The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-25
THOMAS |. LEWIS FAVORS
FIVE LARGE DISTRICTS
Agreements Between Operators
and Miners Should All Terml-
nate at Same Time.
SCALE COMMITTEE MEETS

Thomas l.. Lewis, vice president of the
United Mine Workers. in speaking of the
Importance of having all the agreements
between the operators and mine workers
terminate the same date, said:
'One of the important questions brought
to the attention of the delegates of the ma
tional convention now in session in this
city was that of having all agreements be-
tween the operators and mine workers ter
inmate on the same date. At the present
time the wage contracts in ten districts OF
the United Mine Workers terminate on the
first day of April. and in four districts
those contracts terminate on the 1rst day
of September and in one district 1t termi-
mates on the first day of July.
There are many different conditions or
employment existing in the various mining
districts Of the country. The reason for
this is the variatio in the thickness of the
seams of coal and the peculiar conditions
that exist in some districts as compared
to others. Those different conditions re-
Quire that contracts be made to suit the
different veins of coal. and this, taken into
consideration with the competitive relation
of the various districts, requires great care
in the formulation of wage agreements.
CONDITIONS OF MINING.
THE Importance of the question men,
toned above to terminate all agreements
at the same time can best be realized by
those who understand the conditions of
mining In the different parts of the country.
tracts terminate at the same time is for
the purpose of establishing uniformity of
wages and conditions of employment as
near as the competitive relations of the
dIuerent districts will allow.
The purpose of having wage contracts
terminate on the same date would bring
about a movement TO divide the country
into several competitive districts, and in
my opinion five such districts would meet
the requirements that would bring about
the very best results. One of those dis
tricts would be composed of the anthracite
coal region. Another district would be
formed TO include central Pennsylvania,
Meyersdale and Maryland. and also that
part of West Virginia shipping coal to the
Eastern markets Another district should
be formed TO include West Virginia and
to the present central competitive field,
which meets annually in Indianapolis. An
other district might be formed to include
the States of Kentucky, Tennessee and
Alabama, and still another district might
be formed to include Missouri. Kansas. Ar
kansas, Indian Territory ana such other
mining sections west of the Mississippi as
come in competition with those districts.
Il firmly OF the belief that eventually
If the operators and mine workers Will
earnestly cooperate with each other that
these districts will be formed and the oper-
atOrs and mine workers representatives
from all of them will meet In joint con-
purpose of making wage agreements. When
the organization has reached that point
that 1t can be organized along the lines
suggested above, and the operators are
convinced that ii will be to their interest
to have such joint conventions, uniformity
of conditions will be established on such
lines as will give all operators an equal
opportunity to secure the trade that be-
longs to them and a fair share of the
general trade that belongs TO all operators
Eventually system of this kind would
bring about one general conference of few
representatives of all the operators and
mine workers of this country
COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS.
ITO establish competitive districts such
as suggested above will require a great
deal of work and probably several years
| OF time. but I believe that il would elm
mate many of the causes for strikes in
| the mining industry and would in time re-
move the possibility of any strike taking
place
There are two such competitive districts
| now in existence-the Central competitive
| district. whose representatives meet in In
| dianapois, and the other known as the
| Southwest competitive district whose rep
resentatives met in Pittsburg. Kan, last
| year"