The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1910-01-20
COAL MINERS
Will Unite


/ fed and aggressive combination OF
metal and coal miners of North A
merica is the design of the leaders of
the Western Federation of Miners
and the United Mine Workers of A
| merica, presented to the convention
of the latter body today.
The committees of the two organi-
zations will draw up plans for the al
| lance, which will be either an ANAL
gaTation or a working agreement. 1t.
will be offered to this convention for
ratification. The proposal was unani-
| moasly approved and The committee
| TO represent the coal miners in the
conference with the metal workers
will be announced tomorrow.
Indianapolis. Ind. Jan. 19.-Deplor-
ing the unprecedented loss of life in
the mines of America in 1908 and
1909, Edwin Perry, Treasur-
or of the United Mine Workers of
America, declared in the convention
today that, mot until the function of
protecting life is placed where it
rightfully belongs, namely on the op-
orator or mine owner, can We reason
ably expect any material change"
Continuing, he said: November
18th, one of the greatest mine dis
/ asters known in history, occurred at
Cherry, ILL.,, wherein upwards of three
hundred lives were sacrificed, and yet,
We as a nation, boast of our progress
| and development, but are compelled
TO confess that human life becomes
a secondary consideration as far as
this important industry is concerned.
Well may we ask ourselves the ques-
ton: How long will we permit this
great human slaughter to continue.
and see hundreds and thousands of
our men carried to untimely graves?
We have every reason to believe that
with adequate protection through leg
islativc enactments, tae danger to
life would be minimized at least three
fold All the legislation unless accom-
panied by severe penalties would not
bring about the desired results. Not
only should our laws provide every
necessary safeguard, but what is of
infinitely more Importance would be
liability law wherein the mine own
ers would be held financially respon-
sible for injuries and loss of life"
Mr.. Perry demanded that the con
vention should go on record in favor
of remedial Legislation in the several
states and by the federal government
to minimize the dangers that now sur
round the subterranean toilers. In
this connection, he made three sug
gestions, and said: Il would first rec
ommend that we demand from Con
gress law that will tax every ton of
coal mined, to provide a fund for our
| widows and orphans rendered home
less rs result of mine accidents.
and those injured and manned should
also become beneficiaries of this fund.
Secondly, tlis convention should EN-
phasiZe our position of former years.
and demand the enactment of law
creating a bureau of mines and min
ing. And thirdly, until such time as
| the function of protection of life is
placed where it rightly belongs, |
suggest that we continue to enforce,
| through the power of our organiZa-
| tion, such remedies as will make i'm
possible a repetition of the appalling
catastrophe which occurred at Cher.
| ry."
Mr.. Perry outlined the formation of
| permanent relief fund on the basis
Of the donation of one days wages
| annually by each member of the min
ers' organization, to be augmented by
an equivalent sum from the operators.
to be used in cases of emergency in
mine disasters.
Statistics of the financial condition
Of the organization were read by the
Secretary-Treasure showing that the
paid-up membership for the current
| year is slightly in excess of that of
/ 1905 the previous banner year an6
also calling attention to the large de
crease in surplus funds. due to the
continuance of a strike in district 26,
Nova Scotia. The recapitulation of
the financial report showed a balance
On hand December 1, 1908, of 1896, 739
The income through the year to De-
cember 1, 1909. ss31,73O. making a
total OF $1.z27,47O. The expenditures
were listed at 1856. .es9. leaving bal
ance of s470.620.