The age-herald., 1901-07-03
The Resolution to Sign Was Passed by a Vote of
 155 to 20
SENSATION IN CONVENTION
Resolution Was Passed Asking With draWal of Trade by Miners from City of Birmingham on Account
 of Alleged Discourtesies.

The contract for the coming year was signed by the committees of the miners and coal operators yesterday afternoon at joint meeting held at o'clock for that purpose. The miners will return to their work today, and the present scale will be the basis for their wages
 The resolution endorsing the action of the convention of last week and calling for the signing of the contract on last years basis was passed by vote of 155 to 20, seven delegates not voting After the vote on the question was taken committee was sent to notify the opera tors of the decision and request the con- mttee to sign the contract
 While this committee was out to mo- tify the operators a sensation was created within the hall by a speech from President Flynn. followed by a motion from delegate, with reference to boy cotting the merchants of the, city on &C., count of alleged discourtesies received from the clubs and boards representing the interests of the merchants
 President Flynn Talks.
 President Flynn spoke in very plain words of the alleged lack of courtesy shown the convention and complained of the failure of the city to furnish hall for the meetings This speech was re- ceived with applause, and was followed by a motion for the miners to withdraw their trade from the merchants of Bir- mingham for at least one year.
 This motion was followed by another motion to boycott certain named mer- chants of the city against whom the dele- gate making the motion said the miners had grievances This motion was de- cIared out of order and was followed fy a discussion regarding the prevoius motion.
 William Fairley, member of the national convention and one of the most proml- nent miners of the district, made talk against the motion, referring to the kind acts of the Birmingham merchants during the miners troubles seven years ago. He said that even if the Board of Trade, the Commercial Club and Elks had not ten- dered the miners such courtesies as they should have given. the merchants of the entire city should not be blamed for the acts.
 MT. Fairley referred feelingly to the fact that he was an Elk, but stated he was especially loyal to that organization rep resenting the interests from which he se- cured his living and by which he sup ported his family. He advocated the idea that If any one should suffer for the dis courtesies, let 1t be the three organiza- tions and not the merchants in general. He said, change the resolution from the merchants to the three organizations, cen surfing the latter. Then he would favor it.
 This talk was followed by other speak CTS, the majority of whom were in favor of the resolution calling for the with drawal of the miners trade from the city of Birmingham. vote on this was called, and the resolution was passed, with an amendment that the ban will be withdrawn as soon as proper apology is rendered.
 After the resolution was declared passed by a large majority announcement was made that the operators were present and ready for the signing of the contract for the coming year. The operators were in- vited into the room, and resolution to sign the contract and adjourn the con- ventfon sine die was carried by a large majority.
 The convention was declared adjourned and the signing of the contracts by the joint scale committee followed.
 The Contract.
 The contract which has been in opera tion during the past twelve months and is to be continued provides the following wage scale, Pratt basis:
 Forty-fve cents per ton minimum when pig iron sells f. O. b. furnaces at sS per ton, and for every 50 cents advance in the selling price of pig there shall be an advance of 2a cents per ton on coal min ing, until the price Is 50 cents per ton with iron at s9 per ton, when there shall be an advance of PIE cents per ton for every s1 advance in pig iron until 55 cents per ton has been reached for mining With iron at $11 per ton. The maximum price for mining Is 55 cents.
 The Blue Creek differential is 7R cents below the Pratt basis.
 The Warrior differential is 12k cents above the Pratt basis.
 The Blocton differential Is 2h cents above the Pratt basis when coal Is under 4 feet and over 8 feet inches
 The Pratt basis increases as the size of the coal decreases, 21s cents advance being noted for feet 2 inches and under and cents for feet and under.
 A number of other places in the dis trict have a differential, the size of the coal and the condition of seam.
 The new clause added to the scale pro- vides for the settlement of all new con- ditions by a board of arbitration. MERCHANTS SAY THEY