Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-01-17
THE UNITED MINE WORKERS.
A Resolution Adopted Advancing the
Pay Of Mine LabOrerS
In Proportion to the Advance De-
manded for Miners-A Differen-
tial Demanded for Certain Ohio
Sections Michael D. Ratchford
Elected President by an Over
whelmlng Majority.

Special to the Register.
Columbus, Ohio, January 16.-The
United Mine Workers of America to-
day adopted the following:
Resolved, That the wages Of all day
labor advance in proportion to the
mining rate.
Resolved, That the Jackson, Massil-
Ion. Coshocton, Carroll, Tuscarawas
and No. 6 vein of Columbiana county
demand nine cents per ton differential
over the Hooking Valley.
The resolution was amended by strik-
ing out Tuscarawas and Carroll coun-
ties. and the words other low coal
fields" inserted.
Resolved, That the above scale &c
into effect February l.
The rules were suspended and the
convention proceeded to the election OF
officers for the ensuing year.
The following were the nominations
for President:
NJ. d. Ratchford. Ohio; Patrick Nc
Bryde. Pennsylvania; Alexander John
son, Ohio.
The ballot resulted as follows:
Ratchford 1923, McBryde AZ, Johnson 2.
Mr.. Ratchford was declared elected.
Vice President nominations were:
John Kane Indiana; James O'Connor
Illinois: John Fahey, Ohio; w. c.
Webb, Kentucky; Fred Dicher, Ohio,
having withdrawn his name. The bal
lot resulted as follows: Kane 100
O'Connor 10. Fahey 2. Webb So.
The rules were suspended and w. c.
Pearce was reelected Secretary by ac-
clamatiOn.
The executive board chosen is: J. H.
Kennedy, Indiana; r. L. Davis, Ohio;
Patrick Dolan, Pennsylvania; Fred
Dilcher. Ohio; Henry Stephenson, West
Virginia; James Carson, Illinois
p. McBryde w. c. Webb and Cam
eron Miller were elected delegates TO
the next Federation of Labor National
Convention. The next national min
ers' convention IS to be held in Column
bus.
Forty dollars were voted to aid the
defense of J. NJ. Matheny, charged with
having burned a hopper. He claims
to be innocent. The speakers con-
demned the crime, but held that Math-
eny ought to be helped to show his
innocence. if innocent.
The United Mine Workers pulled out
of a tangle at midnight and adjourned
sine die
Just before the afternoon adjourn
ment the delegates were surprised by
the announcement that the operators
had refused TO meet them in joint con-
ference next Monday according to ar
rangement. The refusal of the Oper-
atOrs was due 10 the action of the con-
ventiOn in prohibiting district officials
from making wage contracts with the
operators. The convention found it
self i'm the position of having unwit-
tingly forced a strike upon the miners,
and a committee was appointed to re-
port a plan which would bring order
out Of chaos. The entire night up to
y o'clock was spent in discussing the
report of the committee which was fin
ally adopted. First the demand Of the
convention that the new scale Of prices
go into effect February / was recinded.
Second. the resolution prohibiting set
Elements by districts was recinded. and
the entire matter of prices was placed
i'm the hands of the district presidents
and the national executive board. This
resolution was adopted in the first
place against the earnest protests of
every official of the order. Third, it
was decided to use every effort to Sc
cure an advance in the mining rate
from De Armitt, of the Pittsburg dis
triCt