Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-15
ASKS
FOR MODERATION
Miners Meet at Minneapolis to
Discuss Momentous Ques-
tiOn of a Strike
LEADER coUNsELs HARMONY
Mitchell Makes Speech In Which He
States His Belief That There Is a
Way to Prevent Strike, But Says
Miners Will Insist on Wage Advance
Great Interests at Stake.
LEADER couNsELs HARMONY

indianapolis, March 15-The nation
al convention Of United Mine Workers
OF America opened at 10 o'clock TODAY
with over 1000 delegates present. The
convention was called by President
Mitchell TO consider action which may
result In an agreement with the coal
operators that will prevent a general
strike on April 1st, that would bring
100000 men from the mines. A con-
ference with the operators will. begin
here Monday.
When the credentials committee had
concluded Its report, the reading of
which occupied several hours. Presi-
dent Mitchell formally called the con.
vention to order
MitcheI's Address.
following the appointment of a COM
mittee on rules, the convention took a
recess. .
In formally declaring this conyen-
tlon open for the transaction of bust
ness, 1t seems quite proper that I
should report the principal incidents
and causes which prompted the call for
this extraordinary meeting of the INIT.
ed Mine Workers of America and in
ADDITION thereto. make some sugges-
tlons Tor your guidance which may
facilitate the work Of the convention
and, hope. prove helpful in re-estab-
llsh1ng our relations with operator.
upon basis which will be lust to
them, reasonably satisfactory to the
great constituency we represent. and
at the same tirne properly considerate
of the welfare of the entire country.
whose interests cannot be disregarded
with impunity by any class of citizens.
regardless of Its strength or influence.
+ while In New York attending the
meetings Of the anthracite committee
appointed by the Shamokin convention,
held on December 14th, met and held
several conferences with Francis L.,
Robbins. president of the Pittsburg
Coal Company, and subsequently with
other operators. prominent participants
in our last joint conventions. At
these conferences the question of our
disagreement upon the wage scale was
discussed in an informal way. l also
held conferences with several leading
and active workers in our own move-
ment, so I might inform myself more
fully as to the status OF affairs in var
tous parts Of the country, SO far as 1t
affected the interests Of our organiza-
ton and the welfare Of our people.
"As a result of these meetings we
came to believe there had been such
changes in the coal trade, or at least
in the attitude Of many operators, as
to Justify the hope that there was
possibility of reaching an agreement,
provided joint conventions were recon-
vened.
aside, however, from my own Inn
pressions and the impressions OF those
of my colleagues with whom l consult
ed, a letter from the president of the
United States addressed to Robbins and
to me, seemed sufficient justification
to warrant ourselves and our employ
ers in making another effort to reach
an agreement"
Mitchell then read the letter from
Roosevelt and continued:
II take this occasion to report Off
cially that the operators Of both the
central competitive and southwestern
fields have called meetings Of their rep
resentatives to be held in this city
Monday next While Of course, many
conflicting and inharmonious state
ments emanating from various sources
purporting to reflect the views of oper-
ators seem to indicate an entire abb
sence of unity and concord among
them in regard to the question of ad-
vancing wages, am nevertheless hope
full, if not fully convinced, the urgency
and seriousness Of the situation will
prompt them to make such reasonable
concessions in the matter Of wages and
conditions as will enable us to join
them in rehabilitation Of our joint
movement and perpetuation Of prac-
tical business relationship under which
we have worked with mutual advan-
tage during the past eight years. And
to this end l feel it incumbent upon
me to say that a very large degree of
responsibility will rest upon us if
these proposed negotiations lead to
success"
Mitchell concluded by expressing the
hope that acrimonious debate during
the deliberations of the convention
would be entirely eliminated, and that
harmony would prevail.
Demands Of Miners.
When the last convention of mine
workers adjourned February Q, follow
ing the Joint conference with the op-
orators, which had failed to arrive at
a wage settlement, a strike on April I,
was inevitable unless something should
intervene. At that convention the
miners had demanded an increase In
wages Of 12h per cent, admission of
the southwestern states, a seven per
cent differential between machine and
pick mining, a 12la per cent advance
for yardage and dead work, prohibition
of the employment of boys, under 16,
an eight -hour day, a one-year con-
tract. and srun-lof mine basis. The
miners also adopted the resolution Of
fered by Ryan of Illinois, that no dis
trict should Sign wage agreement