The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-23
United Mine Workers and Oper-
 atOrs' Assn Meet Together
AN EXHAUSTIVE DISCUSSION
Miners Want 7Ia Gents Advance and Operators Ask for 7La Gents Re- duction on Minlmum-Falr-
 ley and Bush Speak.

The joint scale convention of the United Mine Workers and the Coal Operators association met in Fox's hall yesterday. The operators submitted a proposition for scale for the ensuing twelve months the chief feature of which was a reduc- ton of the minimum wage for cutting coal to S71hc a ton. The minimum Is now 45c. The miners then submitted a propo- sltion which included a demand of 71ac advance in both the minimum and maxi mum. The maximum is now b5c. The min CTS also renewed their demand for an eight-hour day and a semi-monthly pay day.
 During the day ". R. Farley, member of the executive committee of the U. M W. of America, made two speeches and Col. T. G. Bush, president of the Ala bama Consolidated Coal and Iron com pany. made two speeches. The discussions of these two representative men were characterized by the best of humor and courtesy and were listened to with close attention by both sides. President John Mitchell of the U. M. w., who was to have been here yesterday to address the convention, did not arrive.
 Just before adjournment in the after noon a joint scale committee was ap- pointed, and this committee will hold the first working session this morning at 10 o'clock.
 The present scale will expire June 30 and 1t Is believed the joint committee will take until then to make report While some of the miners and operators are in- clined to believe that 1t will be the middle or last of July before a scale will be signed, others say that if there Is any suspension of work at all 1t will not amount to more than Fourth of July week holiday
 Miners Hold Session.
 The United Mine Workers convention. which adjourned last Thursday until to- day, was called to order at 10 a. m. by District President Ed Flynn.
 The first business to come before the meeting was a communication read by President Flynn from the mine workers at
 
 complained that grievance had been pre- sented by delegates from another mine which placed them in false position, both as to the district and the mine owners. The whole matter of this alleged griev- ance was reported in The Age-Herald of June IS and was in the form of a commu- nication presented by Pat Clancy from the nnines at IuciIaand rra ahaad ,,,tra. aat ing that the miners In the employ of the Galloway Coal company at Henderson. Bibb county. were afraid to hold meet ings of their local on the ground that they would be discharged. The following let ter from the Galloway company was read by President Flynn:
 Henderson, Ala, June IS. 1903. Henderson Local No. 153l, United Mine Workers of America:
 Gentlemen-This Is to certify that R. Galloway, trustee, does and will reeog- nize the U. M W. of A., AS do other operators in this district, and is willing to collect dues and furnish a meeting place for local meetings as we have done before. Respectfully.
 R. GALLOWAY. Trustee. by w. H. Penhale, superintendent.
 
 allegations of the grievance presented to the committee was also read, and after some discussion the incident was declared closed.
 Secretary Ciemo then read the following letter from John Mitchell, president of the United Mine Workers of America:
 Letter From Mitchell.
 Office of President,
 United Mine Workers of America,
 Indianapolis Ind, June 20, 1903. Mir. J. L. Clemo, Secretary District No. 20, U. M. W. of A, Birmingham, Ala: Dear Sir and Brother-I am in receipt of letter from Organizer Hallier inform ing me that you have had a very har- monious and successful convention. I am much gratfed to learn this. I trust that the coming joint conference may be equally satisfactory.
 I regret deeply to say that I shall be unable to reach the joint meeting. have just returned from the anthracite field. I am much fatlgued from the work there. and I find a large amount of important work awaiting my attention. I had for sometime been looking forward to a visit to Alabama, and 1t Is keen dlsappoint- ment to me not to be able to come. I am. with personal good wishes to yourself and President Flynn. yours truly, JOHN MITCHELL.
 President U. M. W. of A.
 Wait on Operators.
 A committee. consisting of William Kirkpatrick of Pratt City. J. H. Orange of Sayerton and Alex Gilmore (col- ored) of Coalburg. was appointed by President Flynn to wait upon the oper- ators and inform them that the miners were ready to meet them in joint ses- sion The committee went to the meet ing of the operators at the Commercial