The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-15
UNITED MINE WORKERS OF ALA.
 DISTRICT IN ANNUAL CONVENTION
Continued from Fifth Pase)


 was held for the purpose of adjusting dif- ferences if possible. but we were unable to- accomplish anything. He contended that he held contract with the men which did not expire until next September and that he did not feel disposed to vio- late it. l told him that we would not agree for him to- have two contracts, one with non-union men and the other with United Mine Workers
 Virginia Mines.
 President Flynn reviewed the Virginia mines trouble. saying the miners were or ganzed there last June and they were immediately discharged An agreement was later reached to re-instate the men and pay on the Pratt scale. The company however, later decided to adopt the sub contract system, he said. They were ln- formed that the mine workers would not submit to this. We had a conference with the superintendent. he said. and he told us if the men would not submit to the system that he could get others who would
 q called a meeting of the men and they decided to suspend work until the sub contract system was abolished. They made an effort to have the men busted from office. Forty-seven members of the organization were arrested al one time but they were all later acquitted An in junction was granted petition of the company, restraining the members from doing most everything. We filed an an- swer through our attorneys asking that it be dissolved Thirteen men, including MT. Halier and myself, were arrested, charg- ed with violating the injunction. We were all acquitted except three, they being fined $25O each, for a technical contempt of court. We still have the situation in hand at Virginia mines however. It is 1,, erod Gcrnf la11t hp- lieve that we will win.
 President Flynn went over the Walker county trouble in detail saying that after an assault was made on two of the off, clais of the organization, the miners there seemed anxious to organize. He told of organizing locals at Horse Creek, at High Level, at America and at Drifton. "All of these loeals,' the report said, "are get ting along quite we'll"
 In concluding his report President Flynn said that "our organization is working very smoothly and I hope before many months to be able to say the district is clear of all strikes"
 Secretary Treasurer's Report.
 At 12 o'clock the convention adjourned for dinner. It reconvened at 1:S0 o'clock and the report of the secretary and treas urer was called for. It follows;
 Birmingham, Ala, Dec. 4, 1903. MT President and Gentlemen of the Sixth Annual Convention of District 20 United Mine Workers of America, Here Assem- bled-Fellow Miners:
 In accordance with the requirements and custom of our organization it affords me much pleasure in submitting a state ment of the financial transactions of the secretary -treasurer's office for your con sideration and inspection for the year ending November %, 1903
 The year that has just passed will be one that will long be remembered in the coal mining industry of Alabama, consid- ering the duration of the negotiations for settlement of prices and conditions be- tween the operators and our members.
 After weeks of suspense and strained relations the entire matter of prices and conditions of employment was submitted to arbitration and a possible strike was averted, and while the award may not have given entire satisfaction to either operators or miners, yet there is reason for qualification for what was accom- plished for our members in gaining two and half (21s) cents per ton and cor responding advance on day wages, nak- ing the highest wages ever paid in this district, also securing a semi-monthly payday, which, in our opinion. could not have been obtained by mutual agreement. Other matters embodied in the award have been referred to by the president and other officers. The amount of money expended for the arbitration would have been considered a small item in compari- son with the amount that it would have necessarily taken to support strike, had such been declared. The following is a statement of the cost of the arbitration to both operators and miners in full
 Statement of disbursements of R. H. Pearson and w. R. Fairley for arbitra- ton:
 By amount received. ...............$2 .$20 O00.0O To amount paid out
 Judge Gray .S4000.O0
 Local arbitrators. ........ S000O0
 Recorder .................... 10000