Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-01-21

H I'll &.G
HOLD CON !! | !
sarss: !. -----
Indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 2o.-Tomlin-
son Hall was filled to overlooking to.
day when President John P. White
called to order the international con.
vention' of the United Mine Workers
Of America. The convention is the
twenty-fourth held by the internation-
al organization and the first that has
been held since the plan for biennial
conventions was adopted. II 49,
The roll call by Secretary William
Green showed that the convention Is
the largest in point: OF attendance in
the history of the organization. The
gathering also is one Of the most rep
resentative that the miners have ever
held. More than 100 delegates were
in their seats when the proceedings
were opened. Among them they rep
resented the miners of nearly the
whole of the United States and Can.
ada. Delegates We're present repre-
senting the anthracite miners OF
Pennsylvania and the miners engaged
in the bituminons fields in that state
and in West Virginia, in the great
central field composed Of Ohio, In.
diana, Illinois and Kentucky, in Kan
sas.. Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico
and the southwest and ass far north
west, as British Columbia. a
The delegates were welcome to the
city in cordial addresses delivered by
Governor Ralston Of Indiana and
Mayor Bell Of indianapolis. Response
for the visitors was embodied in tho
annual address of, President White.
The address of the president and the
reports of the other officers and stand
ing committees showed that the or.
g%anization at the present time is in
a most flourishing condition. In two
years the paid up membership has
increased from 256,256 to II, 5000.
Much Of this increase was the direct
result of the organization campaign
carried on in the nonunion fields OF
West Virginia. and in Colorado and
Pennsylvania. '.' b." - q
The.gconvention will continue in
session for two and perhaps three
weeks. 1.-THE sessions will be occupied
with routine business. Nearly all OF
the old fractional difference that ex'
listed in the organization some years
ago have disappeared and all indica.
tons point to a harmonious gather.
ing. The socialist element may seek
to enliven the proceedings by the In.
PRODUCTION of some radical resolutions.
but the conservatives have such 6
substantial majority among the dole.
gates that anything not to their lik.
ing can, be promptly voted down.
The wage scale to replace the pres
ent contract with the coal mine o.
orators, which expires April 1 next, is
the principal business before the con-
vention. The delegates will discuss
and decide upon their demands and
these will be presented later at the
Joint conference with the operators.
Talks with the delegates indicate a
general feeling that an agreement will
be reached this year with compare
lively little difficulty.
From this il is gathered that the
general sentiment among the miners
Is in favor Of moderate demands.
There has ben some talk that the b.
luminous, miners in Pennsylvania
would hold out for 4 substantial wage
increase and some radical changes IN
working conditions, but the delegates
from that section declare that moth.
ing OF the kind has yet been decided
BY the miners.
Next to the wage scale the most
mater to come before the
convention will he a general revision
Of the constitution Of the United Mine
OF recent years the organi-
zation1 has grown so in membership,
influence, and finances. that many
changfs: arc now deemed necessary
IN the original constitution.
Another subject that Will receive
much attention is that Of more safety
utIllpCSs DlIluS tuC p"o' SS~ N
has ben heavy loss OF life in mine
accidents throughout the country. Ono
PENNSYLVANIA mine disaster cost a
huindrdd lives. Another happened In
in which 80 miners lost
their lives and similar disasters oc-
Cured in Alabama and New Mexico.
DR.. j. A. Homes, chief Of the Unit.
ed States Bureau of Mines. has been
to address the convention on
the subject of the work that is being
done by the Federal government in
the way, Of better safeguarding the
health and lives of those employed
underground. Secretary of abor Viii.
son, once a worker in the mines and
later international secretary-treasurcr
Of thas United Mine Workers, Is ex-
prcctcd to sneak before the conven.
ton if his official duties and other en-