The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-28
MINERS IN A ROW
FRACTIONAL DISPUTE ON FLOOR or
 CONVENTION.
Presiaest Lewis Deneunces state- nent Abost Internntiensl 0rEan- ixers to He Untrue--Ecnderses
 Waterways Projects.

Indianapolis, Jan. 27.-At the open ing of ,today's session of the conven- tion of the United Mine Workers of America. Vice. President Harrington of the Illinois miners. demanded, to know from National President Lewis wheth- or not the national organizers pres ent as delegates from local unions were being paid from the national treasury.
 President Lewis declared that Far rington was out of order and pound- ing on the table with the gavei. tried to shut -on Harrington. The conven- tion was aroused and when Harrington tried to complete his speech the dele- gates began to yell, "Sit down and Go ahead.''
 When order was restored Lewis said that Harrington was out of order be- cause tfie order of business under which that matter would come up, had not been reached He declared in most positive terms that when the time came the question would be fnlly ex- plained.
 Lewis said with much vehemence that before the matter of the pay Of organ ixers came up. that Harrington himself was charged with some acts, reterrine to some charges against Lewis that he would first have to answer to the scorr- 1entlon for. 4rn
 Francis Feehan, one of the anti Lewis faction leaders, demanded of Lewis what he meant by his declara- ton that he had not departed from the previous policy of the organization in regard to the pay of international or xanizerss Lewis insisted that Feehan also was out of order.
 He declared. in. answering Feehan. that in the past when John Mitchell wanted to bring International organ izers to. headquarters he brought them. indicating that he also paid them out of the, ,inteFnationai treasury,
 By this time the conyeption was in a heated condition and John Walker se- cured the floor and. assailed Ihe policy of seating the internatiohaI organizers.
 He declared that with the exception of the organizers, all of the delegates seated in the convention had been elected by the mem bership of the union while he charged "the international organizers were appointed by eyoufs' referring to Lewis. sssfe ts r
 Lewis was on his feet in an instant.
 That is not true; MT. Walker does not know what he. is talking about in that statement" he exclaimed.
 He again rapped the organization in- to semblance of order.
 Burlington again rose and began walking the aisle toward the stage. declaring that as a matter of personal privilege he desired to reply to Lewls's statement.
 Welding the gayel vigorously. Lewis took additional steps to maintain orr der. He ordered the six sergeants-at- arms to their stations.
 Further trouble, however. was4 pre- vented by Lewis calling for the Reso- lutionS Committee
 The convention adopted a resolution calling on Congress to create a bureau of mines. S
 It also declared in favor of rivers and harkprs improvement and the creation of adeep waterway between the Lakes and the Gulf.
 In the afternoon. there was a long discussion over resolution purportine to commit the organization to politi- cal party. In this instance. 1t was proposed that the convention should ap. prove. the Institution of an independe nt labor party.
 Several delegates. among them con Eressman W. B wilson, stated that in their opinion this country was not ready for a labor party, such as ex- tsted in England and on the continent.
 The socialists. opposed the resolution because it ignored the existence of their party.
 The resolution / was defeated by a large majority.
 Another resolution decfaring Tor pub lie ownership of the means of product ion of wealth was adopted unanimous. ly.
 A resolution that operators of mines should be held responsible in State courts for loss sustained by miners families resulting from fatalities in mine explosion. was referred to the national board of the organization to be submitted to State organizations.
 A resolution recommending old age pensions was killed.