Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-11
National Convention Advises
Mine Workers Unions to
Accept Reduction
PRESENT ISSUE NOT IMPORTANT
It is Considered unwse to Risk all the
Organization Has Gained in the Last
Seven Years, With So Little to Gain
Now-Mine Workers Have Enjoyed
Encouraging Prosperity.

Mine Workers local unions IN indiana
Ohio, western Pennsylvania, Illinois
Maryland, central Pennsylvania, Micn-
gan, Kentucky, West Virginia and
Iowa, that are to participate in the
referendum vote Tuesday on the prop
5.55 per cent in wages or closing the
soft coal mines on April l. will receive
their ballots this morning. With the
ballots are being sent out the circular
letter that the. national convention on
Monday authorized President Mitchell,
Vice President f. l.. Lewis, and Secre-
tary- Treasurer w. B. Wilson to adj
dress to the locals setting out their
recommendation that the reduction be
accepted, and stating the reasons for
accepting. The letter says in part:
mo one who is familiar with the
past history OF the United Mine Work
ers of America, will charge either Of
US with being afraid to strike. If, IN
our Judgment, strike would accom-
plish beneficial results, but when 1t Is
proposed to risk all that our organize
ton has gained for the mine workers
in the past seven years by means OF
Cancellation, arbitration and strikes, Oh
the issue Of 81 single conflict, when the
difference between us and our employ
ers is but cents per ton on run of
the mine basis and 5 cents per ton on
a lump coal basis, we believe 1t is time
to stop and carefully consider the pos
IA IA
tant act.
Since 1897 our organization has
been riding On the crest of an indus
trial boom. 1t has rapidly increased
in numbers and financial strength
which in connection with conserva-
tive policy has enabled it to increase
our wages IN the competitive field an
average of over IS per cent.
."The experiences OF the past have
shown us eonclusively the folly Of
striking when the markets are going
down. All we have to do is to remen,-
Der the anthracite strike of 1875, the
of the joint agreement Of
1899, the coke strike of 1891, and the
general suspension Of 1894, in order to
be convinced of the truth of this state
lnent We are now upon the eve of a
election and these years
appear dull because of the commercial
which they produce.
.wo-year contract would carry us be-
You'd the period OF the election and the
unsettled industrial conditions that fol-
low in it's wake. In addition to that It
would cause, our contracts to expire at
the same time as the anthracite award
and place lis then in position To act
with greater unity IL we SO desired
han We could at any other time.
When we consider that the price Of
Tered to us in a two-year contract IS
he highest price We have had for
years. with the exception of the pres
mt one We repeat that it would be the
most serious mistake our organization
las ever made TO take the chances of
osing the scale We are offered, the
light hour work day, the joint confer
nee movement and the organization
which has enabled us to secure these
Kings and many other rights and
privileges which we did not formerly
possess In an attempt 10 maintain 4
ate of cents and cents per ton
greater than We can secure by peace
,ble agreements. This is all we can
rope to gain by a strike and the poss.
,ilities OF Less are so much out Of pro-
portion to the amount that can be won
-ou to vote in favor of accepting the
OF the operators rather than
inter- into strike at this time"