The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-19
M|TCHELL'S ADDRESS |
President of the Miners Ex-
plains the Situation.
URGES UPRIGHT CONDUCT
Enemies Are Magnifying
Every Act Into a Crime

| Indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 1S-The fiji
teenth annual convention of the Unite,
Mine Workers of America opened In Tom
linson hall today with 900 delegates from
various parts of this country and Canals
! represented Mayor Hoffman welcomed
the delegates and President Mitchell re,
sponded
This afternoon the work of the Gre
Dental committee was concluded and
President Mitchell delivered his annual
address.
In his annual report President Mitchell
recommends that the convention be mod
crate in speech and conservative in ac-
ton, saying: I'VE should keep in mind
that the enemies of labor and the op-
ponents of trade unionism as represented
by the manufacturers ass ISOLATION and
the citizens industrial alliance, are ever
ready to make capital out of the smallest
indiscretion and 10 magnify out of all
reasonable proportion the slightest mis-
take that trade uiiionists may make"
The report says of the situation in the
anthracite field:
Since the close of the anthracite strike
the relations of operators and miners
have grown more cordial. With very few
exceptions the award of the commission
has been rigidly observed and an area of
comparative peace and contentment has
reisned in that territory" .
OF central Pennsylvania the report
says:
During the month of March. the min
ers and operators OF the central district
of Pennsylvania report approximately
10000 men in joint conference in the city
of Altoona and they consummated an
agreement which secured to our members
a substantial increase in wages and for
the first time in the history of that fed,
estab lished the eight hour work day. The
Importance Of this achievement cannot be
oyer estimated.
Mr.. Mitchell refers to the extension Of
the conference method of adjusting wage
differences into West Virginia. Missouri,
Kansas, Arkansas and the Indian Terri
tory. which. he says, promises long
period Of industrial peace TO miners and
operators. Mr.. Mitchell says:
In all ethed districts in which the
mining prices have, heretofore been reg
ulated by agreement, increased wages
were secured and other concessions OBJ
tanned and while in many instances wages
have not advanced in proportion to the
increase secured in the central competi-
tive coal fields. on the whole, we have
every reason to feel fairly well satisfied
with the gains during the year 1902
The extension OF the organization into
Canada, Montana and Washington are
and the report says the or
ganization has increased in membership
from 81 900 in 1899 to 2S7,545 in 1903, which
does not include members idle or on
strike.
If says Mr. Mitchell, every local
union would report in its full member
ship there would not be less than 10000
The report recommends that
the constitution committee investigate
the advisability of discounting the pres
ent method of collecting dues and adopt
ing the stamp system.
Of the Colorado st-iqke Mr.. Mitchell
says: The strike in district Is has been
and is, a source of heavy expense 20 our
organization, but our people are standing
firm, and much as we desire an amicable
md honorable settlement and uncom-
promising attitude of the company gives
is no choice but to continue the contest
until fair terms of settlement are reached
,r our people go down in defeat"
President Mitchell insists upon the uni
-ersal adoption of the run of mine basis /
md SAYS:
IT would advise that the demands of |
he previous conventions be repeated and !
hat the scale committee be instructed to /
make an effort 10 have the Interstate |
agreement formulated upon a run of mine |
,asis. The increase in mining is known I
o have been from II per cent of the I
otsl production in 1896 to is per cent in /
soa The report asserting that in dis
riots i'm which the differential is widest i
machine mining has increased dispropor-
ionately."
He urges that a re-adjustment of the
be insisted upon. He sug-
tests that not more than two delegates
,e sent 10 the international mining con-
.ress at Paris May Is; urges support of
he union label and recommends that
ach local devote ten minutes of each
Meeting TO a discussion OF the question of
Inion made goods. Vigorous support OF
he anti-injunction bin and the eight
lour bill now in congress is urged.
President Mitchell voices his earnest
Import of legislation prohibiting boys
ndei- Is from being permitted 10 work
n the mines and asks the convention TO
ndorse it, In closing reference is made
o the cordial business relationship that
as existed between our organization and
he operators in all states and districts
n which the wages and conditions II
Employment are regulated and determined
Y mutual agreement.