The Colorado statesman., 1913-09-20
MINE WORKERS STRIKE
ORDERED BY TRINIDAD CoNVEN,
TloN ON SEPT. %
lmpassioned Speech BY Mother Jones
Precedes Vows Of Vengeance
Against Operators

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Trinidad, Colo.-As a climax OF an
afternoon of impassioned speech-mak-
ing, $50 delegates to the so-called
United Mine Workers convention OF
| Colorado voted unanimously to call
strike in the southern district Septem-
ber 23. The convention then adjourned
amid a storm of cheers and singing.
While the action of the convention
was expected in all quarters, it was
hardly believed that those present
would work themselves into such a
fever of enthusiasm. They shouted,
danced about the room, vowed ven
geance on the operators and pledged
themselves to stay with the strike un-
til they won "or dropped into their
graves"
The resolution calling for the strike
was included in the report Of the pol
icy and scale committee, and was as
follows:
"In view of the failure of our efforts
to obtain a peaceful solution of our
differences, and in view of the fact
that the operators have even refused
to answer any of our invitations for
joint meeting, we hereby instruct that
a strike call be issued by the district
policy committee to all the Mine
Workers of Colorado to take effect
Tuesday, September %. 1913.
I'VE further recommend that any
member who is discharged because OF
affiliation with our movement shall be
promptly supported by the organiza-
tion.
In conformity with the past policy
of the organization, which has worked
so successfully in our district, we rec
ommend that we sign up with all COM
panies that agree to our demands, pro
vided, however, that they agree not to
furnish coal to fill contracts of COM
panies on strike and that companies
that sign up must do SO for all the
mines they operate"
At the same time was presented the
report of the policy and scale commit
tee. The report of this committee,
after setting forth the manner in
which the demands of the union have
been ignored, submit the following as
basis of settlement:
First-Recognition of the union.
Second - Ten per cent advance in
wages and tonnage rates (the gradu-
ated scale on day wages, practically in
accordance with the Wyoming wage
scale) and a 10 per cent advance in
wages of coke oven workers.
hi,.l An, oil low
for all classes of labor in or around
the coal mines and at the coke ovens.
Fourth-Pay for all narrow and dead
work, which includes brushing. timber
ing, removing falls, handling impur-
tiles
Fifth-Check weighman at all mines
to be elected by the miners without
interference by company officials in
said election.
SiXth-The right to trade at any
store we please and the right to choose
our own boarding place and our own
doctors.
Seventh-rhe enforcement of the
Colorado mining law and the abolition
of the notorious and criminal guard
system which has prevailed in the
mining camps of Colorado for many
years.
Reading of these reports was pre-
ceded by an impassioned address by
Mother Jones, who worked the dele
gates into frenzy by long speech
on the "downtrodden labor man" as
she saw him.
Following the report of the commit
tee on policy, Frank ]. Hayes also
made an address in which he indorsed
the action of the convention.