The daily tribune., 1908-01-23
A BIG COAL STRIKE
MOVEMENT UNDER WAY

Distinct rumblinRs are heard from
a. far away as Indianapolis and If
the reports are true labor and capital
are about to be thrown into fierce
struggle for supremacy. When Dele
gate W. O. Gilbert. the Fremont
county delegate to the United Mine
Workers Of America convention, now
In session in Indiana. left this city,
he stated that important developments
would come up but he did not think
there would be a strike inaugurated.
The following dispatch has been
sent out from indianapolis and is full
Of interest to Florence AS so many
coal mines are located near here:
indianapolis, Ind. = A gigantic
strike of coal miners, which would in
two months exhaust the coal supply |
Of th&entire country and result in
the greatest fuel famine ever known
in the United States. is one of the
possible results of the convention here |
Of the United Mine Workers Of Amer
ica.
That the convention will be the
most important in the history Of the |
United Mine Workers. not only to
the miners aud the operators, but tc
the public at large. is certain. 1t
will mark the retirement Of John
Mitchell. admittedly the worlds
most influential labor leader, from
the presidency Of the organization.
and this alone is sufficient to make the
meeting a memorable one.
At this convention the question Of
renewing the interstate agreement
will be taken up. and it is the posi-
BILE failure of settlement of this
problem that may bring about the
greatest tieun of the coal mining
industry ever known in the. United
States For many years miuers have
been attempting to secure the adop-
tion Of set day for all agreements
between the mine workers and oper-
ators to expire. By this means, the
union, when seeking for increased pay
or improved conditions aud In iling to
get the desired results might be in n
position to act rs a unit and cut off
the entire coal supply simultaneously
all over the country. thus forcing the
mine owners to meet their demands.
With universal agreement day, the
power Of the United Mine Workers
would be doubled. The operators re-
nlixe this and will fight any attempt
to secure Its adoption.
While both the miners and the op-
orators declare that they desire peace,
both sides are actively engaged in
preparing for war. and the signifi.
canoe Of these preparations is not to
be mistaken.
John Mitchell's retirement at this
time renders the situation all the
more preoarious. With his firm hand
removed from the helm, there may
be breakers ahead for tho United
Mine Workers. The candidates for
the successorship OF Mitchell are W.
b. Wilson the present secretary treas
urer, and Thomas Lewis, the vice
president. While both are familiar
with the working Of the organization
and are able men. neither is likely
to come up to the standard set by
President Mitchell. who combined
conservatism with fearlessness and
ability In his management of the
affairs Of the organization. That
the United Mine Workers OF America
has n membership of nearly half
million and has become one Of the
strongest labor unions In the world
is largely due to the efforts Of John
Mitchell, who built up the great
army Of under ground toilers with
only a weak aud inefiiciently organ
lied body Of men ~ q nucleus. =.
All over the country the miners are
eagerly discussing the outcome Of the
convention. They have needed the
advice Of John Mitchell and have
boon hoariing their money for strug-
gle. Tho treasury Of the national
orRanixatiun In ranorta,l To la In