Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1909 — MINERS REBUKE THEIR PRESIDENT [ARTICLE]

MINERS REBUKE THEIR PRESIDENT

Convention Now Votes An* thority Was Exceeded. STILL COUNTING BALLOTS

No Report on Election of Vice President or Secretary-Treasurer—Lewis Declares That What Amounted to Short and Ugly Word Was Applied to Him and Threatens to Put Delegate Out of the Hall—Likelihood That Sessions Will Extend Into Another Week. Indianapolis, Feb. 5. —All efforts of the conservative element in the convention of the United Mine Workers of the United States and Canada to forward the business of the assembly by excluding from- its proceedings con troversy of personal nature between factional leaders seem futile. A resolution was adopted that all speakers on resolutions or motions must confine themselves strictly to the subject in hand, but nevertheless the day was one of turmoil. The Incident Closes. President Lewis charged Delegate Peter Quinn of Illinois, with having practically called him a liar. The par ticular matter under discussion was the administration of the strike in Alabama. Lewis declared that Quinn should have to modify his statement or he would have him put out of the convention hall. He said he “had stood for the insults of this man long enough.” The stenographic record of the debate was read, but the incident did not develop further. The convention adopted a resolu tlon to the effect that the national executive board had exceeded Its authority in suspending the officers of the Indiana district for having disobeyed an order that the miners should return to work In the Hudson mine pending the adjustment of the strike there. The committee on the constitution has yet to make Its report. It has tnany proposed amendments In hand, Gompers Is Mentioned. Samuel Gompers’ name was brought Into the discussion of the cause of the failure of the Alabama strike, and he was charged with having opposed the miners in the interest of the state authorities. This w r as In line with many unsubstantiated allegations that the union leaders had “played politics.” All these statements have been vigorously combatted, but efforts to keep personal dissension out of the formal discussion of the convention have been unavailing. It is possible the convention will continue into next week. The tellers were not able to even make a report of their count of the second ballot for vice president and secret ary-treasurer.