Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-31

ed until the state conventions meet
next week
President Mitchell expects to leave
Sunday for New York to meet in joint
conference with the anthracite opera
tors. National Secretary Wilson will
leave at the same time to attend the
Central Pennsylvania at Clearfield.
President Mitchell had control of the
convention through its sessions. He
signified today that if the convention
did not adopt the resolution permitting
the miners to sign wherever the adj
vance scale was paid, he would resign.
The vote was almost unanimous. al
though Vice President Lewis took Il
vigorous. position against it.
indianapolis, Ind, March 30.-Presi-
dent John Mitchell in calling the ma
tional convention of the United Mine
Workers OF America to order today
said:
Gentlemen. the purpose in asking
for a separate convention of the min
ers is to determine the policy that we
shall pursue
Secretary Wilson read the resolution
adopted last night by operators of ILL
nOis, Indiana. Ohio and western Penn
sylvania, asking the President of the
United States to appoint a commission
TO investigate mining conditions. Pres
ident Mitchell announced he had sent
a telegram TO the President stating
that 30 per cent. of the tonnage in the
states mentioned in the resolution were
willing to pay the advance asked.
w. d. Ryan of Illinois moved that
the communication be placed on file for
further reference. This was adopted
unanimously.
President III. c. Perry Of the Illinois
miners offered the following:
Resolved, That this convention au-
thoriZes the national and district Off
Gals to make agreements with any and
all parties engaged in the operation of
coal mines, the same to provide for the
restoration of the scale paid in 1908 for
mining day labor and dead work for a
period of two years beginning April l.
1906. III tine central competitive field and
the equivalent Of the above demands to
be the basis in all other bituminOus
districts"
Mr.. Mitchell said the Ryan resolution
had never been formally rescinded, but
the report of the scale committee had
virtually nullilied il.
w. d. Ryan, author Of the resolution,
said he did not think it necessary to
rescind formally. ''It has done it's
work." said he, and has Ipade them
put up the price. We have the best
chance now that we ever had to right
some wrongs existing in western Penn
Sylvania. | believe that can be best
done by signing the scale where it is
offered. | know it will be a guerrilla
warfare, but | believe it is the best
thing to do. l realize that this will not
be popular in Illinois, but we can take
care of ourselves and you miners of IL
linOis will not be put in position
where you will have To arbitrate any
thing. My advice to you miners of Hi
nois is 10 adopt the resolution and let
use go home and fight it out. will say
Illinois will not cost the national or
ganiZation one cent" (Applause).
Delegate Savage opposed the divi-
sion of the miners forces that would
follow the adoption Of the resolution
II believe that with Patrick Henry"
said ne. "if we don't hang together, we
will hang separately
Mr. Perry of Illinois said the miners
could not secure the sympathy of the
country if they did not allow the men
to go to work where their demands
were met. A delegate moved the pre-
vious question. President Mitchell ruled
the motion out of order.
President Mitchell then took the
floor. He said:
You shall know what policy I be-
lieve would best conserve your inter-
ests. l am concerned for the people
who mine and who depend upon coal
mining for their livelihood. l am also
concerned about the people of this
country. 1 know how popular it is to
talk strike, but I also know what a
difference there is when passion has
cooled. l know there have been large
operators who have opposed an advance
who will not wait 10 days before sign
ing the scale. My best judgment is that
we should make settlements with those
operators who will pay our scale and
employ union men. I shall not ba y
party to and there shall be no sigma
ture from the national office attached
to any contract if the Perry resolution