The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-01-18
MINERS meeting.
At indianapolis
Nearly Every One Of the 1900
Delegates Are Present.
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT WHITE
Detailed Reports Of Years Work and
Comments On Various Branches
OF the Work-lnnovations #
Recommended. u
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT WHITE

clal: The national convention or the
United Mine Workers of America
opened here this afternoon with ad-
dresses of welcome from Governor
Marshall and c. c. Hadley, president
Of the Indianapolis Commercial Club.
Practically all of the 1900 delegates
were present when President White
called the big meeting to order.
This afternoons session was taken
up with reports of the various Off
Cer:.
President Whites Address.
John P. White this afternoon made
report to the convention Of his charge
of the office of National President of
U. NJ. w. of A. The report was
somewhat lengthy but every word
was closely followed by the delegates.
1t was an able paper. In introduce
ing his report Nh. White said, in
part:
"Probably no convention of the
United Mine Workers in recent years
assumed a greater obligation than
will this one If it fully discharges los
duties to those who compose our
great membership. Grave responsi-
bilities devolve upon each and every
one of US, and the condition confront
ing our organization is such that it
will require our united effort and sin
cere cooperation if we secure the
best results for those we have the
honor to represent. The year just
closing has been the most remark
able, in my opinion, that the organ
ization has experienced. Strikes, in
ternal dissension and dual organiZa-
tions existed in many sections of the
country. Augmenting this grave and
serious condition of affairs was the
decentralization of the coal trade in
dustry, causing thousands of our
members to be practically in en-.
forced idleness. The treasury of
the organization was depleted and
the membership dissatisfied
well organized conspiracies with
in our own ranks to destroy the or
ganiZation existed in Districts 2, 5
and 10. Influence and energy were
gathered from all sources to make
llllo uudl q ouSSSoS, uhSi
the United Mine Workers ought to
analyze in their. own minds and weigh
well these circumstances. All
thought of the welfare OF the mem.
bers was lost sight of and the desire
to succeed in running our movement
outweighed every other consideration,
Our administration faced these
al ;,,t o,,I
sued a policy that to us seemed best,
and we are able to report the disso-
luton of these movements and the
reuniting of the membership
Strikes.
Mr.. Whites administration fell heir
to numerous strikes, not to mention
internal dissension that was equally
embarrassing. John p. White plunged
into the midst of things with the re-
suit that he is able to make a some
what remarkable showing to the ma.
tional convention. All but one strike
has been settled or adjustment of
some kind effected. The president
goes into detail in his report on the
strikes, taking up each one, defining
the issue involved and showing the
settlement brought about and the
reasons therefor. He discussed the
Tuscarawas trouble and the sympa-
thetic strike ordered by his predeces-
sor in office, told of the reasons for
tho calling off of the strike in the
Irwin field" where organization was
opposed; he showed up the Spring
Hill or Nova Scotia trouble and made
pertinent remarks concerning condi-
lions existing at the place; District Is
in Western Canada, received its share
OF attention as did also the situation
in Colorado.
Concerning the evil of local strikes
the policy of Mr.. White IS clearly
outlined in the following comment:
I'VE find in numerous instances
grievances of minor Importance are
the means of causing strikes and up
on examination of the facts there is
little or no merit in them. 1t is
question that our organization must
give its serious attention to. The
constitution of the United Mine
"OTherS, pIONlueS HOW anu Ill "Hal
manner strikes may be authorized
and If our movement is to command
the respect of it's membership and
the public in general, We must dis
courage such evil practices that can,
at the best, accomplish no practical
results"
Membership.
Mr.. Whites administration shows
an increase in membership for the
year of almost twenty-five thousand
mine workers. The figures present
ed are interesting outside of the peo-
pie to whom they apply. Mr.. White
says:
your attention is called to the
splendid average paid-up membership
for the year ending November 80,
1911, which is 256,256, exclusive of
generations. This is an increase of
24,S64 over last year for the same
period, and is indeed encouraging.
Il herewith submit table showing