Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-12-14
ANTHRACITE MINERS MEET.
SEVEN HUNDRED DELEGATES
IN ATTENDANCE.
Representing The Three Great An
thraeite Dristricts Known
As Nos. I, z
And o.

a. Il
week or more this town will be the
centre of interest to hundreds of thous.
ands Of anthracite coal miners, who
will await with interest most intense
the result of the deliberations of the
convention of their delegates, which
opened its session at the g. A. r.
Opera House this morning.
About zoo delegates representing
the three great anthracite districts,
known as the Lackawanna, Schuyl-
kill and Lehigh anthracite districts,
No. /. z and 8, were in attendance
when the joint convention OF the
United Mine Workers of the three
districts named was called TO order.
The opening session was devoted to
addresses of welcome aud routine
business, which will be continued in
the afternoon session. The object of
the convention is to consider and take
action concerning conditions of en-
ployment 20 become effective after
March 81, 1906
On that dav expires the agreement
| between the operators and the United
l Miners which was signed three years
ago at the conclusion of the big strike
of 1902 For some time ID has been
clearly understood that the United
Mine Workers would refuse TO renew
the agreement after the expiration of
the three years and would insist ON
| certain demands, which the Union was
| not strong enough three years ago 10
| enforce. The conclusion of the agree
ment left the United Mine Workers in
a rather weakened condition, as thous
ands of the members dropped ont, feel
ing secure for at last three years.
E~k II No
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 aud TO induce
them to join the organization. FoI
over year the work was continued
and at present the organization has q
membership of over 100, 600 and 9
| fund CT nearly 81 900, 600 in its treas.
ury, which may be used in case of 8
| strike.
Ever since the agreement was sign.
| ed in accordance with the award made
/ by the Anthracite Coal Strike Com,
mission appointed by President Roose.
Welt. the miners were determined not
| to accept a renewal of the agreement
/ unless the operators agreed to recog.
nize the Union by making it a sigma
tory party to the agreement The
/ recognition of the Union is not the
| only demand which the convention
| will make, but il is the most impof tam
one and the one most likely to lead Il
disagreement and eventually to {
STRIFE, even more desperate than thai
| which ended three years ago.
1t is a significant fact that, although
| the situation has been thoroughly dis
cussed in the district conventions
none of the delegates to the joint con
| vention were instructed. That leave.
them perfectly free to vote on any
| proposition that may come up. On,
of the first things that will be don,
by the convention vi i'll be to appoint
committee to wait upon the opera
tors and request a conference. Thi,
committee will explain to the opera
| tors, if given an opportunity, tina
the con ference is asked so that mu
tual agree nent may be reached. as &c
the terms of employment at all thu
| collieries after March 81, 1906.
| 1t is considered certain that thu
| convention will take a stand for al
eihgt-hour workday, uniform pay fol
las.es 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 oh
| sturded in advance of the request FOL
a conference. Should the operator
issue or post a notice of their inten
tion or willingness to continue il
force the commission award, thi
would be disregarded, unless tn,
notice should be addressed TO the COL
vention, the United Mine Workers o.
/ one or more of the authorized repre-
sentatives of that organization
Should the operators refuse to meet o.
| discuss with Union representatives
the convention will openly declar,
on behalf of the members of the or
ganization that they would refuse t
recognize the agreement after March 81
One of the most important topics I,
be discussed by the convention is tn,
form in which the Cancellation board
is to he retained 1t is unde rstood tina
President Nichols has plan TO pre-
sent, but nothing has been divulgeC
as to the nature of his plan. 1t j
| expected that the consideration of thi
| subject will occupy the attention o.
| the convention for at least two d
/ three days. 1t is believed that tht
convention Will be in session for a
least ten days, perhaps even longer.
4 --@---
Hanfoinc Ha1d For Annaarance