The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-07-25
United Mine Workers Will Be AL
lowed Control of Coal Fields :
in the Future.
FIRM PACT 1szPLANNED
WILL SOON BE RATIFIED
Powerful Western Organization
Will Bel Interested Only in !
Meta4iferops Unions.

Jurisdiction fight hetween the United
Mine Workers Of sAmerica and the
Western FederationI OF Miners is end
ed, and the many: bitter things that
have been said In the past will never
again be revived. The terms of agree
ment have been practically arranged
and will be ratified at q meeting of
President: t. L. Lewis Of the Mine
Workers and the officers: of the West
ern federation; 4
BY it's, terms the Western Federation
will waive all future rights over the
coal miners of the Western fieids;> will
make no further effort to get them
in their unions and allow the 1900
coal miners now In the Organization
to leave the federation and join the
United Mine Workers without a pro-
test If they SO desire. There are about
six locals of coal miners now In the
federation. Z, II =.
The Western federation will retain
jurisdiction over all OF the metallifer-
Gus workers. President Lewis does
not ask that any of the locals give
up their charters at once, but to wall
until time and circumstances show the
wisdom of a gradual union with the
United. Mine Workers. He did not
demand that the Federation locals OF
coal miners discontinue their organ
ization and said he would not use
the sertngth Of his powerful organiza-
ton to enforce an agreement II the
locals were not willing. He was sure
the half dozen unions would come into
his fold in. course Of time without any
feeling and without difficulty. ..,
= New Era FOR Miners.
The understanding is to be definite
and for all time and marks a new
era In the work Of the miners organ
izatfons' in the west. The constitution
Of the Western Federation provides
that it have Jurisdiction over all un-
ions. In tesrit Nv, including both
coaf aafd metallic workers.z~1Eh
United Mine Workers constitution
gives it's Jurisdiction over all coal min
ers and no others -
+ The agreement will thus call for the
change in the federation constitution
which will cause It to waive it sjuris-
dictton over the coal miners, President
Lewis said he would not expect locals
like the Western Federation local ir
Montana, composed exclusively: OF Goa
miners; to give up it's charter. It Is
one Of the pioneer locals Of the feder.
alton an dthe big organization grew
around it. =.
Il believe that an agreement salts.
factory to both sides will be reached
before President Lewis of the United
Mine Workers leaves the city," sale
President c. H. Meyer of the Western
Federation today. After a conference
be held Friday there will be no further
trouble in reaching an understanding
About $500 Of our men will be giver
an opportunity to join the United Mine
Workers If they desire to.
I'VE have never made any parttcu.
lar effort to invade the coal minins
fields and they have come to US volun.
tarily. Organizers did no aggressive
work in their fields"
:" By the terms Of the agreement thu
Western Federation will still remai1
outside the breastworks of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor, as the agree:
ment, while satisfactory to both sides
In no way amounts to affiliation OF tn,
two miners organizations,