The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-21
MITCHELL WOULD
NOT TAKE OFFICE
Arouses Enthusiasm by Declara-
ton of Loyalty
ALABAMA'S CASE COMES UP
Delegates ASK for More Funds to Pro-
vide Clothing for Families OF
Striking Miners In
District 20.

indianapolis. Ind. January ao.-eThere
is no political Office in the United states
that I would resign the presidency Of the
United Mine Workers to accept
Widest enthusiasm seized delegates to
the United Mine workers convention
when President Mitchell used these words
in Tomlinson hall tonight Mr. Mitchell
had asked permission of the convention
TO speak on a resolution for an amend
ment to the constitution providing that
any sub-district. district OF national Of
ncer upon accepting any political office
should resign his official connection with
the United Mine Workers. and II he did
not. the resignation should be requested
and the office declared vacant. In its
original form the resolution was to the
effect that any officer of the rank named
accepting political office paying Sieoo
year should resign his office, and was
aimed at William Bodds. secretary Of Dis
triet No. 5. who has Just been elected
clerk Of the courts OF Allegheny county.
position paying sDoe a year. BY two
amendments the provision as to salary
Limitation was stricken out.
After much debate in which Delegates
Sherman of British Columbia, Vice Presi-
dent Lewis of Ohio and. others spoke
against and for the resolution, President
Mitchell asked that he might express his
views upon the subject
Mitchell Expresses Views.
II have never held a salaried political
office" said Mr. Mitchell. Il have held
public office to which salary did not at
tach, but for preliminary explanation let
me say that there is no political office In
the United States for which l would
| leave the presidency of the United Mine
Workers OF America TO accept.
"Then I wish to use myself as an Illus
tration of the benefit that would accrue
to the trades unions IL their chief Of
ncers were permitted, yea, encouraged TO
seek and hold legislative offices / would
make distinction between offices OF
purely political or legislative significance.
or positions which can be originated ana
/ carried to successful issue.
"rhus would | not have more influence
| as member of Congress II l were presi-
dent of your union. than II were merely
a private citizen? (cries of yes, ''yesD.
4 The history of trades unionism in Eng
/ land for the last twenty years shows that
they have taken care to elect their CHIEF
officers to seats In parliment and to main
tain them in their positions. And the
good they have thus been able TO accom-
| plish Is incalculable.'
At the close OF President Mitchell's
speech motion was made to lay the res
olution on the table and was adopted al
ter a division had been called FOR
Down on Japs and coreans.
The convention today declared against
the open door policy of this government
| fo,.l ~, i,,,n,toration of Japanese and CO.
rean laborers.
The convention also declared In favor
OF a plan to have eonvlcts build good
roads across the continent
National secretary-Treasurer Wilson
was instructed to communicate with all
trades union legislative committees, with
| the farmers organizations and the Good
Roads associations of the country with
a view to having bills drawn and pre-
scented to the various state and national
legislative bodies Incorporating the sense
/ of this resolution.
The convention approved the strike of
the Kentucky miners
Petition From AIabamlans.
The thirteen delegates who represent the
striking Alabama miners. who have been
| out of the mines for nineteen months
made a plea for more financial support.
Adam Pow and Lawrence Evans told
stories of the distress of the women and
children OF the miners, who are out of
shoes and clothes.
The children Pow declared do not even
have books. The apportionment of support
now given the strikers he said, amounts
TO $50 a week, or cents a meal for
each person dependent upon the mining
industry affected by the strike.
He said the Alabama miners would stay
steadfast to the cause whether additional
t. oil, ant 1aI ff.t.
shoes and clothing for their families. Sec
rotary Wilson stated that the strike began
several months ago, with over 5000 men
going out and that few had deserted the
ranks, though many were forced to leave
the field.
He said that at this time 1882 men rep
resenting 1882 families are out on strike.
lie estimated the cost of clothing OF these
families at approximately S5S.3ln, and said
that he thought the national executive
board was correct in not paying this
money out OF the national funds at this
time unless additional runds were pro-
vided by the membership. On his siig
gestion the whole matter OF support was
referred to the International executive
| board.
Mitchell Checks Debate.
A resolution presented by President
Harry Donthwaite OF Colorado. provided
| \
months vacation on pay and with ex-
penses in which to regain his health was
declared "out of order by Mitchell. who
| dealt 1t death blow with his gavel He
was applauded.
The subcommittee of the scale commit
tee of the miners which has been consid-
| ering the wage scale demands to be made
| by the miners OF the competitive district
| composed of Ohio Indiana, Illinois and
| Western Pennsylvania and also to be
| made by the miners OF Iowa, Michigan
and that part of the virginias that snip
to the west and northwest. has agreed 10
| report TO the general committee making
the following demands:
l. Admission of the southwestern states
to the central competitive field
q A 121s per cent increase in wages.
g. Prohibition OF employment OF boys
less than IS years Of age.
The general committee will meet Mon
day morning to assemble the demands.
Conn,itfee IN Officers