The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-01-18

7
tellers, report OF the 1910 election. (
could give no satisfactory expla-
nation of why the vote OF forty-nine
local unions was not recorded.
THE officers and local unions of
District ~ insisted on a rigid inyes-
tigation, and the matter was pre-
scented TO the International executive
board The officers of District u
appeared and presented their case
and the board instructed the presi-
dent to appoint committee Of three
10 make an Investigation and report.
The proceedings were taken YER
lbatim and published in the United
Mine Workers Journal.
THE investigation, OF, the commit
tee revealed that the forty-nine 10
cal unions referred to cast 1881
votes for president, of which John
P. White received 1881 and T. L.
Lewis $50, or a majority for White
of s,u1.1
Indications are that the vote OF
other large local unions in various
sections Of the country was inter
fered with and money used to in
fluence the election This is indeed
deplorable state OF affairs, and
those who will resort to such cor
rupt practice and whose connection
Herewith can be proven without any
question of doubt should be ex-
PEELED from the organization. The
vote of every local union must be
accounted for, and II we can not
have honest elections dissolution
will follow II deemed advisable, 1t
might be well to authorize the board
! to, make further investigation"
Money from "a mysterious
Isonrce's was used in an effort to es-
tablishS a. rival organization in
western Pennsylvania during tho
last year, sae president declared.
Though the accession failed, he re-
ported, Influence and energy were
gathered from all sources to make
this dual movement a success, ard
the United Mine Workers ought TO
analyze in their own minds and
weigh well these circumstances IT.
became matter of curious concern
among many to understand from
what source these numerous indi-
viduals who have been operating in
the various districts received their
income, for it is the opinion of many
who were competent to judge that
they had no means OF support aside
from their labor"
Discussing various aspects of the
coal mining industry and the prog
ress Of the United Mine Workers,
the Presidents report continued:
'rhe plan most feasible for
bringing about the organization of
the unorganized fields of the coun-
try is q problem that should receive
our most thoughtful consideration.
From my observation a strong
sentiment Tor organization exists IN
the Irwin-Connellsville field. south
ern Colorado, Alabama, Hopkins
County; KY, Tennessee, West vir-
ginia and elsewhere.
your attention is called to the
splendid average paid-up member
ship for the year ending November
20,' 1911, which is 25G,256, exclu-
sive Of generations. This is an in
crease of 24.S64 over last year for
the same period, and is indeed en-
couraging"
The presidents report says that
the machine is fast displacing the
skilled miner with the less ex
perienced laborer, presenting a prob
lem that should receive thoughtful
consideration n
"The organization" the report
says, while not opposed to the in
PRODUCTION of labor-saving machin-
cry, must put forth every effort to
establish equitable ditferentials for
the machine and pick-mined coal.
in the. year 1910, there were
1924 machines in use, producing
I174,0 tons, or .41.7 per-cent
Of the total coal production, an av-
eragC for each machine of 1929
tons,
"fourfattention is also directed,
TO the table in the statisticans re-
port showing the fatal and non-fatal
accidents in the coal mines, and you
will note that the death toll is ap-
palling, Notwithstanding that the
organization has put forth a great
deal Of effort to have enacted better
mining laws. 1t would cap
pear that human life is held too
cheap and when we compare the
casualties in the coal mines of the