The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-01-18
visable it might be well to authorize
the Board to make a further inyesti-'
CATION"
Would Change Constitution.

| Inc constitution or the united
Mine Workers by which we are now
governed no longer meets the needs
and requirements of our organization
1t has caused many misunderstood
| result of its Effectiveness and should
| be made to conform to clear and
practical expressions that would not
be susceptible to more than one in
depreciation. This important docu
ment should clearly define the duties
of the officers; draw the lines of jur.
isdiction between the subordinate
branches and the International I'm
| ion; define the status of expelled
members; state the proper method OF
appeal; provide for the revocation OF
charters and such other vital sub,
| jects which frequently cause SO much
| friction in the various branches OF
our organization, Many of it's pro-
visions would require but slight
change to make them clear, and spe,
cifc, and hope our Committee on
Constitution will pay particular at
tention to this important work"
Urges Retrenchment.
"A matter of much concern in re.
cent years is the cost of transacting
! our business and the numerous con.
yentions which make our policy cum,
bersome. | would suggest that this
convention seriously consider the
feasibility of changing the basis of
representation and also of holding
the conventions biennially instead of
annually. While our movement has
accomplished wonderful work, it has
reached a place where it is costing
the mine workers of this country en-.
tirely too much money to transact
their affairs and is the subject of a
good deal of criticism. / am con-
WINGED that retrenchment in this d.
rection along practical lines, consist
ent with the business needs OF our
organization, will meet with the
hearty approval of the membership"
Mine Workers. Paper.
President White recognizes the
value of the press as an educating
power for the Mine Worker in gener-
al. He states that the Mine Work
ers' Journal" the official organ of the
organization, is not what it should be.
1t is not popular with the rank and
file of the mine workers because it
has heretofore been made the vehicle
for the favor of the administration.
Mr.. fn han al n
make it mine workers newspaper
that would bear the news of the min
ers' industry. Mr., White would have
the paper self-sustaining. 1t should
stand on it's own feet and not be a
burden to the national organization.
The paper should be a welcome Wis
itor at the home of every miner and
he should be willing to pay for it.
The paper itself should be made
worth paying for. The attention of
the convention was directed to the
Journal and its possibilities.
Worlds Mining Congress.
I'm 1909 the convention discontin.
ued our affiliation with the Worlds
Mining Congress. have always felt
that this was a serious mistake and
am confident that a great amount of
good would rebound to the organiza-
ton and better and broader under
standing affecting the rights of mine
workers the world over maintained
by continued affiliation with this
worldwide movement of mining, and
to the end that the best results may
be secured, | would recommend that
the Secretary-Treasurer be empower.
ed to renew our atfiliation and that
the convention proceed TO elect dele.
gates to attend the next meeting of
the Worlds Mining Congress"
Mining Machines.
THE organization, while not OPP
posed to the introduction of labor-sav.
ing machinery, must put forth every
effort to establish equitable differen.
tials for the machine and pick-mined
coal. In the year 1910, there were
1884 machines in use producing
174,012,293 tons, or All per cent of
the total coal production, an average
for each machine of 1929 tons"
Other Subjects.
The president discussed numerous
other topics in more or less detail
and recommends legislation along
certain lines. He gave information
concerning accidents and casualties
of the coal mines; he told about Van
couver Island and forming the new
district; the relations with the West
ern Federation of Miners; discussed
unorganized fields, and explained his
policy in the employment of organic
ers and field work and told of efforts
in the direction of an Interstate
joint movement"
In concluding his report President
White among other comments gave
expression to the following:
MY election to the presidency de-
veloped much opposition and a great
deal of effort was put forth to pre-
vent my administration from being
successful in dealing with the serious
problems inherited and those which
arose during the year.
Through it all l never lost sight
of the fact that / was deeply indebted
to the great membership who had
honored me with their confidence and
/ resolved to ignore those controver.