Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-21
Report Characterizes Conditions
in Kansas, Missouri and
Arkansas as DepIorabIe
SEEK 6-HoUR LAW IN 3 STATES
Recommend Federal Law for the
Wiping Out of Wild Cat
terS in Nevada
[Assnciated Press1

DENVER, July 20.-The report of
the executive board of the Western
Federation of Miners, made to the
convention here today reviews con-
ditions in the mining fields in which
the federation is active.
Conditions in Kansas, Missouri and
Arkansas are characterized as deplor-
able In this field, the report says,
wages are low, sanitary conditions are
bad and there is a lack of intelligence
and unity among the workmen.
The Joplin, Mo-, district, where H.
600 men are employed, is described as
particularly bad.
District No. 4, comprising Colorado,
New Mexica and Utah, is more pros
porous than last year.
There are comparatively few miners
idle at present. Efforts are belng
made to organize 5000 men employed
in the mines and smelters of Gar
field, Murray and Bingham, Utah.
Seventy-five per cent of the workers
in these camps are Greeks and Aus
trians.
In Nevada, Arizona and Southern
California, conditions are improving,
the report states, but Nevada is still
suffering from "wildcatters" and most
of the work is being done in produc-
ing properties. The report recon-
mends the agitation for a federal law
wiping out the "wildcatter" who, it
states, exploits a prospect and leaves
the miner to hold the bag.
CONDITIONS sTAGNANT
Mining conditions are stagnant in
Idaho, and the greater portions or
Washington and California except in
the larger camps. The railroads and
some of the larger mines in California,
the report asserts, are ignoring the
state eight hour law.
Conditions in Canada are described
as good, but little is known of Alaska
because federation officials have been
unable to send out mail in the WIN
ter and steamship service has only
recently opened.
The report suggests that the federa-
ton use its influence to have a six
hour law for the mines passed IN
Nevada Montana and Arizona because
of intense heat in the mine workings
1t asserts there is more ice used IN
the mines underground in NeVada
than on the surface because OF the m
tense heat and that the miners work
with ice packed in their rubber boots.
Sometimes they are compelled to stand
in water Which is at temperature
of 13O degrees. Ninety degrees tenn
perature is d common thing In the
three named states, says the report.
The executive committee asks that
one days pay of 9ach miner De coIl-
tributed to the organization fund and
another similar sum to the defense
fund. 1t is asserted that there are
100000 miners unorganized and the
organization fund viii be used to urge
them to join unions.
Charges were made formally against
]. p Madigan of White Falls, Mont
a delegate to the convention, to the
effect that he served as railroad dep
uty sheriff in the Great Northern
strike last winter. Madigan denies the
charges and the matter was referred
to a committee for investigation.
John Powers was seated as dele
gate from the Butte union over the
contest of w. E. Bradley.
A number of resolutions bearing on
recommendations from the president
and the executive board were intro
duced and referred.
President Meyer appointed the com
mittee, authorized by the convention,
to go to Arizona and New Mexico
to Investigate the feasibility of or
ganizing a labor union party in the
coming elections for delegates to the
constitutional convention. I. j. Tur-
ner of Jerome Ariz., is the chairman.
The committee was instructed to re-
port to the convention in two weeks.