The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-06-29
WESTERN MINERS TALK :
Of NEW FEDERATION
"Concerted Political Action of the
Laboring Glass; Is the
WatchW0rd.
Western Federation of Miners Dis
satisfied With I. w. w.
Propose New Scheme.

DEN VER, COlO., June T.-Ihe an
nual convention of the Western Fed
GRAFTON of Miners now in session in
this city is grinding out it's business
with remarkable dispatch. At yester-
days session committee reports were
adopted recommending two important
constitutional amendments. If these
are finally adopted it will mean that
hereafter no strikes will be called un-
til the question has been put to a
referendum vote. And that men,
ber may be sent to a convention as
delegate one year after he joins the
federation instead of two, as at pres
ent. He must be bona fide wage
worker employed in the mining busi-
ness.
Illinois is to be added to the terri
tory under the jurisdiction of the
Western Federation of Miners. This
will give twenty-one states, besides
the territory north of the United
States boundary.
To Prohibit Contracts.
The convention has by the decisive
voice of 345 to Is voted to adopt the
resolution which directs an amen1-
ment to the constitution declaring
null and void and prohibiting in the
future all signed contracts or verbal
agreements which may have been en-
tered into between any local union or
unions Of the Federation for any spe-
Gifted length of time.
Many of the local unions demand
the privilege of home rule in so fer
as the matter Of contracts is concern.
ed. Among these are those in the
Butte district, which is the strong
hold of the Federation. Thee map
possibly rebel and refuse to rescind
the five-year contracts they signed
with the mine operators this last
spring.
A committee report in favor OF the
adoption of new preamble to the
constitution, as proposed by Delegate
Percy Rawling Of Goldfield, was pro
ductive of an extended argument. The
first section of the proposed new pre-
amble is under discussion. 1t reads
I'VE hold that there is 4 class
struggle in society, and that this
struggle is caused by economic con
ditions."
Radical Speeches Loud. r..
~--~- Delegate Rawling, q leader Of 1T the
radicals, supported the new preamble
in revolutionary language. He de-
clared, among other things:
There can be no friendly relations
between employer and employed be-
cause there can no friendship be-
tween the thief and the man he robs
1.-The time has come to discard the
present preamble, with other super
stitious beliefs.
1--WE are enemies to all employers
and we are rebels to the present form
of the United States governmnr In
so far as it's economical construction
is concerned"
The preamble as presented reads
like the platform Of the Socialist par
ty, and is being supported by thai
element in the convention as an open
ing wedge for political control by the
Socialists.
"You may adopt it and the MAORI
ty of the organization may declare fol
it on referendum VOTE said Dele
gate McMullen Of Butte, "but II you
do you will disrupt the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners as an organization
To Invest in Mines.
1t was stated by individual dele
gates to the Western Federation O,
Miners convention yesterday after
noon that the organization will IN all
probability invest a part OF it's sur
plus funds in mining property in Col
orado, Utah, Idaho and Montana. The
question has not yet come up for dis
cussion on the flor Of the convention
but it is promised that 1t will be
brought up in the form OF a resOlu
ton this week.
Should the measure be adopted
prospectors will be delegated to &C
into the mining regions of the stats
named and locate what are considered
promising claims. These are to bt
filed in the name of the Federation.
A radical departure is to be made
by the Federation in the method o.
calling strikes. The convention ha:
practically decided upon a new con
stitional amendment calling for a ref
erendum vote by any local union be
fore strike is called, two-thirds O.
those voting to answer in the affirm
ative.
Under the present system a strike
may be ordered by any union WheI
three-fourths of it's resident member:
vote in favor of it and their action il
ratified by the executive board.