The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-01-24
Give Their Views in Regard to the Controversy
Aroused in Their Reports.
MAKE PLAIN STATEMENT OF FACTS
n STATEMENT
Each Point Out That There is Room for Personal Feeling
and Insists That None Prevails-Everything
Works Out Right in the End.

ITcSlucuL L. IL. Lewis cN IIcSScI
their views of the affairs OF the or
ganization in no uncertain manner
at Saturday afternoons session of
the eighteenth annual convention of
the United Mine Workers Of Amer
lea, in Tomlinson Hall. Neither in
dulgcd in any personalities in regard
to the other, however, and each said
that he never had any unfricndly
words with tho other. The argu-
mcnt was along the lines Of the man
ncr in which the affairs of the inter
national had been conducted.
The matter arose over the report
of the committee on officers reports,
late in the afternoon. The COM
mittcc had concurrcd in all of the
suggestions in the report of the
president and then had taken up
the report Of the vicc-prcsidcnt, II.
l.. Lewis. The committee spoke of
the valuable work that bad been
done by Mr.. Lewis during the year
in his position as vicc-prcsdcnt, but
said that his report was not CLASH
fled and that therefore it would be
possible to deal with it only in a
IL
Lewis in regard to events of the past
were his personal viows, said the re-
port of the committee, and it added
that the committee could not agree
with his ideas in regard to the sign
ing of agreements in several States.
The policy of the administration
had been in harmony with the judg
ment of the last convention, cOntin-
ucd the committee, and it expressed
the belief that the best possible re-
suits had been obtained. 1t congrat-
ulatcd the organization on having
remained intact and on what sue
that in the future the same wise pol
icy be continued as in the past.
Mr.. Lewis at once arose and said:
''I can not quite agree with the COM
mittcc that my report was not clas-
sifed. 1t was certainly specific as
regards results" He said that he
would like to know if the commit
tee meant that the Perry resolution
had been carried into effect.
The floor was given delegate Per-
ry, of Iowa, father OF the Perry res
olution, but he said that the rcsolu-
ton was now n matter of history.
and that he was well satisfied with
the results that had been accom-
plishcd through the policy Of the add
ADMINISTRATION during INST year. He
said that he did not believe the del
cgates would care to enter into Il
discussion of subject that 10 lon
ger concerned them The former
relations between employer and en-
plove could be rt-cstabishcd ac-
cording to his belief he said.
Mr.. Lewis then said that he did
not care particularly to discuss the
Perry resolution. but the thought
that the delegates were entitled t."
Mr.. Mitchell. who had surrcnd-
cred the chair to Delegate White,
asked that he be given time i'll which
to explain his position. His request
was granted. and he said. Il be
licve that it is not wise to enter into
such Il discussion ut this time and
place. but it probably is expected of
me that | should say something in
explanation of transactions of the
past year. | wish TO approach the
subject free from prejudice or pas
sion" He said that some of the
newspapers had seen fit TO report
that there were two factionS-a Nit
chell faction and Lewis faction
in the organization. but that he was
not aware of two such factions.
IF there are two factions in the
United Mine Workers. it is to be re-
grctted." he continued. with Mr..
Lewis I wish to say there must be
only one organization of the coal
miners in the United States. but
there also must be harmony and soil
datitv in that organization.
eff it be necessary for Nice-PrcS-
ident Lewis and myself TO step aside
back into the ranks. il i Your duty
to see that we do 50. and our duty
to step aside There has been no i'll
words passed between US person.
ally"
In taking up the resolution adopt
cd at the previous convention, he
said that if he had written it it
would have been of somewhat diff
fercnt form and would not have con-
tanned some of the language in the
Perry resolution. He said he would
have made some other provisions.