The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-30
ANTHRACITE MINERS ACT
RESOLVE TO CONTINUE THE UNION
CARD INSPECTION SYSTEM.
Also Empower Omcers to Declare a
Strike III Contracts Are Vfo-
lated by Employers.

HAZLETON. Pa. Aug. Witt the
adoption of the report of the on
resolutions the United Mine Workers this
afternoon practically finished their work.
The convention will adjourn at noon to-
morrow. The resolutions recommend writ
ten instead of verbal agreements with all
the coal companies, strict compliance with
the present contract, continuation OF the
car inspection system as now conducted,
and instructs President Mitchell and the
district presidents to confer with the coal
companies regarding card inspection and
violation of agreements and 70 arrange for
a joint conference. These officers are vested
with power to declare a strike II contracts
now i'm force are not lived up to.
The resolutions call attention 10 the adj
vantage resulting to both miners and oper-
ators by a written contract covering the
wage rate for a stated period and speci-
tying the conditions of labor. The com
mittee allege that instead of agreeing to
the request for a written agreement the
various companies posted notices OF an
indefinite character. In many instances
the resolutions state that written notices
posted and verbal agreements made by
superintendent with committees have
been violated under various pretexts. EN-
ployes who derived the benefit of the 10
per cent. increase have, IL is claimed, been
discharged and new men placed in their
pOSlliOIS at lht Nv Wd6tF. liz tOtnlilllltt
states i'm the resolutions that If the miners
are required 10 live W TO their agree
ment then the coal companies should do
likewise, instead OF seeking TO destroy the
Mine Workers organization by intimidat-
ing the men. Hereafter, the miners will
insist upon written agreements, which shall
be signed in joint convention before the
present contract expires. and they will
also insist upon the present working card
being continued until the question OF a gen
eral working badge for the bituminous and
anthracite regions is decided upon at the
next national convention. TIL following
recommendations are made:
THAT the unions continue to collect the
working card of the union and use all hon.
orable means to induce those who are not
yet members to become such; that a COM
mittee of the national and district presi-
dents be instructed to proceed to the high
est authorities of the coal companies and
to endeavor to overcome their objections
to the inspection Of working cards. to call
their attention To the many violations OF
contracts by their agents I'm the coal fields
and insist on the contracts being lived up
TO. and to make such preparations for a
joint convention OF operators and miners.
to be held before the first of April next. as
they possibly can. This shall
have discretionary powers i'm the enforce
ment OF the contracts now existing even to
the extent of ordering "A suspension OF work
for the purpose of enforcing it,"
The question of the miners connecting
themselves with Central Labor Unions was
referred to the respective districts.
National President Mitchell and the three
district president were constituted a special
committee to whom has been referred the
grievance of the Delaware a. Hudson men
I'm the Scranton district, with respect to
the laying OF roads I'm their workings.