United labor bulletin. (Denver, Colo.) 19??-1915, 1910-03-04
MAKING LABOR UNION HISTORY.
Continued from Page ~

continuing the present agreement VI d
mutual exchange of transfer cards.
"Third-We favor cooperation of the
organizers of the two unions in organlz-
ing tht nonunion coal miners and metal
miners in every section of the American
continent.
"Fourth-We recommend to the West
ern Federation of Miners that they make
application for affiliation with the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, on condition
that the present jurisdiction of the West
ern Federation of Miners and United
Mine Workers will be recognized by the
executive council of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor
"Fifth-We declare in favor of form
ing mining department under the juris-
diction of the American Federation OF
Labor to control the mining industry of
the American continent along similar
lines to those departments which are
now organized under the jurisdiction of
the American Federation of Labor.
"Sixth-In the event that this general
outline is ratified by representatives OF
the United Mine Workers of America and
the Western Federation of Miners, either
in convention or by referendum vote
all details to bring about better work
ing alliance to be referred to the inter
national executive boards of the West
ern Federation of Miners and the United
Mine Workers of America.
"Seventh-That whatever agreement
this joint committee may reach, is tenta-
tive and not binding on either organiza-
ton. but subject to the action OF each
organization. either of whom has the
right to accept reject or modify this
proposition, and nothing shall be binding
on either organization, unless ratified by
both"
The foregoing recommendations of the
Joint committee were unanimously
adopted by the convention of the Coal
Miners, and when the committee of the
w F. of NJ. returned to Denver steps
were Immediately taken to refer the sub
ject matter to a referendum vote in ac-
cordance with the provisions of their or
ganic law AS stated before, that vote
is now about to be taken
This article would be sadly incomplete
did it not give in full the statement of
fact made by the w. F. of NJ. committee
in the circular mentioned 1t follows in
full:
Your committee has given this matter
the careful thought which its great i'm
portance merits. and while they realize
that there will be those among the men,
bership who will question their motives
and criticise their actions yet, feeling
that they were elected by the seven
teenfh annual convention for the pur-
pose of outlining some plans whereby
the men employed in the mining indus
try, at least, could be brought closer to-
gether on the Industrial field, and after
listening to the advice of the representa-
tives of the United Mine Workers of
America. with whom they had asked
they now believe that if the
Western Federation of Miners are sin
cere in their expressed desire to enter
into q closer relationship with the Ameri-
can labor movement, that the report OF
the joint committee submitted to you
should be unanimously adopted.
An afHliatioR with the American Fed
ration of Labor, which is the American
labor movement of this country, under
the terms proposed by the joint commit
lee, continues the present JURISDICTION OF
he Western Federation of Miners and
The United Mine Workers of America.
It would insure under this agreement the
elimination of ali jurisdictional centro-
yersies such as we are now involved In,
and the organizing of a mining depart
ment composed of the miners organiza-
lions and those correlative to the same,
would bring about the united action
which your committee believes was de-
sired by the delegates of the seventeenth
annual convention.
The question for you TO consider and
pass upon is, first. whether or not you
desire solidification of the organized
forces now enlisted under the name OF
he Western Federation of Miners and
the United Mine Workers of America.
Your committee took it for granted that
this was the desire of the Western Fed |
Grafton of Miners when they were elected
to confer with the United Mine Workers
Of America, which is a part of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor. There can
not, of course, be any question as to the
continuation of the transfer card system
between the two organizations neither
would there be any SO foolish as to re-
iect the cooperation of the organizers of
the two organizations, as proposed by
the joint committee. Therefore, we, your
committee, might say that the only ques-
ton for your consideration is the affilia-
ton with the American Federation of
Labor, and in considering the same each
should ask himself the question:
Is it for our best interests to longer
stand alone on the industrial field? Sec
ond, are we consistent in continuing to
stand aloof from. the American labor
movement and appealing to tlem for
moral and financial assistance when we
are forced to engage in conflicts with
our employers? If the organized work
ers of America are good enough TO assist
us and we expect their assistance in
times of trouble, then why should we
hesitate to grasp their hands and work
in harmony with them at all times? Real
izing as we must our helplessness stand
MI nd Mt or inrigdic-