Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-25
VIOLENT CHARGES
AGAINST MITCHELL
MINERS PRESIDENT ACCUSED
OF TREACHERY.
BACK WITH HOT ANSWER
National Labor Leader Charges Colo
RADIO Striking Miners With Looting
Strike Fund, Taking More Than
Anthracite Miners Got and Asking
Enough to Live on Turkey.

Indianapolis, Jan. 20,-In the nation
al convention of the united mine work
ers Of Anne lea yesterday, John Mitch
ell. the president, was accused by Dele.
gate Randall of Wyoming of having
sold out the Colorado miners to the
operators, of having been traitor to
the miners organization and of having
entered into a conspiracy with the
mine owners and Governor Peabody's
peace organization to ruin the Colo
RADIO miners and lose them the recent
strike
President Mitchell replying gave
some of the reasons why the national
miners organization had withdrawn
it's support from the Colorado strikers
Mr.. Randall had said that President
Howell of the district asked fer $780,
900 for the strike, offering 70 win or
lose it on that amount. Nj. Mitchell
referring to this said:
let me be plain on this. Mr.. How
ell did not ask for the money. If he
had he would not have got It; l would
not trust him with it," He charged
Howell and eX-National Board Mem
her Gear with crool1edness and Gear
with collision with stock brokers
He told how he forced Gear to resign
his office because of it. Gear, he said,
admitted that he was to get 81 900 fol
advance information concerning the
close Of the strike.
He also told of Howell leaving Gear
in charge of the strike for a time last
year and said that in two weeks Gear
drew $4,000 of the organizations
money for the strike.
Howell" declared Mitchell. lis not
a safe witness against anybody"
Bad Situation.
He told how the first and last money
sent to the strikers was appropriated
by officers to pay back salaries. Pres
ident MitchelPs statement showed a
generally bad situa ion. He said thar
after 100000 had been poured INTO
Colorado the spirit shown by the min
ers of that state wOs such that he had
recommended settlement and that ma.
tional aid he withdrawn and he would
do 50 again under the circumstances.
He said he was ready to get out if It
was thought best and referred to the
fact that for six years he had MOI
asked for reelection.
Offlcers Tried Hold-up.
There were speeches by others, who
charged that in Colorado the officers
had attempted to hold up the oTganlza
ton; that they even wanted a per diem
for .emaining out on strike; that they
bied the national treasury under every
preteXt, and that instead of starving
they received more money than the
anthracite strikers got figured on the
per capita basis-aud that there was
demand for enough for the strikers to
live on turkey. It was also STAGED
The miners even had refused to put up
tents sent TO them, unless they re-
ceived pay from the national organiza-
ton for putting them up.
The attack of Mr.. Randall was attrib.
uted by the friends of President Mitch
ell to the socialists who had just prev
iously met with their annual defeat in
trying 10 have the miners organiza-
tion declare itself for socialism. The
FEELING among the delegates was prac.
ideally unanimous in favor of President
Mitchell and it was generally felt that
he did not need vindication Mr.. Ran.
dali aid he would have something 70
say later and President Mitchell salu
he would reply 10 Mr.. Randalrs state
ment when it was made.