Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-15
OPENED AT INDIANAPOLIS
Over One Thousand Delegates Are 10
Attendance, Representing 1,46l
Local Unions.
MITCHELL AND LEWIS in ACCORD
Past Differences Apparently
Laid Aside.
SESSION WILL BE AN IMPORTANT ONE
,,oolaled Press Dispatch BY special wire,

l,sociaied Press Dispatch by special wlret
Indianapolis. Ind. March I5.-The
National Convention of the United Miner
Workers of America opened here today,
in the German House, with over 900
delegates, representing ,46l local unions
The convention had been called by Presi-
dent Mitchell to consider action which
NAV result in an agreement with the
coal operators that will prevent a gen
eral strike.
When the convention met differences
that have appeared to exist between
President Mitchell and Nice-president
Lewis were apparently laid aside, and it
va. the expressed wish of both officials
that personal matters should not inter-
lere with the more important work of
the convention.
The first business of the convention was
the work of organization, and the greater
part of the day was taken up with Gre
dentials of the delegates.
In his opening address President
Mitchell said:
informally declaring this convention
omen for the transaction Of business, It
may not be amiss-indeed it seems quite
propcr-that ] should report the principal
Incidents and causes which prompted the
call for this extraordinary meeting of the
United Mine Workers Of America; and in
addition thereto, make some suggestions
ior your guidance which may facilitate
the work of the convention and, ] hope.
prove helpful in re-establishing our re-
htions with the cp rators upon a basis
which will be just 20 them, reasonai ~
satisfactory to the great constituency we
represent and at the same time properly
coniderate of the welfare of the entire
country, whose interests cannot be dis
regarded with impunity by any class of
citizens, regardless of its strength OF I'M
huence
Mr.. Mitchell next alluded to his COM
ference, in New York City with Francis
l. Robbins, president of the Pittsbmg
Coal Co., and to President Roosevelt 8
letter 10 Mr.. Robbins, in relation 60 the
coal situation, and then continued.
While. of course, the many conflicting
and inharmonious statements emanatng
from various sources purporting TO reflect
the views Of operators, seem TO indicate
an entire absence of unity and concord
among them in regard TO the question
of advancing wages, ] am nevcrtheicss
hopeful il not fully convinced, that the
urgency and seriousness Of the situation
will prompt them TO make such reasonable
concessions in the matter Of wages and
conditions as will enable us TO JON them
IN the rehabilitation of our JOINT move
ment and the perpetuation of the prac-
tical business relationship under which
we have worked with mutual advantage
during the past eight years. And TO this
end feel it incumbent upon me 10 say
that a very large degree of responsibility
will rest upon us ii these proposed nogo
ilations lead to success As to the power
and scope of the convention, You haVs
undoubtedly noted from the call whicl
wasissued by your international secretary
treasurer, that while the principal pur
pose of the meeting is TO consider ON
wage agreements, its function Is not con
lined TO the one subject. IL may, IN ad
dIton thereto, transact such other busi
ness as may be lawfully brought before 1t
I'm the consideration and discussion
Of all matters coming before the conven
ton il is my earnest hope that acri
monious debate will he entirely elimi
mated and that we shall stand united II
am earnest effort TO serve our people am
To secure for them a larger measure of th
fruits of their toll; that when we ieav
Indianapolis our organization may hav
regalned any prestige lost as the resul
of the internal dissension and that eve
those unfriendly to labor may be Statistic
lhat the United Mine Workers of Amenc
Is sane Just, business association, who's
highest purpose is not to achieve VIC
tories by means Of its great strength br
rather through the inherent justice tha
hes IN the cause il represents