The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-19

States of Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and /
the Indian Territory.
For more than four years the operators
producing about two-thirds of all coal
mined In Missouri and Kansas and prac-
tically the entire output OF Arkansas and
the Indian Territory, had refused to enter
into cOntractual relations with our organiza-
ton and had repealed every effort we made
to adjust disputes by mediation, conference
or Cancellation. 1t is, therefore, particu-
larly gratifying to report the complete rec
ognitfon Of our union, a substantial increase
in wages and the establishment of the eight
hour day in that field. The agreement Sc
cured provides uniform scale for all
classes of inside and outside day labor, in
GLIDING engineers blacksmiths. firemen ana
carpenters; but what is of more Importance
is the fact that arrangements have been
made for future conferences, which promise
a long period of industrial peace to the min
ers and operators of these districts.
In the last annual convention held by the
miners and operators of the State or Ala
bama. a demand made ny the miners
for an advance I'm wages, and such change
In the conditions of employment as would
make them conform to conditions prevailing
in the central competitive coal field. me
operators declined to grant these demands
or make the desired concessions, and as a
consequence the conference adjourned with
out an agreement and a prolonged SuSpen-
sion of work seemed inevitable. 1t was
finally decided, however. to submit all ques-
lions at issue to a board of arbitration, or
which Judge Gray, who had been chairman
of the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission,
was referee. The award of this board gave
TO the miners a semi-monthly pay day, an
advance of 212 cents per ton on the mining
rate and corresponding increase for day
labor. 1t prohibited the employment OF boys
under fourteen years OF age, and mace
such regulations for the issuance and trans
Ter of store orders as removed an evil prac-
tfce which had, for many years, worked a
severe hardship upon our members in that
district.
I'm all other districts in which mining
prices have heretofore been regulated by
agreement, increased wages were secured
n hnT GGin oh a
in many instances wages have not advanced
in proportion to the increases secured in the
central competitive coal field on the whole
we have every reason TO feel fairly well
satisfied with the gains made during the
year 1903
GROWTH OF ORGANIZATION.
1T is a source of pleasure to me, as /
know it will be to you. that L am able to
report a substantial increase in our total
membership and the extension of our or
ganization into new and hitherto morgan
lied fields. Not only have grown
and expanded in the United States, but We
have crossed the international boundary
and firmly established ourselves in the Do
minion of Canada, a district organization
having been formed in the Fernie region Of
British COLUMBIA, which promises to in
crease i'm strength and solidarity and soon
to embrace within its jurisdiction every
mine worker in that field
Another organizat ton was formed in the
State OF Montana, and, although its charter
was granted less than one year ago, IL has
succeeded well that practically every
miner in that State has been enrolled under
its banner, and joint agreements have been
made with the operators.
AT the present time arrangements are
under way for the formation Of district
in the State Of Washington. where suf-
hcient number of local unions have been
instituted to guarantee self-SuStaining,
! progressive organization.
'.In order that You may have concise and
accurate Information concerning our
/ growth and membership during the past six
years. herewith submit a tabulated state
gregate membership for each year since /
have been officially connected with the
national organization:
"For the year 1897 the average paid-up
''For 1885 it was 90 9O2, an increase of 2s.1sl.
For 1899 it was 81, SS7, an Increase of 2,9S5.
For 1900 1t was 1882. an increase Of
5s.6S4.
FOR 1901 it was 1sS.o24, an increase of
S2,5Oa
'iFor 1903 it was 247,24O, an increase of
1.s73.
month of December each year as basis of
/ computation, our records show that for
\ December, 1898, the membership was 54lOJ.
For December, 1889, it was $1,000, an in
/ crease of $1,000.
For December 1900. it was IS. 800. an in
/ crease or $3.50.
"For December. 1901. it was 2S2 $50. an in
crease of A. 800.
Fer December. 1902 it was $4,000, de-
] crease of 81 1919.
For December. 1903. II was 2S7 545, an in
/ crease of 50, 455.
These figures do not include any of our
members who may be idle or on strike. and
| thus exonerated from the payment of dues.
/ You will, of course, understand that the
decrease in membership reported for the
year 1902 is accounted for by the fact that
| mine
| for five months of that year and were,
/ therefore. not required to pay dues.
| 'Duing the year 5l2 new local unions were
| organized, q reorganized. and 173 surren-
dered their charters. leaving a net gain OF
1856 We now have twenty-five so organized
/ districts and total OF 2,322 local unions
paid up and in good standing.
TALK OF STRIKES.
| 81 regret to report that during the past
year the mining industry has not been en-
tirely free from strikes, although they have
/ been extremely few in number in those dis
! tricts States in which union is firmly
established or where employers have recog-
nized our representatives and entered into
contractual relations with And in no
instance has strike taken place in adj
vance of which we have not made over
I lures for peace ard exhausted every con-
I ciliatory measure at our command.
In the States of Colorado and Utah and
the Territory OF New Mexico both union
]
/ to endure the hardships and impositions
/ incident 10 their employment. and falling TO
I obtain relief even a hearing from the
| representatives of the coal operators who
| .ontrOl production I'm these States were
/ compelled 10 seek through a strike that re-
/ dress which was denied them in their over
lures and appeals prior TO its inauguration
The strike in District Is has been and Is a
source of heavy expense to our organiza-
ton. but our people are standing firm, and
much as we desire an amicable and hon
Orable settlement. the uncOmpromising at
titude of the companies leaves choice
but to continue the contest until fair terms
of settlement are reached or our people go
down in defeat.
Shortly prior TO the first day OF last
April the operators of the Meyersdale dis
trict OF Pennsylvania posted notices at
their mines informing their employees that,
beginning with April /, an advance i'm
wages amounting TO 10 cents a ton would
be paid. with a corresponding advance for
day labor and dead work. The miners, be-
ueVing the companies To be acting i'm good
| faith and feeling assured that the increased
rates would continue in force throughout
the scale year. remained at work; but TO
their surprise, they received notice on the
first day OF December that on the 18th of
that month wages would be reduced 10
cents per ton. When the companies at
tempted TO enforce this uncalled-for reduc-
ton the mine workers. with the consent
and by the instruction OF the national and