Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-17
THE MINERS
Are Cordially Welcomed
to City Of indianapolis.
President Mitchell Vigorously
Outlines Present Situation.
And Tells the Delegates What Moves
Are Now Needed.

Indianapolis. md. Jan. 1G.-The 18th
annual convention of the United Mine
Workers of America. WAS opened. to-
day. by President John Mitchell, In
Tomlinson hall. Nearly 600 delegates.
representing every one of the % dis
tricts. We're present The Ohio dis
trict delegation WAS headed by Presi-
dent w. H. Haskins and the Western
PENNSYLVANIA delegation by President
Patrick Dolan
The three anthracite districts sent
$50 delegates. headed by President
John Fahey and T. ID. Nichols.
Reports show Il shortage in work
compared with previous years. In
Indiana the average time worked has
been less than three days in the week.
1t is said present conditions would tend
toward a further reduction in wages if
scale were fixed, this year.
The approaching joint conference Of
the central Pennsylvania district at
Altoona is being considered with some
anxiety by the mine workers. 1t is
believed the operators Will endeavOr
to force heavy reduction in the scale.
The convention is expected to take
some action anticipating such a step.
Mayor Hoffman delivered an ad-
dress of welcome on behalf of the city.
+. {. Dunn spoke on behalf of the Cen
trail Labor Union of this city. Prcsi-
Gent Mitchell responded and after a
short address announced Il committee
on rules and order of business. The
credentials committee report ANNOUNCE
ed that 1905 locals were entitled to
representation in the convention with
lS43 votes. \ recess was then taken.
When the convention re-aSsemblpd
ID. this afternoon. the COMMITTEES On
rules reported. The first order of has
mess the annual report Of President
Mitchell was read.
Mr.. Mitchell began by referring to
the compromise between miners and
operators Il year ago whereby the Il,
per cent. reduction that was ut first in
sisted ulon by the operators was re-
duced to 80 per cent. and accepted on
Il referendum vote of the miners. Mr.
Mitchell! said:
THE result of that referendum vote
of tie members of our organization and
unions or of nations, is safe and Sc
cure IL the hlnds of the people. The
oonnr"mise proposition was accepted
by Il vote Of ll.1a2iA as against 6S,4S51a. d"
Continuing. he said:
Except for the year of the anthra-
cite strike this Is the first time that !
have been unable to report any mate
rial growth in the membership of the
organization. Our average membership
fer the year ending. Dec. 81. 1904. shows
an increase Of 4 little less than 1000
over the preceding year. while the
membership for the month of Deem
b"r, 1904, based upon the tax received
for that month. shows decrease of
about $1,000 members.
The heavy falling off in member
ship for the month of December. 1904
is accounted for by the fact that from
20.00n To 2!.G0O members We're on strike
and exoneratei from the payment of
dues. TIL" greatest loss sustained is in
the Eastern bituminous and anthracite
fields. AT no time since 1897 has work
been so irregular and the coal trade so
GemOra liZcd.'
Mr.. Mitchell then submitted a state
mcnt showing the operation of the slid
ing scale as established by the anthra-
cite ccal strike commission. He showed
that the ope ration of this scale from
April. 1909. to Dec. 81, 1904 had result
ed as follows:
In April 1903. the average price of
coal was $4.44 per ton and there was no
percentage of increase in compensation.
hi December, 1904. the average price of
coal was $t.SG per ton and there was an
increase of ! per cent, in the miners
cornrcnsat ion. This increase was in
addition to the horizontal increase of
10 per cent. granted by the anthracite
commission.
Closing his reference to the anthra
cite situation, Mr.. Mitchell said:
| fear the anthracite mine workers
will be unable to secure any further
concessions. or even to maintain their
present standard unless they take i'm
m"'liate steps to perfect their orSaniZa
tom
Mr.. Mitchell then took up the stats-
tics of the year. saying:
In no other year since the forma-
ton of the United Mine Workers of
America. have there been SO many men
continuously on strike and at no pre-
vious time in the history of the orG:In
i%ation with the exception of 1902 hay"
We been compelled to eNpend 50 much
money in the support and maintenance
of those involved, as in the year just
closed.
He dWelt At length on the Colorado
strike. the declaration of martial law in
Las AniuHS county ny Gov. Pea body
and the riotouS sCeu"S that eliminated
in attacks upon miners. officials and de
pHrtatinn of .mion miners from FolOra-
do by the military. He spoke of the dis
tr!ct convention held in Trinidad.
March "A. to consider calling off the
strik" ana said:
''tn the day preceding the one "f
which the convention was t" be held.