Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-29
SOCIALISTS HOLD BALANCE
Mine Workers Declare for Public
Ownership of Public Utilities.
DEMAND RELEASE OF PoUREE
Convention objects TO Return OF
Political Refugee from Russia-
Vote Indicates Election
of Lewis,

80 - y n - a'8N
balance Of power in the annual national
convention, now in session here. 1t is
estimated that 300 OF the 400 delegates
are either active socialists or have engaged
to support measures OF socialistic tendency
In the convention.
A resolution for the public ownership
Of public utilities was adopted by the
convention without a dissenting vote. In
the past the leaders have been able to
prevent the national organization from
committing itself to socialistic doctrines
but that time is past, and President Lewis
finds a rival for his office in John Walker
Of Illinois, who is a protested socialist.
Mr.. Lewis and his supporters, the conserv-
alive party In the convention, on the eve
Of factional strife that threatens their re-
gime, seem to have decided that it now
would be bad politics" to antaganize so
strong an influence as the socialists now
WELD.
Demand Release of POuren.
A resolution was adopted demanding re-
lease OF Jan Pouren, in addition to Chris
tian Rudowicz, Russian refugees in this
country, whose cases have been considered
lately, on extrsdition proceedings on the
part Of the Russian government. The
miners demand the release of such prison.
ers because political refugees of all other
countries cast their eyes upon this as an
asylum for the oppressed"
Tie resolutions further demand the
abrogation of the treaty which provides
for the extradition of persons charged with
offenses against a nation where persons
20 charged are not to be tried by a jury
OF their peers
While care is taken by the miners
leaders that the organization shall not take
definitely a socialistic course, and a reso-
I luton for government ownership Of coal
mines has been defeated, nevertheless the
socialists have been successful in putting
| through a resolution recommending pub
lie ownership of the wealth producing
agencies of the country, which are now
in control of the predatory rich and
that there should be a social reorganiza-
tion to- the effect that each man should
receive the equivalent of the labor that
he gives to the community. This reso-
luton was adopted without a dissenting
vote.
1t is authoritatively announced by friends
OF Thomas L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers of America, that
the count of the ballots has proceeded far
enough to show that he has been re-
elected by a majority Of between 1900
and 10000 over his opponent, John Walker
of Illinois. N-
Jury for Contempt Case.
After hours of dissension the convention
adopted a resolution recommending a modifi-
cation of court procedure in regard to in.
functions.
The convention declared no injunction
should be issued until the employees were
notified and that contempt Oh argos should
be heard by q jury before another Judge.
The neutrality-suspicious. case
carrying a jail, sentence in the Bucks
Stove company injunction, was discussed
today by the miners convention. Speeches
were made by Congressman Wilson and
Mich OILS, President Lewis and others.
Text of resolutions
The resolutions on the injunction mat
ter which caused the speeches follow:
The United Mine Workers of America
most emphatically and unreservedly pro-
test against the sentences and threatened
Imprisonment OF Samuel Gompers, John
Mitchell and Frank Morrison, officers OF
the American Federation OF Labor.
The action OF Justice Wright in these
degree of justice by the mine workers OF
America. We maintain that there was
no our Sio sstiSH w of 5ns lay tS Of The a}s l :
acts complained OF were directly within
the rights as guaranteed to every either
OF tR'f iaS SDun1 We by RolG iu that Gon the ahfiatr and
law was never intended by congress tC
apply to labor unions. and the construc.
ton placed thereon by the federal courts
is destructive of the usefulness and only
power of organized labor for its protec.
ton and Advancement
We further protest against the uncallec
for and extreme bitterness of the ar.
raignment of the defendants by Justice
Wright as unparalleled in judicial pro,
| DA2dinR& In tina TnnFIQ nf nIR and W.
regard his action as a direct blow against
our individual liberties as workmen ana
against our labor unions. We condemn
the penalties imposed as unjust, unreason.
able and shockingly excessive.
notwithstanding Justice .Wright's denun'
oiatory opinion. we maintain that the trade
unions have BEEN, and are. based on 10y,
atty to the laws OF our courts, and we are
now, as We have been in the past, determ.
ined to resent any entertainments on ouI
rights as guaranteed by the constitution
Of our republic. We denounce government
BY Injunction. as sought to be enforced by
tional and void. We deny the right OF
courts TO issue. Injunction against officer:
or members OF labor organizations while
contending for their rights for alleged of,
lenses not committed In the presence Of
the court, without notice to the partie,
concerned. In seeking to bring about Z
condition in the injunction laws as inter
preted by the courts, we have no desire Il
attack property rights. They must be safe
guarded, but there are other rights tina.
should be regarded-the rights of man.
We can never agree that labor organisa
tionB are trusts. They are voluntary n
character and formed for the protection
advancement and general welfare of tn,
land. We concede the rights of Judges Il
punish for contempt offenses committed IL
the presence of the court. But we mos
emphatically deny the right Of any cour
to punish for offenseB committed not II
the presence or hearing OF the court, unless
the accused is afforded a trial by a Jury o.
his peers. This right. OF trial by Jury h
guaranteed to the humblest citizen by tn,
Constitution OF our fathers and we lnsis
on our full rights hereunder at all time
and places.
We demand OF congress a speedy enact
ment of a law commanding federal court
to change their procedure in contempt ant
injunction bcases so that notice shall b,
served on defendants In labor disputes AM
a jury trial afforded before punishment Il
inflicted.
We also demand that all cases OF con
tempt shall be heard and determined BY
judge other than the one issuing the writ
except when committed In the presence OF
hearing OF the court. We maintain that tn,
labor organization are for the bettermen
Of workers, and that men have a constltu
tional right to sen together in a peace
able manner to consult and take action 10
their common good.