The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-15
Walkout Involving 425,00O Coal
Miners Debated by Mine
Workers.
MITCHELL HOPEFUL
OWNERS WILL YIELD
Declares the Urgency Of Situation
Ought to Impress the
Operators.

Indianapolis, March 15.-The nation
al convention of the United Mine Work
ers Of America opened today with more
than 1000 delegates present, represent
ing 1as1 locals The eenysntion has
consider action which may result in an
agreement with the coal operators. Such
an agreement would prevent general
strike Of $4,000 men on April /. The
conference with the operators here will
begin next Monday.
After the last convention Of the mine
workers, adjourned Feb. q, following
conference with the operators which
had failed to arrive at wage agree
ment, a strike on April seemed newt
At that convention the miners de-
manded an increase in wages Of 1911
per cent, the admission Of the south
western states, a Z per cent differential
between machine and pick mining,
1914 per cent advance for yardage and
dead work, prohibition Of employment
of boys under 16 years of age, an eight
hour day, one-year contract and
run-of-mine basis.
The Ryan Resolution!
The miners also adopted resolution
offered by Mr.. Ryan Of Illinois that no
district should sign a wage agreement
until all the districts signed. This ac-
ton, known as the Ryan resolution,
VIII come before the convention for ac-
nous miners cannot sign wage agree
ment until the anthracite miners SIGN
an agreement with their operators.
The operators, on the other hand, de-
manded reduction of from 10 to Is
per cent, protection against stampede
strikes and better system Of adiudica.
ting local troubles.
When the convention met today, diff
ferences that have appeared to exist be-
tween President Mitchell and Vice
resident Lewis were apparently laid
aside and it was the expressed wish Of
both officials that personal matters
should not interfere with the more inn
portant work of the convention in order
front. rs. 81
Mitchell Hopeful. q,
when tie credentials committee had
concluded it's report, the reading of
which occupied several hours, Presfdent
Mitchell formally called the Convention
to order and said:
While, of course, the many conflict
ing and inharmonious statements ema-
mating from various sources purport-
oNo3 sNSSAAA W 1hN&SoGO al C4LlI0 absence
OF unity and concord among them in re-
gard to the question of advancing
| wages, L am, nevertheless hopeful, if
| not fully convinced, that the urgency
and seriousness of the situation viii
prompt them to make such reasonable
| concessions'in the matter of wages and
conditions as will enable us to Join
them in the rehabilitation of our joint
| movement and the perpetnation Of the
practical business relationship under
which we have worked with mutual adj
vantage during the past eight years.
And to this end fell it Incumbent
upon me to say that very large de-
gree Of responsibility will rest upon us
if these proposed negotiations lead to
success.
| The anthracite scale committee did
not meet as planned. The meeting will
be held probably tonight. The COM
mittee is to receive the operators re-
/ ply. Members of the committee ex-
press the belief that no lengthy reply
to the operators would be advisable,
and 1t seems probable that the entire
matter will be left to an anthracite
convention which probably will be
called to meet at Shamokin or Wilkes
barre the week after next.