The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-16
Mine Workers
Show Big Loss
VICE PRESIDENT LEWIS SAYS
SLUMP IN MEMBERSHIP FOL,
LOWED EXTRA AS.
sEssMENTs.

81 -ss ~ ~ i3fl,s
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. Jan. l6s
When the United Mine Workers of
America met IN annual convention,
here yesterday the report Of the Gre.
dentlals committee developed that the
organization had failed to replenish its
.miilion.doi1are defense fund. The as
sessment was authorized during the
strike last year. 1t is still in effect,
but the report showed that a large
percentage of the members had fall.
ed to comply with the order. Accord.
ing to the first report Of the commit.
tee at least half Of the locals of the
three anthracite districts did not pay.
the assessment. m
Not more than 500 delegates from
the bituminous district and 25 from
the three districts of the anthracite
field were present when President
Mitchell called the convention to or.
der. The decreased attendance is
due to the fact no wage scale Is to be
discussed, as an agreement for three
years was. signed in 1906 between the
miners and the operators, The af-
fairs Of the Organization are In a
qnieter state than for years. The
most important subject to come be-
fore the convention will be the recom-
mendation of President Mitchell that
the interstate agreemnt be re-estab.
fished and that overtures be made to
the operators with this object,
President MiteheiFs Report.
In his annual address President
Mitchell said the past year has been
most eventful. with its suspension OF
work to enforce the restoration of
the wage scale OF 1903, and he be-
1teved the policy, adopted had been for
the best. While the membership list
showed a decrease of $3.50 on the
records, on account of exoneration
from, dues of many members who had
been on strike, there had in reality
been IN increase. The address urged
the re.establishment of the Interstate
conference and recommended that
the executive council negotiate with
the operators of the central competi-
tive field during. thenpresent year for
an interstate meeting prior to April,
1908.
To show the importance of ma
chine.mining the address stated that
last year Il per cent of the bitumin-
GUS production was machine.mined.
Attention was called to an increasing
number of casualties in mines. Legfs-
lation was asked for providing for an
examination Of persons permitted to
be employees. ao.ygs.S
Membership Has Decreased.
Vice President Lewis in his report
said that while more miners we're en-
ployed in Pennsylvania, Maryland.
Virginia and West Virginia in 1906
than in 1905, the membership in those
States had decreased from 12s.o02 to
1913. He said the reason for this
was the extra assessment and dissat-
isfaction with last years settlement.
The financial report OF Secretary
Treasurer W. 3. Wilson for the year
ending November 30. 1906, showed
there was on handsss61 ,e51 when the
strike of 100000 men began. A set
tfement was reached before the re-
serve was needed. except in district
number two, Central Pennsylvania
and district number SIX, Ohio, in which
international treasury funds were ex-
pended. July IL the organization had
expended sa7,;o7 mere money than
1t had in the treasury, aud an extra
strike assessment OF so cents a week
was made. The organization has pad
for strike benefits in the last seven
years s5.191. 54477.