The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-15

istration of MT. Gray than during the administration of his predecessor, MT. Hooper. He also stated that the Inspector had approved a ruling at Piper No. ?. just after the accident in that mine, al lowing the drilling of eighteen inch holes on the level, that no man who understood his business and had a regard for hu- man life would have thought of sustain ing. Other members of the convention also took occasion to condemn the rul- ings of the state inspector
 The following committee was finally appointed to draft resolutions on the letter: James Savage, Joseph Wallwork, James Boyklns and H. c. Henderson This committee will report to the convention this morning.
 J. R. Kennemar delegate to the last | State Federation of Labor next told the convention of the matters of interest that had come under his observation dur ing the deliberations of that body. This was accepted by the convention as the report of the delegate who had been sent ! to the federation.
 l After his address, Vice President Greer introduced committee of two negro women, who came to the convention to speak in behalf of the colored hospital that 1t is proposed to erect at smith field Mrs J. R. England, the well known educator and charity worker then made strong appeal to the. miners to help l in the movement by adding to an annual appropriation of $25 which was formerly | voted to the cause and to pay mp back money which had been allowed to lapse. This matter was taken up at the aft ernoon session and after lengthy dis cussion was referred to the different | locals.
 Fraternal delegates from the Alabama l State Federation of Labor and the Bir- mingham Trades Council were introduced | about II o'clock and delivered short speeches of interest to the miners which l were liberally applauded.
 Anti-Boycott Law. 1 c. c. Houston, representing the State Federation of Labor, spoke briefly on the righteousness of unionism. In the course of his talk he took occasion to l condemn in scathing terms the anti boycott law. He urged the union men to realize the opportunity they have the unanimity of voting, to put their own | representatives in office.
 Andrew Marx, president of the Bir- mingham Trades Council, advised the miners to stand together and use only 1 goods bearing the union label l J. R. Drake, secretary-treasurer of the l Alabama State Federation of Labor, told the members of the convention that he came as the representative of the general labor league committee to invite the miners to take part in the labor day celebrations which they propose to make | unusually attractive this year. The speech of F, P. O'Brien, represen- tative from the Bartender's local was a vigorous arraignment of MT. Gray and his policy. He said:
 l Cheer up, you are the fighters of the day" and told the miners that they have the support of the Trades Council in their fight.
 Other committees that were not ready to report yesterday are expected to be heard from today, when the convention takes up the order of business at g o'clock
 In connection with the speech of MT. Farley Wednesday, condemning many of the specifications of the inspector, MT. Gray has addressed to him the following communication:
 Letter to Fairley.
 Birmingham, Ala, June IA 1906. Mr w. R. Fairley, Board Member District
 No 20, r. M w. of A, Birmingham, 1 Ala:
 Dear Sir--1 see from the papers that you are putting up a howl about my require ments of the miners in the working of the coal and timbering the roof of the Alabama coal mines. And the only point you have tried to make is on brushing gas, this Is in rule eight, which you have either misread. or cannot understand plain | English, or have maliciously misstated the contents of the rule in order to prejudice the minds of the delegates SC | as to divert their minds from the status | and conditions of the facts as they stand today in our mines as whole, and the conditions as regards the strike situation The rule reads, No man, (miner or any one else) must attempt to brush out the gas without a safety lamp to examine the place with, to see if 1t Is all out When brushing gas all open lamps must be blown out where gas is liable to be brush ed onto them or swept by the air current