Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-15
MINE WORKERS IN
 SESSION TO-DAY
ABOUT ONE THOUSAND DELE
 GATES ARE AT INDIANAPOLIS.
Mitchell Called This Conference in an Endeavor to Reach Agree ment Whereby Strike May
 - Be Avoided.

,401 locals. The convention has been
 called by President Mitchell to COIL slider action which may result in an agreement with the coal operators that will prevent general strike, that would bring 425,OO0 men from the
 mines on April 1st. The conference
 with the operators will begin here on
 Monday next.
 When the last convention of the
 mine workers adjourned on February
 2nd, following joint conference with the operators which had failed to ar-
 rive at wage agreement, a strike on
 April 1 was inevitable unless some thing should intervene. At that con- vention the miners demanded an in-
 crease in wages of 121a per cent, the
 admission of the southwestern states,
 a seven per cent. differential between
 machine and pick mining, 121a per
 cent. advance for yardage and dead
 work, prohibition of employment of
 boys under 16 years old, an eight hour
 day, one year contract and run 0f-mine basis. The miners also adopted resolu- ton offered by Mr Ryan of Illinois, that no district should sign wage agreement until all the districts sign ed. This resolution will come before the convention for action. Unless it is rescinded the bituminOus miners cannot sign an agreement with their operators. The operators on the other hand de-
 manded a reduction of from 10 to D
 per cent, protection against stampede
 strikes and better system of ad-
 Indicating local troubles.
 Sinse the adjournment of the for
 mer convention President Mitchell
 has conferred with r. l.. Robbins and
 other leaders of the operators and fol-
 lowing the reception of letter from
 President Roosevelt addressed to both
 Mir Robbins and Mir Mitchell, the mi
 ners' president called this convention
 and the operators were called for a
 joint conference. It was announced
 at the time the call was issued that
 Mir Robbins and other operators had
 made an offer to restore the. wage
 scale of two years ago. which would
 be an advance of 5.55 per cent. over the present scale.
 When the convention met today hdNC dplUuitu tV exist between President Mitchell and
 Vice President Lewis, were apparent
 ly laid aside and 1t was the expressed wish of both ofi1cials that personal matters should not interfere with the more important work of the conyen- ton fin order that the miners might present united front.
 The first business of the convention was the work of organization and the greater part of the day was taken up with credentials of the delegates.
 'In formally declaring this con vention open for the transaction of business, it may pot be amiss-in- deed 1t seems quite proper-that l should report the principal incidents and causes which prompted the call for this extraordinary meeting of the United Mine Workers of America, and In addition thereto. make some suggestions for your guidance which may facilitate the work of the con- yention, and hope, prove helpful in re-establishing our relations with the | operators upon basis which will be | just to them. reasonably satisfactory | to the great constituency we repre- | sent, and at the same time properly | considerate of the welfare of the en- l tire country, whose interests cannot | be disregarded with impunity by any class of citizens. regardless of its strength or influence.
 While in New York attending | meetings of the anthracite committee | appointed by the Shamokin conven- tion held on December 14-a report | of which was submitted to our an- nual convention-first by accident | and then by arrangement, met and held several conferences with Fran cis l.. Robbins, chairman of the | Pittsburg Coal Co. and subsequently, with other operators. prominent par ticipants in our last joint conven- tions. At these conferences the question of our disagreement upon the wage scale was discussed in an informal way. I also held confer ences with several of the leading and active workers in our own move ment, SO that I might inform myself more fully as to the status of affairs In the various parts of the country. SO far as 1t affected the interests of our organization and t-e welfare of our people.
 As a result of these meetings. ve came to believe that there had been such changes in the coal trade, or at least in the attitude of many oper- .tors, as to justify the hope that there was a possibility of reaching an agreement provided the joint con- Eentions were reconvened.
 Aside. however. from my oru and the impressions of those of my colleagues with whom I consulted. the following letter from he president of the United States. addressed to MT Robbins and to me. seemed sufficient justification to <arrsnt ourselves and our employers In making another effort to reach sn agreement
 Mir Mitchell then read President, letter in which tie presf- lent expressed concern over the fail ire of the miners convention on 'oint interstate sgreemeufs to conIz io a basis of settlement of the blfa- ninous mining scale of wages. ard 1rging both sides to hzke another ef- 'or to avert the threatened strike.
 Nr Mitchell contfnuei: I,
 II take this orczsina te rrf<srf oeS- .1aHy that tie operators of t.oth tlse ,eHtral competitive and the sourh- re<ter1 fet1s have ezII--f ueesincs sf heir rerresentsfives te be hesd in thfs -ity e Mo1isy morui1z. Nsrrh 1a ii
 While wf eourSe the many r~p- 'icffrr and fnharuanEo1s x<struerrs
 ~~<4-- <-< T.