The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-16
Whites Address.

Wm0eS AQ0reSS.
Because the organized miners in
coal fields Of the country must make
new wage contracts with the mine
owners, It is necessary to put aside
internal dissension, and prepare to
struggle for Advancement. said John
r. White. president of the organiza-
tion. In his annual report to its con-
vention today
I'VE are on the eve Of the expira-
ton of our contracts, and the atten-
the entire country will be centered up
on the deliberations Of this conven-
tion." said Mr.. White. IT am most
seriously impressed with the respon-
slbiitty we assume. and 1t is time
when each and every delegate should
thoroughly consider his duty toward
those he has the honor to represent.
now. as In the past. to outline policy
that will best meet the needs and re-
Quirements of our people and adopt a
plan that will rebound to the benefit
OF our membership everywhere.
Our scale committee will do we'll
TO consider the responsibility that de.
wolves upon 1t when giving express
sion to policies that mean much to
the success of the United Mine Work.
ers: So far as ! am concerned. and
! think voice the sentiments Of the
rank and fle,. It 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 ex-
listing wage contracts and we should
earnestly strive for such advance
ments as 1t is within the range Of pos
sibilities to secure. :.
Whiic we will never surrender the
right to strike. we should not lose
sight Of the fact that some of the
has ever achieved lay in the chan
nels Of peace. When speak Of
peace. I mean an ennobling peace
where the rights Of the people are
wholesomely- RESPECTED; greater and
broader recognition of their just and
legitimate demands acknowledged
and when we can behold a great army
OF men intelligently working out the
problems that seem difficult to over
come"
OF the condition Of the union in
the anthracite field. largely in Penn
sylvanta, In the present crisis, Presi.
dent White reported:
Better Organization.
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
dency l 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. A 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 conditions
piratton Of the award in the anthra.
cite neld April l. 1t is to be hoped
that they will realize the condition
that confronts them and join the OF.
ganization, thus making success DOS
sible. pHs
Representatives 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 eeforts
were under way to bring about a
joint conference between miners and
operators of the bituminous fields of
western Pennsylvania, West Virginia.
Ohio. Indiana and Illinois to discuss
the terms Of the new wage contract.
At the close Of the present miners;
convention.
Lost Votes.
OF the investigation Of the allexed
disappearance Of about O.OOO votes
cast for Mr.. White for president IN
the election Of 1910. he said:
THE attention Of the International
organization was directed to the COM
plant Of number Of local unions in
Illinois that their. vote was not In.
cluded in the International Tellers'
report of the 1910 election. / could
give no satisfactory explanation Of
the forty-nine local unions was not
recorded.
"rhe officers and local unions OF
district 12 insisted on q rigid invest.
cation. and the matter was presented
to the International executive board.
The officers Of district IL appeared
and presented their case and the
board instructed the president to .ap.
point . committee OF three to make
an Investigation and report. The!
proceedings were taken Verbatim and
published In tho United Mine Work.
ere journal. :.