The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-09
MINERS GO TOWORK THURSDAY
CONVENTION FORMALLY RATT.
FIES AGREEMENT.

Operators HAD Planned 20 Force Q Re-
duotion-IniOn Gets New Privileges,
BcnANroN. Pa, May s.-Tbe mine work.
err, having accepted tho report Of thelI
ecale committee on the agreement made
with the operators. decided ut their con-
vention to-day 10 order all men back 10
work on Thursday. The company men
whose duty n will be 10 get the collierics
10 readiness will begin work Tomorrow.
The conventions morning session wa
given UP 20 the ratification Of the agree
rnent. Much heat was shown over the
case Of the men Of the Jermyn mines, at
Old Forge. These went on strike a few
weeks before the suspension, against a
wage cut. They wanted to know II they
were expected to 60 back to work at the
Same time as the others, intimating that II
they were that they would balk. They
were informed that the agreement did not
change their status.
Just before adjournment President
Mitchell made a speech. in which he said
Ihe might not appear before a tri-district
convention again. He told the men they
had won a victory because he had been
informed that the coal operators had in
tended to demand a reduction Of wages.
All the district presidents spoke. and a
resolution was adopted directing all locals
to seek the election to the Legislature Of men
favorable to the union. as were two resolu-
tions denouncing the State constab,lary
law and favoring an effort to have 1t re-
pealed.
District President Nichols declared that
two important things were granted by the
operators not mentioned in the agreement.
One was that union officers MAY hereafter
go upon company property TO collect dues:
the other that notice Of union meetings car
be posted on company property.
At the morning session Mitchell broke
down. This was after Father Curran OF
Wilkesbarre had made q speech In which
he lauded the president Of the miners very
highly. Tears gathered in Mitohell's eyes,
and for some minutes he was unable to
proceed. The speech Of the clergyman
was loudly cheered.
Mitchell was late at the afternoon session,
but as SOON as he appeared the doors were
thrown open and the public were invited
Inside.
The speeches of Dettrey and Fancy were
little more than Endorsements of what
Nichols had said. Fahey, however, took
occasion to denounce the members OF the
union who reaped union benefits but paid
no union dues. Nichols was requested by
the convention to tell Of some imprinted
facts about the New York meeting. He
said that after the agreement had been
reached and while copies were being pre-
pared on a typewriter different matters were
taken up. Several grievances were men.
toned and the operators announced their
willingness to inquire into them and right
them if the complaints were well founded.
From District 7 there oame complaints
of low wage and the operators concerned
said that they would Immediately investi-
gate.
Mr.. Mitchell asked the presidents Of the
companies If there was any objection to
officers of the union going upon the COM
pany properties to collect dues. The
union asked this privilege because many
members live far from their work and
privilege Of collecting dues on company
property was ungrud gingly granted.
The delegates might remember, he said,
that there had come before the Cancellation
board the case Of Joseph Dixon Of the OK
days by the Peoples Coal Company for
posting on the company's property notices
Of a social session of his local. Mr.. Mitchell
asked the operators IL notices of meetings
Oh VINO local .mlBnC ne posUeu Oh oI1pa
property and consent was granted, These
Two matters, said Mr.. Nichols, he per-
sonally considered important, because the
granting Of these requests will give the
union officers a better chance to work
where the members can be most easily
FOUND.
Mr.. Nichols said that he desired to call
the attention Of the convention to the fact
tina for the first time in their history the
anthracite miners have a signed agree
NoAnt Hatxraan a ANpnnniffnn ~ fhatr 0uyn
appointing and the operators.
President Mitchells address was in the
mature Of a farewell. He spoke eloquently
Ind with emotion. His remarks were re-
cefved with applause. lie said:
Gentlemen of the convention: Before
final adjournment it may not be amiss for
me to say, probably for the last time I may
have the privilege Of addressing you, that
while I feel some disappointment that we
material improvement in the conditions Of
employment, / nevertheless believe that
YOU have taken a most advanced step and
have secured for yourselves and your con-
stituents advantages never before enjoyed
In the history Of your movement. You have
an agreement not only with the United
@dine Workers of America. but with its
officers. The operators may claim that they
have not recognized your union. yet they
president and district presidents and secre-
taries Of the union. ! am convinced that
n the anthracite mine workers will maintain
the strength and the solidarity Of their
organization, three years from now the
railroad presidents will ask you to make
an agreement with them as a union.
Last summer during my tour of the an
&hracite coal region, | appealed to the miners
to come back to their union. When the
tour started the organization had $4,000
members: at the close of the tour it had a
membership Of 80, 900.
Il want to make the announcement for
the first time that had that tour not been
made there would nave been a reduction
of wages. My informatin is that the rail-
road presidents had decided to increase
the hours Of labor from nine to ten. The
engineers we're to work seven days in a
week and the flremen twelve hours a day
instead Of eight. If my information il cor
rect, you have won a great victory.
Now, in conclusion, may | not express
the earnest hope that when you return to
your homes, those o represent may be as
loyal and true as you have been during
the last few years. As said in opening,
this may be the last time | shall have the
privilege OF addressing you. Whether it
Ii or not. you owe it to yourselves, your
families and your craft to be loyal and true
TO the organization. 1t has done much for
you; II can do more. 1t will do more, IL
YOU are true To yourselves and yoilr union. .