The Topeka state journal., 1909-01-28
To Organize an Independents
Political Party.
TWO FACTIONS UNITE.
Socialists and Conservatives
Join in Opposition.
Resolution FaVOring Govern
ment Ownership Is Defeated.
Lewis Is Again Elected Presi-
dent by Big Majority.

indianapolis. Ind. Jan. 2s.-The con-
ventton of United Mine Workers todav
ADOPTED resolution demanding release
or Jan PoUren in addition to thar OF
Christian Rudowfcz. Russian refugees
IN this country, whose cases have been
considered lately on extradition nro-
ceedtngs on the part OF the Russian,
government The miners demand rhe
release of such prisoners because no
httcal refugees Of all other countries
cast their eyes upon this as an asylum
for the oppressed"
The resolution further demands -4rba
aorogat1on Of the treaty which pro-
VloeS for the extraditfou Of persons
charged with offenses against a nation
Wnere persons so charged are not to
De tried by a jury OF their peers
Ihls resolution Is intended also %
apply to Mexican refugees fleeing
across the Rio Grande to escape prose-
cutiou resulting from labor troubles in
that country.
Another effort made this morning to
put the convention on record as favor
ing the institution Of an independents
labor party failed This and Similar
measures have come from unions that
are not sOcialistic in their views bu-
nevertheless feel that as neither Of the
Old parties will take action on the part
Of the Iaborfng classes as against the
capitalIsttc classes. there should be or
gantzed new party for this purpose
Opposed by Socialists.
The Socialists. of whom there are
about 800 in the convention. oppose this
policy as gouistfc to their already
Stablished party. but the overpower-
ing influence against the new party has
been exercised by the conservatives
led by such men as Congressman ".
B. Wilson of Pennsylvania, who ex-
pressed the opinion that until the labor
factor IN society in this country Is
strong enough in the conviction to
stand alone its best advantage Is to be
derived from putting upon first one and
then the other Of the old parties the
force Of union labor influence for IeKis-
Iatfon for its benefit
A resolution recommending that the
union miners should be active in uoif-.
tics and try to have elected in the state
legislatures and to congress men whose
sympathies are publicly known to be
with the working class was en-
Enthusiastically adopted
While care is taken by the miners
leaders that the organization shall not
a resolution for government ownership
Of coal mines has been defeated. never
theless the Socialists have been success
fuI in putting through a resolution rec
onnrnending public ownership OF the
wealth producing agencies OF the c0un-
try which are now in control OF the
predatory rich" and that there should
be a social reorganization to the com
munity. This resolution was adopted
without a dissenting vote.
Big Majority for Lewis
Indianapolis, Ind, Jan 2S.-It Is
authorftativeTy 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
reelected by a majority Of between
15O0o and 10000 over his opponent,
John Walker Of Illinois