The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-01-17
PRESIDENT UNITED MINE WORKERS
ANNUAL REPORT TO CONVENTION

men intelligently working out the
problems that seem difficult to over
come
OF the condition of the union in the
anthracite field largely in Pennsylvan-
ia, in the present crisis, President
White reported:
The problem of organizing the an
| thracite mine workers and building
iup a strong organization in that lleld
has been a. matter of serious concern
TO our movement for many years.
Upon taking charge of the preSi-
dencv | 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, ana
while we have witnessed some i'm
provement. conditions are not as we
would like to see them
The small membership reported in
the anthracite field indicate 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 condltlons
they are demanding. With the eX
piration of the award in the anthra-
cite field April /, it is to be hoped
that they will realize the condition
that confronts them and Jon the or
ganization. thus making success pos
, sible.
Representatives of the three anthra-
cite districts in convention at Potts
Vile 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 a
, ioint 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,
OF the investigation of the alleged
disappearance of about 10000 votes
f cast for Mr. White for president in
the election in 1910, he said
The attention of the international
organization was directed to the com
plant of number OF local unions in
Illinois that their votes was not in
I cluded in the International TellerS
report of the 1910 election. | could
give no satisfactory explanation OF
why the vote of the fortynine local
unions was not recorded
THE officers and local unions OF
District - insisted on a rigid investi
cation, and the matter was presented
! to the International Executive Board
p The Officers of District - appeared
and presented their case and the
10 board instructed the president to ap
| point a committee of three TO make
= an investigation and report. The pro
5 ceedings were taken verbatim and
published in the United Mine Workers
q, Journal
L The investigation of the commit
tee revealed that the forty-nine 10
calls referred to cast 1881 votes fol
president. of which John p. White re
5 ceived 1851 and T. l.. Lewis $50, o.
t 4 majority for White of 9,711.
e indications are that the vote o
9 other large local unions in various
/. sections of the country was interfer
ed with and money used TO influence
the election. This is indeed de
plorable state of affairs, and thos'
who will resort to such corrupt prac
tice and whose connection therewltl
can he proven without any question o
doubt should he expelled from th'
orSanization. The vote of every 10
cal union must be accounted for, ant
:. if We cannot have honest elections
, dissolution will follow. If deemed ad
O visable it might be we'll to authoriz
r. the board to make a further investi
5 cation.
q Money from "a mysterious source
4. was used in an effort to estaoilSl
q. a rival organization in Western Penn
g svlvania during the last year tn
president declared. Though the Sc