The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-07-25
MINERS TO HOLD
CONVENTION TODAY
Differences Between Operators
and Miners to be Discussed
THE WOODWARD LOCAL
w. R. Farley Talks and Refers to
Several Matters of General In
terest-The Strike History
In This State.
THE WOODWARD LOCAL

The special convention of the United
Mine Workers will be called to order by
district President Edward Flynn at Il
O'Clock today in the Knights of Columbus
hall.
The convention will take up again the
wage scale question, which was left I'M
settled when the regular annual meeting
adjourned In June The miners seem to
be determined not to accept the PROPOSE
tion submitted by the furnace operators
for a scale including a 4oc minimum and
a 55c maximum From all accounts they
will Insist on last years scale which called
for a 47Dac minimum and a o7Isc max
imum.
The convention will probably be In ses-
sion two or three days. 1t may be that
a settlement will be reached on a COM
promise basis.
The impression prevails in some quar-
tiers that the convention will result in
strike being declared, but the president of
one of the furnace companies said last
night: There will be no strike
The decision of the local at the Wood
ward mines to withdraw from the United
Mine Workers organization was the chief
topic of discussion in Industrial circles
yesterday. Officials of the United Mine
Workers said they were Of the opinion
that the action at Woodward would not
affect the general situation
Mr.. Farley Talks.
II would not attempt to say what Will
be the action OF the delegates to the
special convention tomorrow, but from
the action of the locals at the Enslay
meeting 1 feel quite sure that the miners
operators submitted to the joint conven-
tion several weeks ago, said William r.
Farley member OF the national board of
United Mine Workers, last night.
I'm my opinion he continued, III the
operators do not recede from their posi-
ton there will be a strike
LAS a matter of course the miners do
not wish strike IL they can honorably
avoid It, They fully realize the depres-
sing effect II would have on business In
the Birmingham district and they would
like to have an equitable settlement.
49,
to the probable action OF the delegates
Monday, l do not see how they could
accept the proposition as submitted by
the operators. Candidly think theey will
not accept it."
Mr.. Farley was asked for information
concerning the status of affairs at Wood
ward, where the local charter of the
United mine workers has been surrender
ed to the union.
The Woodward Local
THAT has all been satisfactorily ar
ranged" said Mr.. Farley. 1.-THE charter
was illegally surrendered and will be re-
turned to the local at that place. At
tho meeting which decided In favor Of
surrendering the charter a few men Sc
cured majority of the votes. There
were twenty-six miners, however. who
protested against the action. Under the
laws of the United Mine Workers ten men
can retain a charter and as there were
twenty-six who wanted the charter re-
tanned at Woodward 1t was obviously
surrendered illegally.
"If this charter had been permanently
surrendered" continued Mr.. Farley, "it
nature on the general situation The
Woodward company had already signed
a temporary contract with the miners
pending a settlement of the scale ques-
ton. This contract was made according
to last years scale. I understand that
the negroes In the local at Woodward
voted In favor of surrendering the char
ter"
When asked concerning the reported de-
preston In business in Birmingham at
this time Mr.. Farley said:
The Business Situation.
There Is always a scare among busi-
ness men at this time of the year for
fear that the operators and miners might
not agree. This agreement is usually
reached In June, but you see 1t is now
July "a. and there is yet no settlement.
The miners make Birmingham. When
the mines stop work the furnaces natu-
rally have to shut down as has been the
case in the past and is the case. in some
Instances now. This throws men out of
employment and every working man who
has a little money is going to hold on to It
until the situation clears up When the
furnaces are not turning out iron there is
a decrease in the tonnage for railroads,
and this hurts business still further.
Presidential Campaign.
"I do not believs that the present de-
preston Is due to the fact that this s
the year of the presidential compaign
While / am a republican ] must admit
that both parties have put out sound
men on the money question. There will
ness while Bryan was the democratic
nominee. While Mr.. Bryan is a great
man personally. most all OF his views
have proved to be fallacies, and the busl-
ness world Is not frightened or nervous
when he is out OF the way.
"Did you know that Alabama holds
wonderful record on miners strikes?"
asked Mr.. Farley
Alabama Strike History.
"This Is about the only coal mining
state in the union" he continued. which
has not had strike in ten years. The
last general strike In Alabama occurred
in 1894 and since that time there has been
no serious trouble. II operators and min
ers should fail to agree and strike
should come now it will be the first In
ten years OF course there have been
some little local troubles. but by a gen.
eral strike l mean one that affects the
whole body of miners In the state. These
little troubues will come up occasionally