The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-15

the district organizations, or to the local
union, and consequently there was no
record in the district of the increase in
membership.
@. Yes. What methods do YOU adopt to
prevent interference of non-union men
where union and non-union me are work
ing in the same operation? A. Well or
dinariy, in the bituminous fields all the
mine workers in the states where they
have contracts are members Of the Or
ganZatiOn. In parts of Central Penn
sylvania, Western Pennsylvania. they
are not. They work together in har.
mony. There is no difficulty between
them. The organization tries by perslia-
sion to have the non-unionists come into
the organization. In the anthracite fields
they work the same way. Q. There Is
aO definite method of preventing inter-
ference" A. Nothing has been done on
that subject particularly A. There Is
generally no interference and consequent
~ no necessity of having laws TO prevent
il. Q. Now, you know there have been
a good many resolutions on that subject
IN the anthracite region. do you not. A.
Yes, | krow there have been resolutions
adopted IN the anthracite field O. Let
me read YOU Il few. ] read what pur-
ports to be an extract from the proceed
ings of convention of District No. J.
United Mine Workers OF America. Jan
uary l4th, 18th and 18th, 1901, at Edwards
vile. LuZelne county. Pennsylvania. 1t
reads as follows: Regularly moved and
seconded, that it becomes compulsory on
the men of any mine employed In and
around the mines to become Il member
OF the United Mine Workers Of America
Carried
c. Have you any knowledge about that
A. / have no knowledge of it: | vas not
~ 4
of ii, have YOU not? A. ! have not neard
specially of that resolution, ] have
heard of various resolutions of that
character.
q. What action have YOU taken about
them: anything? A. They We're never en-
forced that I ever know of. They We're
passed for the purpose of preventing the
companies from discharging men because
they belonged to the union. The COM
panies had at various places adopted a
policy of opposition to the organization
and the members Of the organiza tion,
fearing that they would all he discharged
or driven from the union adopted reso'
lutions of that character to protect
themselves.
Q. With the idea that If they adopted
n resolution of that kind the companies
A. That the companies would cease their
hostility to the men that belonged to the
union for belonging TO it. Q. Eor the
reason that they would think that II
they discharged any union men there
would be strike2 Or how was 1t TO
work? A. 1t was simply Intended to give
the men the right TO protect themselves
against discharge on account of mem
hership in the union. AT least that is
my information from those who are
more familiar with it than | am. @,
That Is, by making everybody join the
union? A. / do not think they ever did
do that Q. That was the purpose of
their resolution. was it not? A. 1t was
the hope that II would induce everybody
to come into ii, but primarily for the
purpose of protecting the men who were
i'm it, Q. Insisting upon everybody else
Joining IL: that was it, was 1t not? A,
The resolution, of course, speaks for IL
self As for its purpose, | have tried 10
explain that as / understand II.
O. Now, let me cali you attention to
the proceedings of the Shamokin con-
vention, March Is to a. 1902; Proceed
ings of the joint convention of Districts
No 1, and q of the United Mine Work
ers of America, March Is TO "a, 1902, Sha-
mokln, PENNSYLVANIA" You We're AT that
convention, were you not, and presided
O (Readins). Resolution No, 4 10 the
officers and delegates of the convention,
assembled: Brothers-Having from past
experience proved that the notices posted
by the operators at the different col
lierIes are only bluff, and that the
operators have not lived up to the spirit
of such notices i'm settling local differ
ences with the committees chosen TO set
tie such differences: therefore, be it re-
solved. that we demand recognition OF
the union as the only means of adjusting
such grievances. The committee (on re-
solutionsJ concurs in the above resolu-
ton. Moved We concur In the report OF
the committee. Motion carried. Resou-
ton signed by James Walters, President
William Cook, secretary. Local No. S9e."
Was that passed by the Shamokin con-
yention. A. | do not remember. IL II
was, the minutes will show II, II you are