The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-01-18
MITCHELL GIVES
GOOD ACCOUNTS
or CONFERENCE BETWEEN oPER.
AToRs AND WORKERS.
He is HEARTILY ApPLAUDED.
United Mine Workers Of America In
Convention Twelve Hundred
Delegates Assemble In
lndlanapotis.

Indianapolis. Ind. Jan. 17--presi.
dent John Mitchell's announcement
that satisfactory progress is being
made toward a conference between the
mime workers and the operators Of the
anthracite region" drew round after
round Of apniAgae fro u 1900 delegates
assembled In Tomlinson hall for the
seventeenth annual convention of the
United Mine Workers OF America.
This announcement was made in the
course OF the presidents annual report
and address, almost as an incidental
remark There was no further ex-
PLANTATION in regard to the anthracite
situation from President Mitchell, but
the word Of their chief was enough,
and when, few minutes later, dele
gates came In from the streets with a
rumor that President Thomas OF the
Lehigh Valley company was reported
to have said that the anthracite oper-
ators had agreed to hold a conference
with the committee appointed by the
mine workers in their Shamokin con-
yention the enthusiasm knew no
bounds.
Among all OF the national officers,
though there Is no leak OF information,
one finds remarkable optimism regard
ing the outlook FOR peace In both
fields. The bituminous miners are
really expecting that the 5.55 per cent
reduction they accepted two years ago
will be regained this year.
What Strike Would Mean.
The United Mine Workers Of Amer.
lea now has more than 350,000 mem
bers, who mine rs per cent Of the coal
OF the country. The Importance OF
this year cannot be oyer-estimated.
Out OF II and the joint conferences
with the bituminous coal operators
YhiOn. will begin IN tihisn sncitys gannary
E25, win either come long period OF
peace IN the coal regions OF this coun.
try or a strike without a parallel In
the history CT the United States
practically complete cessation OF
operation In the bituminous and an
thracite coal fields east and west.
Such strike would call more than
425 900 miners out of the mines and
cut OF the supply Of steam coal that
keeps the wheels OF industry and
transportation revolving. Such n
strike, which Is more than possibil.
ity, though many may doubt the proba'
bility Of 1t, would make the great an
thracite strike Of three years ago ap-
pear tame In comparison.
/ . p
|gi, A Good Representation.
Addresses Of welcome were made By
Gov. Hanly, on behalf Of the state; The
odore Perry, president Of tho Central
Labor union, on behalf Of indianapolis
union labor. and Alfred Potts, president
OF the Commercial club, on behalf oil In
dianapolis institutions. Mayor Book
walters letter, welcoming the miners TO
the city, was read.
In the hall were number Of coal op-
orators and representatives OF several
railroads and other coal-consuminR In
terests. President Mitchell, Vice
President Lewis and Secretary Wilson,
Of the miners Organization. were given
enthusiastic receptions when they On.
tered the hall. Though the prelim-
mary work OF the convention, which
pressed closely on tho addresses, was,
long and tiresome, the delegates re-
mained In their seats and showed great
interest The report of the credentials
committee, seating the delegates.
showed that !, ,4e1 local unions were rep
resented.