The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-01-19
MINE WORKERS IN
annual CONVENTION
ATTENDANCE eMALL OWING TO
ABSENCE OF WAGE DIS.
CUSTOM.
PRESIDENT MITCHELL
CALLS BODY TO ORDER
Address Of Leader Shows Great De.
crease in Membership-vice Pres.
ident Declares Need of National
Organization Necessary.


ident Declares Need of National
Organization Necessary.
Indianapolis, Ind. Jan. lG.--'rhe
eighteenth annual convention OF the
United Mine Workers Of America
opened here Tuesday with 500 dele
gates from the bitun,iuous districts OF
the country and 25 delegates from the
three districts Of the anthracite field.
The decreased attendance at this
convention is due to tho fact that no
wage scale is to be discussed, as an
agreement for three years was signed
In 1906 between the miners and the
operators.
The strike in Kentucky is the only
serious trouble that is now engaging
the attention OF the officers of the
miners. The affairs Of the organiza-
ton are in a quieter state than for
years. The most important subject to
come before tho convention will be the
Mitchell that the interstate agreement
be re.established and that ovcrtures
be made to the operators with this OBJ.
ject.
The convention was called to order
by President MITCHELL and representa-
tives OF the state and local labor or
CARNATIONS welcomed the delegates.
Responses were made by President
Mitchell and other officers, and the
work of settling the credentials of the
delegates began.
Address Of President Mitchell.
In his annual address President
John Mitchell said tho past year had
been most eventful with it's suspen-
sion of work to enforce the restoration
Of the wage scale of 1903. and he be-
lieved the policy adopted had been for
the best. While the membership show
ed a decrease of $500 ON the records
ON account of cXoneraton from dues
vt many members who had been on
strike, there had in reality been an in
crease.
The anthracite field shows de-
crease of 1920 members. and the
president insisted upon increased ac-
tivity in organization. Unless other
wise instructed he will put number
of organizers in that field. For the
first time in years the organization liz
practically free from strikes. Less
money is being expended by unions
for idle men than at any previous time.
The address urged the re.establish-
ment Of the interstate conference and
recommended that the executive COM
mite negotiate with the operators of
the central competitive field during
the present year for an interstate
meeting prior to April. 1908.
To show the Importance of machine
mining, the address stated that last
year IA per cent Of the bituminous
production was machine mined. At
tention was called to an increasing
number OF casualties in mines. legis.
lation was asked for providing for an
examination of persons admitted to be
employed in mines.
Organization Must Be National.
L.
port. deplored the action Of the last
national convention of miners in adopt.
ing the policy Of permitting the sign
ing n a wage scale by districts and
locally. lie insisted that the organiza.
ton must maintain a national charac-
ter. and claimed that as a. result of the
action of last year the membership of
the organization has decreased $4,000.
The report said:
I'm the early part Of the summer,
there existed among our members a
widespread feeling of discomfort. So
great WAS this feeling Of dissatisfac.
tion that it materially interfered with
the progress Of the organization.
have sent thousands of letters to diff.
1erent localities FOR the purpose Of re,
storing confidence among our Nom.
bers. have also attended numerous
local unions and mass meetings for
the same purpose.
while there has been a large loss
in membership during the past year,
there has been a steady increase in
the membership the past several
months. and yet there is tremen.
dous loss in our membership com.
pared to what it Was year ago."
Mr.. Lewis said the organization
could not remain stationary while any
districts was unorganized. He said
that while a greater number Of miners
was employed in the mines of Penn.
sylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West
Virginia in 1906 than in 1905, the
membership in those states had de-
creased from 128.0sa to 79.1S". He
said the reason for this loss was the
extra assessment and dissatisfaction
with the terms of last years settle
! ment. The three-year wage agreement
also had caused some men to drop out;
as they did not feel the necessity Of
organization.
Mr.. Lewis insisted that the need of
| an organization, national in every par.
ticuIar, is Imperative.
l E1nakAA CAnoknr