East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-12-14

Rule, Are Confident and Hopeful
of Success
Shamokin, Pa, Dec. l4.-For a
week or more this town will be the
center of interest to hundreds of
thousands of anthracite coal miners,
who will await with interest most in
of the convention of their delegates,
which opened its session at the G. a.
r. opera house this morning About
700 delegates representing the three
great anthracite districts, known as
the LacSawanna, Schuylkill and Le-
high anthracite districts, No. /, and
3, We're in attendance when the joint
convention of the United Mine Work
ers of the three districts named was
called to order. The opening session
was devoted to addresses of welcome
and routine business, which viii oe
continued in the afternoon session.
The object of the convention Is to
consider and take action concerning
conditions of employment to become
effective after March 81. 1906. On
that day expires the agreement be-
tween the operators and the United
Miners. which was signed three years
ago, at the conclusion of the big
strike in 1902. For some time it has
been clearly understood that the
United Mineworkers would refuse to
renew the agreement after the eXpira-
ton of the three years and would in
sist upon certain demands, which the
union was not strong enough three
years ago to enforce.
The conclusion of the agreement
left the United Mineworkers in a
rather weakened condition, as thous-
ands of the members dropped out,
| feeling secure for at least three years.
| 1t was John j. Mitchell, who recog-
nized the danger of this decrease in
membership. Urged by him the Off
GERS of the three district branches
made energetic efforts to arouse en-
| thusiasm among the miners of their
respective districts and to induce them
| to join the organization. For over a
year the work was continued and at
| present the organization has a mem
bership of over 100000, and a fund
of nearly $1,0O00O0 in its treasury,
which may be used in case of a strike.
Ever since the agreement was sign
ed in accordance with the award
made by the anthracite coal strike
commission appointed by President
| Roosevelt, the miners were determined
not to accept a renewal of the agree
ment, unless the operators agreed Ia
| recognize the union by making it a
signatory party to the agreement.
The recognition of the union is nut
the only demand which the convention
will make but it is the most import
ant one and the one most likely to lead
to a disagreement, and eventually to q
strike, even more desperate than that
| which ended three years ago. 1t is q
significant fact that although the sit
uation has been thoroughly discussed
in the district conventions, none of the
delegates to the joint convention were
instructed. That leaves them perfect.
y free to vote on any proposition tina
may come up. One of the first thing,
that will be done by the convention
will be to appoint a committee to wal
upon the operators and request a con.
ference. This committee will explain
to the operators, II given an opportu
nifty. that the conference is asked 81
that a mutual agreement may b,
reached as to the terms of employ
ment at all the collieries after Marcel
81, 1906.
1t is considered certain that tn,
convention will take a stand for al
eight-hour workday, uniform pay 70
classes of employees not rated as min
ers and specific terms of employment
but these will be held subject to
joint discussion and will not be OBJ
truded in advance of the request 10
conference e. Should. the operator
refuse to meet or discuss with unioi
representatives, the convention will
openly declare on behalf of the mem
bers of the organization that the.
would refuse to recognize the agree
ment after March 81.
There is a strong feeling of conf
| uChSC diuoii6 thC hCiVbapSS' tiidt VI
miners are now II ever. in a position
to dictate their terms to the operators
They are convinced that their de
mands are lust and will insist upo
their acceptance.
One of the n,7t important topic
, to be discussed by the convention
the form in which the concillatio
board is to be retained 1t Is under
: stood that President Nichols has
plan to present, but nothing has bee
divulged as to the nature OF his plar
: 1t is expected that the considerable
of this subject will occupy the atten
ton of the convention for at leas
II two or three days. 1t is believed ths
Is the convention will be in session 70
h at least 10 davs, perhaps even longe