The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-21
CONVENTION OF
 MINE WORKERS

1 Indianapolis, Ind, January 20-The twentieth annual convention of the United Mine Workers of America, which is in session in this city, heard today the reports of President Lewis, Vice ! President White. and Secretary Treas urer Ryan. After the recommendation of the committee on these reports has been submitted to the convention a factional dispute upon the reforms" advocated by the officers IS expected to occupy the tense attention of the dele gates for several days.
 In number of speeches made this afternoon unfavorable comment was made upon the decision of Judge l Wright sentencing to jail for violation of injunction Samuel Gompers, John Mitchell and Frank Morrison. Mitchell having been president of the miners union. and one of the most active of | labor union leaders. it is geneally un- derstood that financial assistance will be made in the convention to assist him in his further defense. He himself de- ' clared in letter that though he pre- sided over the convention which passed | the resolution putting the St. Louis stove company on the unfair list re- sulting in Judge Wrights ruling, he was in no wise personally responsible for the resolution and was not cog nizant of it's existence until after it was adopted
 Secretary Ryan, in his report having urged the organization of a labor party, and several other leaders being ad- vocates of this policy the matter is one of widespread among the delegates.
 Congressman w. B. Wilson of Pennsyl- vania addressed the convention this after noon when he reviewed the work of Con- gress along the lines of labor, and ad- vocated the election of more labor con- gressmen. He referred also at some length to the decision of Judge Wright in the Gompers-M Mitchell-M orrison case. He declared that the decision put a paddock on free press and free speech. His at titude was that the passage of the ob- jectionable unfair resolution and it's printing were all guaranteed by the con- stitution, which declared for free ex- preston.
 Congressman T. D. Nichols, president of the Scranton-W Wilkesbarre Anthracite dis trict of the United Mine Workers, will retire from this office, it is said, so that he may be able to make his residence in Washington.
 The sum of $407 500 was expended for relief of miners in the Alabama strike. which failed of its purpose, because the governor ordered the state militia to cut down the tents sheltering the miners evicted families and refused to permit the strikers to hold public meetings.
 Tt is worthy of your attention" con- tinued Mr Lewis, that in our joint con ferences there is a growing disposition on the part of operators to have penalty clauses inserted in the wage agreements The principal assigned is that if con- tracts are of any practical use there should be no strikes during tine life Of the contract We should adopt some method that demonstrates that we are sincere in our desire to respect the terms of the contract.
 At no time in the history of the coun- try have there been so many idle miners az during the past year. Under the cir cumstances it Is a matter of some satis- faction to be able to report that per capita tax was received at the national office for the month of December, 1908 on 274,946 members.