The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-01-19
MINE WORKERS CON-
VENE AT INDIANAPOLIS.
President Mitchell Explains Meaning
of Decision of Recent Shamokin
Convention.
Special to the ocala Banner:

Special to the Ocala Banner:
Indianapolis. Ind, Jan. 1.-THE
question of war or peace in the coal
fields will largely depend upon the re-
suit of the seventeenth annual conven-
ton OF the United Mine Workers of
America, which opened here this
morning at Tomlinson Hall. The con-
ventiOn was called to order by Presi-
dent John Mitchell, who delivered an
address, explaining the prtsent stu
alton and gave a clear statement of
the decisions of the Anthricite Miners
convention at Shamokin. The rest of
the mornings session was devoted to
the appointment of committees and
other routine business.
There is a strong feeling of deter
minatiOn among the delegates To the
convention, based upon a full reali-
zation of the present situation and of
the prOboble precipitation of a serious
crisis in case it should be impossi-
tween the miners and the operators
All agreements as to wage scales,
ETC., between miners and operators in
fields expires on March 81. While it
cOnnot be said that the condition in
the bituminous fields are ideal, it
must be admitted that they are by no
fields. The miners in the bituminous
fields are not confronted with as SER
iOus a problem as those in the anthra-
cite fields, owing to demands recent
ly formulated by the anthracite miners
at the Shamokin convention. The mi
ners i'm the bituminOus coal fields will
undoubtedly make certain demands
beyond the conditions granted by
the operators under the present
agreement, but it is believed that an
agreement will be quickly be reached
without a great struggle. 1t is diff
feren from the anthracite miners.
Their demands are of such radical
nature that an acceptance of their
terms is scarscely expected. All that
can reasonably be hoped for is that
the operators, after mature deliber-
alton will consent to submitting the
matter To arbitration. Even that they
will not willingly do
The principle object in the way of
a settlement is the demand of the mi
ners for recognition of their union.
Many operators are known to be bit
terly opposed to the recognition of the
unoin. They fear that such recog-
milton will seriously cripple them in
it would. practically destroy any OPP
pOrtunity of dealing with their men in
dividually. A compromise is scar
scely to be expected, as the miners
fully understand the vital Importance
of the demanded recognition, without
which, they feel, no permanent i'm
provement of their condition can be
expected
The demands of the Anthracite
miners will be the first mater to be
considered by the convention and there
is but little doubt that the convention
will strongly endorse these demands.
President Mitchell and his trusty
lieutenants, District President Fahy,
Nichols and Dettry, who are conduct
ing the campaign of the anthracite
miners, are confident that the conven-
ton vii beck up the anthracite miners.
At the same time they will do their
best To hold down the radical elements
among the delegates and keep them
from committing any indiscretion,
which would precipitate a war be-
tween the miners and the operators
without hope of a final adjustment of
the existing differences.