The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-14
VICE PRESIDENT
 DELIVERS SPEECH Lewis Talks to Mine Workers
 on Strike Situation MINOR OFFICERS CHOSEN Convention Adjourned Until This Aft ernoon to Allow Scale and Other
 Committees to Prepare
 Their Reports.

The feature of the second days session of the eighth annual convention or the District No. 20 United Mine Workers or America which is being held in BIT mingham was the address to the conven- tion of T. L. Lewis of Pittsburg, vice president of the national organization. MT. Lewis arrived in Birmingham yes terday and he will probably remain until the convention comes to an end. With National Committeeman William K. Fair ley, MT. Lewis represented the interests of the mine workers on the board of ar- bitration which met in Birmingham two years ago this summer, and was presided over by Judge George Gray of Della ware
 In A forty minutes address before the convention yesterday afternoon MT. Lewis advised the miners to act in conser- vative manner, but at the same time to stand pat on the present strike situa- tion. He assured them of the continued support of the national organization In their agitation. The address of MT. Lewis was received with applause.
 The only business tranacted at yes terdays session of the convention was the election of minor officers as fol- lows:
 Minor Officers Chosen.
 Colored members of District board I. H. Chambers, William Clarke and N S. Pringle.
 District auditors-G. Jackson and Ar thur Blakeley, white, and H. b. Rob- inson, colored.
 Delegates to State Federation of Labor, which will meet in Birmingham on the third Wednesday in April-J. R. Kenna- mer, white, and G. T. Jones, colored.
 About 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon the convention adjourned until this after noon at 1:30 o'clock Yesterday after noon the scale committee, of which James Savage is the chairman, held It's first meeting, on the second floor of the Knights of Columbus hall, where the convention is being held It will probably be several days before the scale com mittee is ready to report back to the con vention.
 The introduction of Vice President Lewis by President Edward Flynn of District 20 brought forth applause. Vice President Lewis said in part:
 ''Mr. President and Fellow Mine Work CTS: do not know why I should be pun ished at this time, but as your president has just told you, I reluctantly consented to make a talk before this convention this afternoon. although I desire to say in the beginning that speech-making is not my long suit Everything consid- cred, however, l fel as if 1t is a part of my duty to make short address to the United Mine Workers of Alabama" Workings Of Board.
 MT. Lewis then recited briefly the his- tory of the organization and the work ings of the arbitration board in 1903 and added "rhe findings of that board did not meet with all the expectations of the miners of the state or the approval of the operators of Alabama. Just because these findings did not meet with the approval of the operators you have a contest now on your hands.
 Tt is unfortunate and it is deplorable that intelligent men representing millions of wealth will say to their employees that notwithstanding the fact that we need you in building up our capital you have no rights except those VIC propose to die tate to you.
 T desire to impress upon you, fellow workmen, that never in the history of Alabama was a meeting of business men held that was of any more importance than is this annual convention of district No. 20. You must not lose sight Of the fact that you are not only to legslate for today. for tomorrow or for next year. but your legislation in this hall Is to be handed down to a generation yet unborn. LegIslate wisely in order that what you do may reflect credit not only upon your selves, but upon the people you repre- sent, as well as our great national organ ization which is moving onward and on- ward day by day.
 Necessary Suffering
 "Of course you must necessarily suffer to some extent I know this from a sim liar experience I full well appreciate your position as well as the position of ycur wives, mothers and children in their komes today. The struggle in Alabama ia watched with great deal of interest all over the United States. The miners all over the country realize this contest must be won. (Cries of Yes, Yes from the delegates)
 "Out organization is planted in the south to stay. regardless of all of the capital brought here to fight us. We stand on our rights not only as wage-earners but American citizens.
 'I would be pleased to debate with MT.