Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-31
MANY MINERS WILL RETURN
CONTINUED from Page One.)

is adopted that does not carry with it
the employment of union, the scale of
1908 and in the southwest an advance
| of three cents per ton at the basing
| points, run of mine, and the full ell
| jOymcnt of every privilege heretofore
enjoyed. l have ruled out of order in an
| effort to move the previous question.
| Every person here shall have the right
| to speak before debate is closed. have
no doubt half the tonnage in the cen
trail district will pay the advance. One
| third of the tonnage spoke here yester-
| day and expressed a willingness to
sign. I know of millions of tonnage that
will sign the advance. And some Of
| this tonnage, through its representa-
tiVes, voted against paying the adj
| vance Some of this is in the south
west district"
] In closing Mr.. Mitchell said:
Let me make this declaration so
plain that there can be no possible mis-
understanding. Just as soon as | fail TO
have the confidence and sincere respect
of the miners, not only as to my per-
sonal integrity but also as to my judg-
ment as to what is best for them, then
| ask you men to relieve me Of my re-
spOnSibility.
"Gentlemen, think this resolution is
the best We can adopt"
! Following a recess the convention re-
sumed discussion of the resolution Of
fered by H. c. Perry, president of the
Illinois miners, allowing miners to sign
the 1903 scale wherever it is offered by
the operators.
Referring to the fact that one or two
! operators in Pennsylvania, Ohio. ILL
nOiS and Southern Indiana had agreed
to sign the scale and We're asking that
their miners be allowed by the national
/ organization to go to work, Mr.. Lewis
/ said the history of the union was filled
with strike failures due to allowing
men to work in some of the fields while
/ others We're on strike. He said he be-
lieved the miners We're working not for
Ohio, Illinois, Indiana or Western
Pennsylvania. but for every mining dis
/ trict in the United States including
! the anthracite regions.
President Mitchell read to the con-
vention a copy of the action taken by
the anthracite committee and its tele-
gram to President Baer He also read
the telegram he had sent to President
of the tonnage in the central district
was willing to pay the 1903 scale
Speaking of the Perry resolution he
again appealed to the miners that it be
\ adopted. He said he would have made
some changes in it if he had been writ
ing it, but he was certain the best in
H terests of the miners organization de-
manded the passage of the resolution
4
gates who We're instructed must vote
their instructions. He said he thought
he had a right to assume authority in
this matter He further said:
And if | am going to continue in
this movement then l say that under
great public crisis and under great
emergencies, I shall continue even
without your consent to do what be-
lieve to be best for you and best for
my country
On motion nearly the entire conven-
ton voted to close the debate
Secretary Wilson read the Perry mo-
ton to allow the signing of the advance
ed scale wherever offered.
On standing vote the resolution
was adopted by large majority. not
more than 100 delegates voting against
1t Many delegates accepted President
Mitchells suggestion that those who
voted in the negative could file their
names with the secretary. 4, =
A letter from Governor Gooding of
Idaho inviting a committee to investi-
gate conditions there was read
i A petition to allow President Mitchell
10 name such committee to go there
with President Gompers of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor was referred
10 the international executive board.
A message from the national eXecu-
| i've committee of the Socialist party
expressing sympathy was read.
Inc subject of the proposed expul-
sion from the organization of Patrick
Dolan and Uriah Bellingham of the
Plttsburg district which had been pro-