Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-21
UNITED MINE WORKERS MEET
Features of Convention VIII Re Fight
for Control of Organization and
Anthracite Scale.

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 2o.-The twentieth
annual convention of the United Mine
Workers of America organized for bust
ness today. In several of the addresses of
welcome was expressed the hope that how
ever intense might become the controversy
over factional questions, all the member
ship would be the more loyal to the or
Ganization and determined to labor for it's
progress.
There are many candidates for the Of
fices of vice president and secretary-treas-
urer, and all say DEFENDERS balloting was
not decisive. A majority is required for
these two offices. f. S. McCulloch, presi-
dent of the Michigan miners. is mentioned
as President Lewis candidate for vice
president, and w. D. Van Horn of Indiana
is spoken of as the candidate Of the OPP
posing faction led by John Waller, presi-
dent of the Illinois miners union.
The anthracite field OF Pennsylvania is
well represented. \ new wage agreement
must be made by the anthracite miners to
take the place of President Roosevelt's
strike commissions award, which expires
April 1. This will come up in the conven-
ton.
WINNIPEG, Man, Jan. N.-There is
great unrest among the coal miners en-
gagged in the southern Alberta and British
Columbia mines and before the renewal of
the two years agreement on April l. 5Noo
men may go on strike. This would mean
a great shortage in the coke supplv in the
Montana and Washington camps at sno.
kane. Great Falls. Helena and the Butte
shelters, besides tying up the steam coal
supply of the Great Northern, Canadian
Pacific and Canadian Northern railways
The men demand an increase in pay.
President Lewis introduced his report by
reviewing the results Of the special ses-
sion OF the representatives of the organ
izatlon held in indianapolis last March.
which resulted in the adoption of the pol
icy that the various districts, separately
or In groups. should endeavor to agree
with the operators on contracts for one
year and at no reduction of wages. The
interstate Joint agreement had not been
re-established.
president Levi proceeded to the consid-
eratlon or the suspension of the officers OF
district No. II, Indiana, following upon the
dispute as TO the settlement of the Hud-
son mine strike.
Efforts to reach an agreement betu,eer
miners and operators failed, and Mr.. Lewis
proposed that the miners return to work
pending an investigation to be made by
~ 49, W OllSIllS Il InuIuallN
agreeable plan Of reconciliation. His ad-
vice was not accepted by the union of Dis
trict No. II, and the controversy resulted
in the suspension order of the executive
board, This question is brought to your
attention." said Mr.. Lewis, because it in
wolves the authority and Jurisdiction of the
international organization. This convention
should decide whether or not the interna-
tional executive board is the highest au-
thority in the organization when a conven-
ton is not In session.
1T Is evident from the decision rendered
by Judge Wright in the alleged contempt
case OF Samuel Gompers, president OF the
American Federation of Labor, and his as
sociates, that the injunction question is
now to be settled BY the highest courts OF
the land. The injunction question is not a
new one. 1t is older than the government
OF the United States. 1t is a part Of Eng.
lish common law. 1t is good and bad, like
many other things, depending upon its ap.
plication.
In the last two or three decades il ha.
been made an instrument of evil in its ap,
~plication to organized labor"