The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-12
MINERS UNION THREATENED.
Separate Organizations Befns
Formed by Each Company.

wILKESBARRE, Pa, Aug. 1.-The del
egates to the joint convention of the
United Mine Workers, who assemble in
Hazleton on Monday. will have an impor-
tant subject to discuss, which has not been
considered in the arrangements for the
convention. 1t is the formation of what
will be known as company unions, each
comprising only men employed by indi-
vidual companies.
The Hazleton convention, practically
called to determine that in order to live
the United Mine Workers Association
must make a desperate fight for recogni-
ton by the operators will find this new
thorn very big one. 1t promises at one
blow to do all that the United Mine Work.
ers SHOULD do to obtain the approval and
recognition OF the mine owners, and this
done there will be no occasion for the fur
Their existence of the larger organization
in the anthracite region.
For three years the mine workers have
been formed into locals and I'd Iists.v
until now some $4,000 mine workers be-
long to the ranks of the United Mine
Workers in the anthracite coal regions,
and the other 15,0G0 or 10000 are ready to
join as soon as they are convinced there
would be benefit in doing so. The present
members have been paying % cents a
month on the promise and expectation that
when the union was strong, it would be
able 30 obtain concessions from the opers-
tors to improve TIE condition Of the mirer.
The organization now numbers four-fifths
of the mine workers in the region. ard is
three years old. but il has done nothing. II
| has failed lamentabiy in the management
and settlement of several small strikes.
The operators, with one result in view,
have refused TO give hearings to the CON-
mittees sent to them
The miners were not long in seeing that
the union was not all it promised TO be,
and meanwhile the union strove hard to
obtain the footing which was so necessary,
recognition by the operators. 1t held con-
yentions and the operators were politely
urged TO be present and discuss matters.
No operators ever accepted. So the situa-
tion remains, and now the mine workers
are to endeayor to change it. For this
purpose the meeting in Hazletol next
week has been called. The delegates viii
decide whether the union shall demand
recognition, and upon the expected refusal
CT the operators whether to order a gem
eTal strike. The men feel taht il the
union desires to live this is the only thing
for it to do. Without recognition by the
operators it is absolutely without power,
except the power of ordering a strike,
and in this way fighting to bring the oper-
But while the officials OF the union have
been planning such fight. a number of
miners employed by the Delaware Lacka-
wanna and Western have been planning
what they claim Is a far better system.
They held a meeting a week ago and an
other one last night and the result Of
these is the starting of an organization in
which membership will be confined ex-
clusively to mine employees of the railroad.
They base this move on the oft-repeated
statement of the operators that they wsrs
always willing to discuss grievances with
their own employees. but wanted no out
side Interference. The Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western miners have redpel 70
benefits from their membership IN the
United Mine Workers. and now they b.
lieve that with their own orgsnizati ol.
owing to the promise Of the officials 20
treat with their own employees, they viii
reap the success the general organization
has failed to obtain. II is understood 100.
that the officials favor this company
union" There is he doubt that IL the
Lachawanna organization proves successful
the miners of tine other large COMPANIES,
the Lehigh Valley. Delaware and Hudson.
Lehigh and Wilkesbarre. Kingston. Sus-
quehanna, Pennsylvania Temple ZION and
Coal. William Connell & Co, the Parrish.
Storrs & Co., the Red Ash, will organize
similar unions. This will be the death of
the United Mine Workers
With all these separate organizations
complies. there is nothing to prevent them
consolidating under one head. which may
prove as efficient as the United Mine Work
ers' Association, II the operators we're 10
recognize it.