Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1902 — MITCHELL CALLS CONVENTION. [ARTICLE]

MITCHELL CALLS CONVENTION.

Question of General Strike Will Be Settled at the Meeting. Under direction of ' President John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers of America the long-expected call for a special national convention of mine workers was issued Wednesday by SecretaryTreasurer Wilson. The convention will be held in Indianapolis July 17, and will determine whether the soft-coal miners of the conntry shall go out on strike to assist the striking anthracite miners of Pennsylvania. Much depends on the miners of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, who will cut a prominent figure in the convention. The basis of the apportionment of delegates to the convention is one for every 100 members of the local union or fraction over fifty. This will make a convention of 1,000 delegates. The voting strength of all locals is between 2,300 and 2,400. Of this the convention will have a voting strength of from 1,700 to 1,800. A bare majority can order a strike. The anthracite regions cast 747 votes, Virginia and Michigan, which joined in the call for the convention, have fifty-two, making 799 votes from those five districts which united to call the convention. As stated at the headquarters conditions are not satisfactory to miners In Missouri, Kansas. Arkansas and Indian Territory, and it is believed the delegates from those sections will vote for a strike. The miners of Ohio are understood to be opposed to a strike, while those of Illinois, Indiana and lowa are in doubt. The formal call for the convention details at length what unions are empowered to send delegates, the number of delegates to be sent, the method to be pursued in choosing them, etc.