Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-22
He Says "0bstructionists" Are Only
Playing Into Hands of Operators.
CHANGE IN MEETING PLACE
Operators Are Asked to Come to
Indianapolis for Joint Session.
DEFINITE PLAN FOR MERGER
Special Committee is Appointed to
Draft Agreement for COnsid-
erRtiOn with Metal
Miners.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. H-At the
close Of today's session Of the convention
of the United Mine Workers of North
America the report Of the tellers of the
balloting for international officers was de-
clared to be final. Protests by the oppon-
ents OF Thomas J.. Lewis, reelected presl-
dent, that the votes of certain local unions
might be shown to be of questionable valid
ity were not pressed.
The new set of officers, which will take
charge of the administration on April l,
follows:
President-Thomas l.. Lewis Bridgeport,
Vice President-Frapk ]. Hayes. Spring
field Ill.
acknowledgements Perry. Oska-
loosa, Ia.
President Lewis, in accepting reelection,
declared that his political enemies within
the organization were succeeding only in
supplying ammunition to the operators,
whom the btuminous coal miners are to
meet on February TO negotiate a now
wage contract The "obstructionsts," he
said, by delaying the proceedings, were
piling useless expense upon the local unions,
which support the delegates in the conven-
ton.
1 Operators Asked to Indianapolis,
President Lewis opposed motion, put by
his rival in the election for the presidency,
William Green of Coshocton, o., that the
operators of the bitumlnous coal fields of
western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana
should be invited to come to Indianapolis
for the tri-state joint conference with the
miners instead Of meeting them at Toledo,
as arranged.
The motion, however, was carried and
the international officers and the presi-
state agreement, with the addition of the
Illinois district. were appointed a commit
tee to ask the operators to change the
meeting place to this city.
The report Of the tellers OF the baliotng
was read in the convention Of The orsanlza-
ton in this city today, but the anti-Lewis
party succeeded in postponing a vote on
its adoption until afternoon.
The convention was in 5tumult before
and after the report Insurgents" sup
\ porting William Green attempted to delay
' the report After noisy demonstrations on
both sides and cries of put him out"
directed against the speakers, 1t was de-
termlned to hear the report first and the
protests afterward.
After the report was read, Green de-
manded the vote by districts in the anthra-
cite region Of PENNSYLVANIA and district No.
n
only the totals and. in the uproar, the
Achairman adjourned the convention until
afternoon.
Alleged Spy rifles Convention.
A man of the name of Rivers of Alabama
stirred the convention of the United Mine
Workers OF American to a high pitch of
excitement today, though he was not pres
ent. II he had not left the city, President
Lewis said he probably would go now"
= for he was . secret agent of the oper-
ators Of Alabama"
"Kill himr' shouted a delegate.
There was a laugh at this but no laugh
when there were general cries of Throw
him outi"
"He has vamoosed." said President
Lewis.
w. r. Farley executive board member
for Alabama, said Rivers attended last
years convention as a delegate and had
with him deputy sheriff from Alabama
Kan officer that has no business in min
ers' meeting"
: Rivers was a member of the local union
at carbondale, Ala, before the great
, strike in that state, Farley said and since
then has heen, he declared, at intervals in
the employment of the operators OF the
state as a confidential agent
Definite Plan for Merger.
A definite plan for the projected merger
OF the organized metal and coal miners OF
the United States and Canada viii be laid
before the convention by a committee
representing the coal miners here as
sembled and visiting committee sent by
the metal miners OF the Western Fedora
ton OF Miners.
President Lewis OF the United Mine
Workers today named it's conference COM
mittee as follows: T. l.. Lewis, president;
John IL. Walker. district u: J. r. Lawson,
district 1b Il. s. Mccullough. district "a;
c. p. Gilday, district Z; Jacob Ritter. dis
trict 1S; Patrick Gllday, district q
The conference committee OF the Western
Federation Of Miners is follows:
Charles H. Meyer, president; c. e.
Mahoney, vice president; William David
son. executive board member; James
Devln. Daniel Holland, NJ ]. o'Connor
and ]. d. Cannon.
The two committee Immediately will take
up the work Of framing coalation con-
tract that will bring about either an
amaigamation. With one set OF interna-
tional Officers and one treasury. or an Of
fensive and defensive working agreement
that will yet permit the Independent exist
.snoe Of the metal and coal miners organl-
lations