1t.
rother Randall, you should not have
)me here; you could have lied more
lccessfulIy from Dietz, Wyo. The
resident of your district has said he
0es not believe a word you have said.
IF one charge that this delegate makes
true, l am unfit to occupy the place
D. | should be deposed. If they are
OF, have right to protection. Either
lis man or should not be here One
us should leave this convention. ]
ave it for the delegates to say which
shall be-"
Unanimously Adopted.
Delegate Walker, of Illinois, floor lead
: of the socialists in the organization,
len presented the following resolution,
hich was adopted with a unanimous
ote:
whereas, By gross misrepresenta-
on OF facts in connection with the Colo
ado strike, together with a torrent of
buse and tissue of false and lying
,atements, he has assaulted the eharac-
sr, personality and integrity of Presi-
ent John Mitchell and other national
Ulcers, not one word Of which has in
ny manner been substantiated. there
IRE be it resolved that this conyen-
on express its full confidence in the
onesty and integrity of our national Of
GERS and fully indorse their action in
onnection with the Colorado strike, and
lat Delegate Robert Randall make a
lblic retraction on the floor of this
invention of his unwarranted attack
a the officers of this organization or
land suspended from the convention
nd expelled from the United Mine
OF America until such time as
shall make such public retraction,
nd that the secretary of the local be so
,tified."
Delegate Randall arose. and standing
his seat refused to retract, and
alked from the convention.