The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-12
TO FURTHER ORGANIZATION.
Principal Business of the Mine Work
ers' Convention.

One of the important subjects. and per-
haps the principal one that will come be-
fore the United Mine Workers convention
that will meet IN this city on Jan. q. will
be organization. The purpose of organi-
cation is tw~o-fold-frst. to benefit the min
ers. and, second. TO benefit the coal oper-
ators. The miners will be benefited by ex-
tending its Jurisdiction over fields not or
ganized. thus bringing about a more uni
form scale OF wages. which prevents nom
union firms from underselling union oper-
ators. 1t isras important TO the miners
as to the operators TO eliminate the harm
full competition.
Since the anthracite strike the mine work
ers have turned their attention to organi-
zation. Organizers have been sent TO fields
not in the interstate agreement with the
union and they have met with very good
success. The result of this campaigning
will likely be shown in the coming conven-
ton, for it is understood representatives
of these outside States will be present and
may ask for admittance. Indiana, Ohio,
Illinois and Pennsylvania are the four
States In the agreement. The operators of
these States meet with the miners once a
year and adjust a wage scale. This method
of doing business has diminished strikes
In the coal fields in these States, besides
giving a material increase in the wages OF
employees.
The agreement has been highly satisfac-
tory TO miners and operators, but other
States are now becoming competitors that
were not heretofore recognized as inter
fering with the market price of coal. Mich
igan, West Virginia and Iowa have become
effective competitors. Iowa is fairly well
organized; Lii, higan is obtaining represent
tation in the union, but West Virginia is
the State of contention. West Virginia Is
considered, perhaps; the most promising
coal field I'm the United States and special
attention is being paid to that State. The
condition of the miners in that State
is said TO be deplorable. The strikes they
have experienced there were brought on
by the men themselves, and when this
condition exists, the union officials say. IL
is very bad. Ever since the anthracite
strike a delegation of organizers has been
working in West Virginia, and the report
that they will bring TO the convention is
looked forward to with expectancy. What
has not been done In organization is made
up for in Information gained Of the condi-
tions and possibilities of furthering the in
terests of the union.
The operators of West Virginia nave
been shipping coal into the markets of the
operators in the interstate agreement, and
pay the union scale. When that State is
organized they cannot carry on a harmful
competition with the operators in the West.
and it is on the United Mine Workers that
the interstate operators are depending to
remove the competition.
A strong effort was made at the conven-
ton last year to bring Iowa into the agree
ment, but ii failed. Michigan delegates
were also here looking for recognition. No
trouble is anticipated when il comes TO
bringing these States into the agreement,
but a fight is expected with the West Vir-
ginia operators.