The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-19

| tlon was approved by the officers of the district, or by the national executive board upon an appeal taken by aggreved members from the decision of the district officers. Any local union or local assem- ply striking in violation of the above pro- visions shall not be sustained or recog- nized by national office or officers.
 Sec. 2. Before final action is taken by any district upon questions that directly or indirectly affect the interests of the mine workers of another district that re- quires a strike to determine, or the pres ident and the secretary of the aggrived district shall prepare, sign and forward to the national president a written state ment, setting forth the grievance com plained of and the action contemplated by the district, together with the req sons therefor, and the national president shal within five days after receipt of such statement, either approve or disap- prove of the action contemplated by the aggrieved district, and such approval or disapproval with reasons therefor shall be made in writing, and copy forwarded to the secretary of the complaining dis trict Should the action contemplated by the aggreved district receive the approv- al of the national president, the district shall be free to act; but should the na- tional president disapprove the action contemplated the district may appeal to the national executive board which shall be convened to consider such appeal with in five days after it's receipt by the na- tional president, and until he has ap- proved or the national executive board has sustained the appeal, no district shall be free to enter upon strike, unless 1t shall have been ordered by a national convention.
 Sections 1 and ? of article were allow ed to remain the same. These sections have reference to finances. The amend ment to the constitution abolishing the December meeting was reported favorably upon by the committee, and 1t was adopt ed. Hereafter the miners will meet in June only. The terms of the officers in the future will extend from September 1 until August 31, the amendment providing for this having been accepted by the com mittee.
 That action of the constitution requiring three or more locals to make the nomina- tions for district officers remains intact. An effort to reduce it to two locals hay ing failed.
 The district executive board continues to have power to order a general suspen- sion at any time they might deem it necessary, with the consent of the national officers.
 Initiation Fee. | The convention voted to raise the initi- ation fee from s to $10, an amendment providing for this having been adopted. Hereafter ten minutes will be given the delegates to the convention to discuss matters coming before the body. Form erly this time was limited to five min utes. Before the scale committee reports the officers will be elected.
 | At noon the convention adjourned for | dinner.
 President Flynn called the last session | of the convention to order yesterday af- ternoon at 1:S5 o'clock. Delegate Kinna- mer announced the delegate from Piper would withdraw a resolution turned over | to the committee, providing that any membe- holding political or municipal office would not be eligible to office in the | United Mine Workers.
 The recommendation providing that all locals organized three months or over and are ordered on a strike or suspension | or lockouts of thirty days duration shall not receive any assistance from de- fense fund until thirty days was adopted.
 Amendments Adopted.
 The convention adopted this amendment | to the constitutions:
 1 ''All newly organized locals where mem- bers are discharged or locked out for or | ganizing or recognition of union, assis- i tance to them must be left to the dscre- tion of the district executive board" | The next amendment was one providing that sons of miners over the age of is shall pay the sum of s25O and receive full ! turn of the mines.
 l The recommendation of the local at Piper, that no man be elected check weighman who has not served more than one year as mine worker was not con- cured in by the committee. A com munication from Delegate John G. Smith, | stating that since Adam Stewart had de- | clined to serve on the district executive board the Sloss division had no represen- | tation on the board was read. No action was taken on this matter
 l The committee on amendments to the | constitution, composed of T. H. Tinney, | chairman; J. H. Orange. secretary; D. | B. Lamont, George Smotherman and c. T. Jones, having completed its work, was discharged with vote of thanks. | Delegate Hilton wanted to amend the preamble of the constitution. He was informed that the national organization would not permit that
 The following resolution from local No. 4s7 was presented to the convention: Resolved. That the locals in the dis | trict be instructed to vote for or against | the adoption of a flat basis or a sliding scale at the convention in June" l Mir Fairley took the floor to discuss the resolution. He said that he desired to | give the miners some advice. He said the time was near at hand when the en- | tire state will be on a sliding scale or on a flat basis; that two systems cannot be worked successfully. He thought the resolution was unwlse.
 | He said
 | Farley on Flat Scale. The times are against a flat scale. 1 Only few days ago I made the state ment to MT. McCreary of the Tennessee l company. the time was coming soon l when there would be but one working scale. This statement was made in the