Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-19
MINERS
Begin Their 18th Annual Con-
venticn at indianapolis.
Forceful Address on Present Condi-
tons by Pres. Mitchell.
JOINT Conference VIII Follow to Settle
New Wage Scale.

Indianapolis, IND. Jan. l5-The 18th
iPliual convention of the United Mine
workers OF America began in Tc-nli,-
son nall. today. with approximately
1913 delegates present.
brlef addresses Of welcome were
made by Mayor John Hoffman and
President Berry of the Central Labor.
Union, which we're responded to bv
President Mitchell, who then announc-
ed committees on rules and order ~
business Consisting Of q. w. I.ac}ox
District no. IL: Edward Cahfil Distric,
| NC II; Adm RoseaEace, District No.
1. Work WAS begun on the cle.lantials
| Wnlle the committee on rules retired
| for constellation.
Inc rules committee rcturnd shortly
aiter C'clnck and announced that the
reports or the officers would precede
the report CT the credentials; commit
| tee.
| President Mitchell then delivered his
annual address.
| President Mitchell urged that IT,,
convention be moderate in speech
and conservative in action, adding:
| We should keep it in mind that
| the enemies Of labor and the onpo-
! ncntS Of trade uniCEism rs reprcs N, "a
| by the Manufacturers Association ana
| the Citizens industrial Alliance. arc
ever ready to make capital out Of tie
smallest iiljiscrctiGn and to magnify
cut of all reasonable proportion the
| slightest mistake that trade unionists
may make"
The report then outlines the situa-
| ton in each district. OF Tie anthracite
! field he says:
II IS 4 pleasure to report that since
| the close o. the anthracite strike Cie
relations of opera tors ANA miners have
| grown steadily more cordial. With
very few exceptions the award Of tne
| commission has been rightly observed.
| and an era of comparative peace ana
contentment has Teigned in that terri
| tory
OF central Pennsylvania, the report
| says:
During the month Of March the
| miners and operators Of the central
| district 0. Pennsylvania report approx
| insat'ely 10000 men met i'll Joint con
| ference in the city Of Altoona and con
| su.n!satel al agreement which secured
" 't+l I!.f''iIt'tIS - s=ul)SltlllEtl increase
| II WAGES. and tor The first time in lh..
! history Of THAI field. established the
&-hour work DAY. The Importance az
| th:S accomplishment cannot be over
egtimlted"
| Mr.. Mitchell refers to the extension
| % the conference method of adjusting
| wage difficulties into West Virginia.
| Missouri i. Kansas. Arkansas and Indian
| territory. which he says promises a
| long pcrioT Of Industrial peace to min
| cr5 ana operators. The Alabama set
tie:nent by the board Of arbitration is
mentioned with satisfaction, and sum
ming un the general situation he says:
| In all other districts in which mining
prices have heretofore been regulated by
| agreement increased wages wore secured
! and other concerns obtained. and while
| in many instances wages have not ad-
| N'lHad in proportion to the increases in
| tire central competitive coal fields, on the
| Whole We nav" every reason to feel fairly
| We'll satisfied With the gains during the
| ytaI 1905.
" Tho extension Of organization int"
| Canada Montana and Washington are
| mentioned. Til" report says that the or
| g1niZatiun has increased in membership,
| from 9l.mN in 1889 to 3>.,1lI in 1865. DuIins:
| the I1st year there was y net gain Of :;ii
! "H:"r*, mailing Il total 81 - unions III
- districts.
II" say Mr.. Mitchell, EVERY local
union wo'.ld report in its fun member
| snip there would not b" less than 3tnhh
President Mitchell insists upon the uni
| v'rgHtl adoption If til" run Of mine basis.
cen ;hr report he SAYS:
| II WO;Ild advise that the demands of
| prey Ions conventions he rcpealcd ana that
| the scale committee he instructed t.
| Hakc a., effort To have the intcrStlt"
age "mcnt formulated upon a ran 81 ininc
basis"
The increase III machine min:n- is
| shown 90 EHyn been from II ncr cent. ~
TN total production in 1876 to - Ter cent.
in 1'H)2. tno report claiming that il d'S-
trjrt>; IL which the diffcrcnti#l is witi".t,
| NJ" ri,iuo mining has lnCr reused diSpr"por-
| tiunutcly H., urges that Il rcatljUSt III mt
of the diffa"rEtial hc insisted upon. IL
| suggests tn not more than two d"ic-
| gate; be sent to the international mining,
congress at Paris. May ~, and u'-"s SUP
port Of til" union label ana recommends;
that each lnc2l 1cvot" u minutes Of ""c!l
mcC ting to i discussion of tn" tlt:",t ION ~
| uuion-rn goods. Nig0rnu- support of
tie arti-inirnctiois bill and the %-hoHr
law ill row in Congress i urged and OF
,i"rai iGj':H"tionI Il" says:
'''th" evils which have grown out Of tA.
| ipdi., rin!iU:,i. j-slauc" o.. fc'iN"al injlNt
tioi /; til" III lioI'S attempts un ~" iTt
| nf SOM ~ II federal Jtl!r"& ~ deprive
| VA VIZ right Nc trial tr iur". ~" ~ unli
known "A tn" trn'''- I'M 1";ftS Of ,H c"':i,-
| report.
president Mitchell voice his earnest
support of legislation prohibiting h'ye
under lG from being all wed to work II
the mines ana asks the convention to en-
dnrrc il.
Vice President 2. ~ Lewis delivered
his annual ~ rrrt following til" address o.
President Mitchell. Mr.. Lewis reviewed
his work OF organiz2t ton during III" last
| wear. I'll" vice pTcsd mt announced thai
SicoG paid to Mr. Farle% and his for -