The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-19
They VIII BE Points of Vantage for
the "strike at Any Cost" Faction
OF the Union.
ACTION OF OHIO MINERS
CONVENTION DEMANDED IN ORDER
TO FIGHT STRIKE SCHEME.
Buckeye State Diggers Opposed 10
Breaking Contracts-Views of
Pennsylvania Operators.

The call for special convention of the
United Mine Workers to be held in Indian
apolis, July II. for the purpose of consider
ing a general suspension Of work in the
coal mines of the United States was issued
by Secretary y-treasurer w B. Wilson yes
terday. The convention will perhaps be the
most important meeting ever held by la
boring men in this country Should IL vote
to suspend work about $4,000 men will be
directly affected. This. however. is a
comparatively low figure compared with
the number OF men who would be idle as
a result of the stoppage of the output OF
coal. The decision rests entirely with the
convention, and If the delegates get beyond
the control OF the officers a strike will be
declared. The fact that eight districts
where the miners are on strike or have 10
contracts and are working under unsatis-
factory conditions control almost enough
votes to order strike, gives greater ap-
prehension, because it is feared there are
enough dissatisfied miners in other dis
tricts to give the radicals a majority vote.
The margin that the conservative ele-
ment and the officers have is very narrow
the nearest calculation showing that those
in favor Of strike will have to secure but
SSNSuNS dhulllODdl votes TO order "A
pension Of work. Districts l. Z and Q COM
prising the anthracite field, have 747 votes
in the convention. The districts where the
miners are on strike or have no contracts
and are working under unsatisfactory con-
ditions are No. IA, Kansas. 30 votes; No.
S, Missouri. 40 votes; No. "A, Michigan,
2 votes; No. p, Arkansas and Indian Ter
ritory, 10 votes; No. II, Virginia and West
Virginia, q votes. The districts that are
working under contracts are Illinois, so
votes; Indiana: 20 votes; Ohio. 23O votes:
central Pennsylvania. $50 votes: western
pennsylvania, 100 votes; Iowa. 100 votes
These amount 10 l.030 votes representing
States that have contracts and 500 ,,oteS
representing States that have no contracts
or where miners are already on strike
The contract States have only I3S votes To
spare and those in favor OF a strike will
nave 10 influence only 10 10 get a majority
in addition to these districts Kentucky
with 40 votes, is a questionable State, and
condltlons there are not generally salts
factory. In Tennessee the miners have
been dissatisfied for several years but
their 20 votes may be classed as doubtful
Alabama is another State that is not cer-
tain either way. The miners will hold 2
Joint conference with the operators in that
State beginning Monday. Their scale ex-
plres July l, and the action Of the joint
convention will likely determine the policy
10 be pursued in the special national con-
vention. The State has 100 votes The
bOldl u NntSe QOuDttul states Is 40 votes
so the districts that are expected 10 vote
IN favor Of strike will have this num-
per 10 work on Tor majority besides the
hssatlshed element from the districts that
may not support them.
CONTRACTS MAY BE BROKEN.
Only the greatest diplomacy on the part
Of the officers will prevent delegates from
States that have contracts voting for a
strike. When the scale for the States in the
agreement was adjusted at the
Joint conference he'd in Indianapolis last
winter, there was much dissatisfaction ex-
pressed among the delegates over the set
tlement, which gave them no increase in
wages over the scale conceded two years
previous. The anthracite delegation came
10 the convention TO ask the support OF
he bituminous miners III they had to strike
10 the extent OF declaring a suspension OF
work In all the mines In the country. Tho
delegates were pursuaded TO
modify their request. but there were many
soft coal miners who would Ike 10 have
voted in favor Of the original proposition
All these things considered, the dissatisfied
miners working under the interstate agree
nent. the districts that are in doubt and
he small majority the striking districts
viii have TO overcome 10 control the con-
'ention. Indicate that a general suspension
II work throughout the United States is not
Il all improbable.
The call for the special convention sets
'ut nothing more than the specific reason
or which II IS called-to consider a general
suspension of work. II reads: Section I OF
Article OF the national constitution saws:
Special conventions shall be called by the
resident when so instructed by the execu-
i've board or at the request OF i've dis
ricts Districts Nos. l. I. 3, l. and "A have
equested the national president 10 call a
pecial convention and you are hereby notf-
ed that a special convention OF the United
Zine Workers OF America will be held in
Ind, commencing at 10 a m
thursday, July II. 1902. for the purpose OF
onsidering proposition for a general sus-
ension OF work by the coal miners OF the
'nited States In support OF the anthracite
iine workers who are now on strike" The
emainder OF the call explains the repreSen-
alton 10 which each local is entitled in tha/
and other matters OF detail. Thev~
all sent directly 20 each local union
here will be more than 1000 miners at the
OFFICERS ARE CONSERVATIVE
The general situation is very intricats
nd acute. presenting peculiar questions
hat will be hard 10 solve. The miners Of
Illinois. Indiana. Ohio and the bituminous
eld Of Pennsylvania work under yearly
greements entered into with the operators
these States in joint conference and re-
arded as centraets- The miners are not A