The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-04
MINERS DESIRE
FAIR SHOWING
Claim the Right to Select Rep
rGseRtatiVes as They Please
BOTH ON AN EQUAL FOOTING
In Signed Statements Both Sides to the
New Dispute In the Coal Regions
Explain Their Posltlon--caIl
for Convention.

Wilkesbarre. Pa. June S--At the morn
ing session of the three anthracite boards
of the United Mine workers' union. there
was little done outside OF outlining plans
as to what course was best to pursue.
This afternoon they met again, when they
decided to hold a joint convention of
miners at Pottsvil1e on June 1S. for the
purpose of determining whether or not a
general suspension OF work shall be de-
clared.
They were in session up to O'clock and
no statement was made by them outside
of the bare announcement Of the decision
to hold Joint convention.
When District President Fahy, the
chairman of the miners representatives
on the conciliation board was shown the
statement tonight of the operators MEM
bers of that board, he made the following
statement to the Associated Press:
No Meeting Of stockholders.
There was no meeting of the stock
holders of the coal coAnpanies called for
the purpose of appointing the operaAor~'
side of the conciliation board, but the
representative of tho stockholders. the
officials of the company met and selected
their representatives. Tho mine workers
selected their members not by calling a
meeting Of all their members of stock
holders but by their organization through
their representatives as empowered by the
rules and regulations OF their organiza-
tion, which does exist. and as provided
by the award Of the coal strike commits
sion. We raise no question as to the
manner in which the operators selected
their representatives, and we at least
hoped for the same treatment at their
hands. Our understanding is that miners
and operators shall stand on equal foot.
Ing In every way on the board of concilia-
| tom
Presidents Statement.
The following signed statement was
| given the Associated Fress this afternoon
J as the presidents side OF the controversy
caused by the refused Of the operators
representatives on the conciliation board
to accept the representatives of the Unit
ed Mine Workers:
Referring to the OFFICIAL announce
ments Of the reports OF the United Mine
Workers of America as given In this
mornings press, the conteution OF tho
operators representatives elected TO tho
board Of conciliation is that the recogni-
tion of the United Mine Workers II
America was not one OF the questions
submitted to the commission for decision:
that Mr. Mitchell admitted this by ap-
pearing before the commission simply as
a representative OF the anthracite work
ers; that the award of the commission
specifically asserted that the recognition
of the United Mine Workers of America,
as at present constituted, was inadvisa-
BILE; that award No. providing for the
board of Cancellation lays down certain
rules for the appointment of members OF
said board.
THE representatives of the operators
have been appointed strictly within the
terms Of said award, and there Is no OBJ
| lection on their part to cordially accept
| ing Messrs Nichols. Dettrey and Fahy
as the representatives Of the miners, pro-
| viding they are elected by a majority of
the mine workers as specified in the
award of the commission The objection
| Is solely against their appearing as the
Mine Workers of America, appointed by
an executive committee. without authors
| ty for such appointment.
'The operators representatives feel
that it is highly important that the for
nation OF the board of conciliation be ac-
cepted by both interested parties aa
strictly In accordance with the award Of
| the commission in order that It's ruling
may be received without question, and
| not be open to the criticism of having
| been made by a board not fully qualified
to act
wv L. CONELL
''R c. LUTHER,