The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-01-18
MITCHELL DRAWS
OUT ENTHUSIASM
Announcement of Probable Con-
ference Ar0uSeS the Mine
Workers.
THINKS OPERATORS OUGHT
NOW TO RETURN FAV0RS
Miners Took Less Wages in
Hard Times, Should Share
Prosperity.

lNDlANAPOLlS, Ind, Jan. 1L-Prcsi-
dent John Mltchell's announcement yes
tcrday TINT Satisfactory progress Is
being made toward conference between
the mine workers and the operators of
tho anthracite region drew round after
round OF applause from lOG delegates as
scmbled in Tomlinson hall for the seven-
tcenth annual convention OF the United
Mine W orkcrS OF America. which began
In the morning This announcement was
made In the course OF the presidents an
nual report and address almost an in
cldental remark
His Word Enough.
There was no further explanation in
regard to the anthracite situation from
President Mitchell, but the word OF their
chief was enough and when. few
minutes later. delegates came in from the
streets with n rumor that President
Thomas OF tho Lehlgh Valley company
was reported to have said that the an
thracite operators had agreed TO hold
a conference with the committee ap-
pointed by the mine-workcrs In their
Shamokin convention, the enthusiasm
knew no bounds
In his annual address before the Mine
Workers convention, President John
Mitchell, in speaking OF the policy to be
pursued by the miners In the coming
Joint conference with the coal operators
said:
Mitchell Speaks of Policy.
You VIII recall the depression in the coal
trade in tho fall and winter OF 1903 which
eliminated in reduction Of wages In the
spring OF 1914. Tho adverse conditions pro
ynlling at that time continued during the
year l%N and even up TO the spring of 1905
From thu. time on there was gradual I'M
provement both in prices and tonnage, which
has continued until the present, and II the
activity in the iron market. in tho railroad,
induotral and commercial AFFAIRS OF tho coun-
try Is any barometer by which future condi-
lions may be foTecastcd. the prospect OF con-
.inned prosperity In the mining industry seems
assured,
Should Share Prosperity.
recognize the fact that there In little scnti.
ment and no philanthropy In the detcrmina-
tion OF our general wage agreement; however,
Ii appears TO me that inasmuch as wc snve
relief 10 our employers by accepting lower
rate OF wages at n time when there was little
demand for coal and when prices were falling
below a profitable margin they should rocip-
rocato and voluntarily share With us their
present and prospective prosperity.
recommend that tho scale committee take
ton Of their report,
In the opening paragraph "f this report ref
crcncn was made to the obstacles we have en-
countered In the work OF organization. Lest
cur language be misunderstood when speak
Of open foes and processing friends de-
sire. even at the risk OF giving onense and
inviting controversy. 10 say that We have been
attacked from TWO sources, which would
expect to be diametricnlly opposed:
Arraigns Union Wreckers
Ffrst-wc have had tho intense opposition of
who hsvc antaGonized every effort VIC have
made TO organize the non-union fields OF the
ana Mcysrdale districts OF Pennsylvania, the
Georges Creek district OF Maryland the State
Of Colorooo and the two Firginiss.
vigor-aithough with different weapons-by
organization styling Itself the Industrial
oriI,sted boSY tho Wes,sIn Eoaor.pion -
Miners
Tho recognized spokcsmcn of these orgeni-
nFlr .NlzIV,
fare os the coal miners: thoy seek to convey
the impression TINT the coal miners
duct their affairs successfully to manage
an organization OF their own choice.
Self Constituted Advisers.
Indeed. these sclf-constitutcd advisers none
Of whom. to my knowledge worked In
coal mino in his life and moot Of whom
have nnIo failures OF tho several orEanlza-
tons with which they have been connected
justify their attacks upon us by snyinS that
make trade agreements which so tie tho
HANDS OF our members as 60 render us unable
TO strike at any time during the year when
conditions would seem propitious. They loso
sight of tho fact that II we had no agree.
rnents and were therefore ot liberty to striko
at our own sweet VII. the operators would
bavo precisely the right.
Shows Substantial Gain.
Mr Mitchell said that notwithstanding
friends" there had been substantial
increase in the numerical strength of the
organization. the paId-up membership
having passed the 10000 mark. The gain
in the anthracite lcld was 41.477
President Mitchell said the committee
appointed al the Shamokin. Pa, conven-
tion to confer with representatives of the
mining companies for the purpose OF
formulating an agreement was making
satisfactory progress. He called atten-
tion to the increase In machine mined
coal to q IS per cent Of the total produc-
tion and urged that strenuous efforts be
made to establish a fixed dinerential.
Bill for Legislatures.
The executive board. he said, had pre-
pared a bill for presentation to State
Legislatures, the object OF which is to
provide for the examination OF persons
seeking employment In mines and so
prevent the employment OF incompetent
men, The bill passed In Congress for the
creation OF Government bureau OF
mines was indorsed in the address
Good Balance on Hand.
w. B. Wilson, secretary OF the United
Mine Workers, In his annual report, said
that notwithstanding the increase In the
per capito tax by the last convention, the
expenses of the organization had been
exceeded by the income by $2l4 iG5 There
are now 1894 men on strike In Alabama,
There is 81 l53 In the organzations
treasures. The total income for the
year was sl0 2G4 and the expenditures
81, ,GA 60. balance on hand $3.50. .64e 40
The balance on hand is the amount now
in bank to the credit of the National
treasury and does not Include the sums
in the treasures OF the districts sub
districts and local unions.