Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1912-01-17
White Says Elections Were
Not Fairly Conducted
and Cites Specific !
Cases. Il
REPORT GIVES
USEFUL FACTS
Production and Status of
Unionism Are Discuss
ed-Closer Relations /,
Are Urged. 4
| Associated Press DfSbatch1

H
cause the organized miners in both
the bituminOus and anthracite coal
fields of the country must make new
wage contracts with the mine own
ers. 10 go into effect on April /, it
is necessary for the United Mine
Workers OF America to put aside in
ternal dissensiOn. and prepare to
struggle for advancement, said John
+. White. president of the organiza-
ton. in his annual report TO its con-
vention today.
We are on the eve of the expira-
tIon of our contracts. and the atten-
ton of the membership and that of
the entire country will be centered
upon the deliberations of this con-
vention.' said Mr. White. Il am most
seriously impressed with the respon-
SIbllity we assume and il is a time
when each and every delegate should
thoroughly consider his duty toward
those he has the honor 10 represent
II will remain for this convention now
as IN the past To outline a policy
that will best meet the needs and re-
quirements of our people and adopt
eft of our memb, rship everywhere.
Our scale committee win do we'll
10 consider the r. spOnsibility that de-
wolves upon il wien giving expression
10 policies that mean much TO the
success of the United Mine Workers.
SO far l am concerned, and L
think l voice the sentiments of the
rank and file. ii is my opinion that
our policy should be such as TO leave
no doubt in the mind of any one
that there Will be no reductions from
existing wage contracts and we should
earnestly strive for such advance
ments as it is within the range of
possibilities 10 secure
While We will never surrender the
right To- strike. we should not lose
sight Of the fact that some of the
greatest successes our organization
has ever achieved lay in the channels
of peace. When | speak of peace. |
mean an ennobling peace where the
rights of our people are wholesomely
respected: a greater and broader re-
cOgnition of their Just and legitimate
demands acknowledged and when We
can behold great army of men in
teiligently working out the problems
that seem difficult to overcome"
OF the condition of the union in
the anthracite field largely in Penn
sylvania, in the present crisis, Presi-
dent White reported:
The problem of organizing the an
thracite mine workers and building
up strong organization in that field
has been matter of serious concern
To our movement for many years
Upon taking charge of the preSi-
dency | discovered that there was
very little organization in the anthra-
cite region. and resolved to do what
| could to revive the spirit OF union
ism in these districts. \ number of
organizers were selected-most of
whom were from the anthracite field
and placed to work there to try and
build up the membership and while
we have witnessed some improve
ment. conditions are not as we would
like TO see them.
The small membership reported in
the anthracite field indicates that the
miners are Indifferent to their sur
roundings and their failure to join
the organization and support it is
one of the great reasons why they
have been unable to secure the con-
ditions they are demanding. With
the expiration of the award in the
anthracite field April /. il is to be
hoped that they will realize the con-
dition that confronts them and join
the organization, thus making sue
cess possible.
Representative OF the three an
thracite districts in convention at
Pottsville in November formulated
their demands. which will be brought
to your attention at the proper time"
The president reported that efforts
were under way To bring about
joint conference between the miners
and operators of the bituminous fields
Of Western Pennsylvania. West Fir
sinia, Ohio. Indiana and Illinois To
discuss the terms of the new wage
contract, at the close of the present
miners convention.
OF the investigation of the alleged
disappearance of about 10000 votes
cast for Mr.. White for president i'll
the election of 1910. he said:
The attention of the international
organization was directed TO the COM
plant of n number OF local unions in
Illinois that their vote was not IN
cluded in the international tellerS' re-
port of the 1910 election. I could give
no satisfactory explanation of why the
vote of the forty mine local unions
was not recorded.
THE officers and local unions OF
district Il insisted on a rigid inves-
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