The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-10
TO SUE u. M. W.
FOR DAMAGES
PENNA. COAL OPERATORS
MAY BRING ACTION FOR
CONTRACT VIOLATIONS.
Stormy Session of Association Held
Behind Closed Doors-Near
Dissolution.

PHILADELPHIA. Pa. Jan. 9.-Ac-
cording TO a statement made public
today by the Association of Bitumi-
nous Coal Operators OF Central Penn
sylvania giving the details of the an
nual meeting OF the association. held
behind closed doors here yesterday
q COMMITTEES OF that body is consid.
ering the question OF bringing dam
age suits against the United Mine
workers OF America. as an organiza-
tion and individually. for alleged yio-
lauons OF contract existing be
tween the operators and the union
miners OF the central Pennsylvania
sort coalhelds. The tonnage repre-
sented az the meeting. according 10
the statement. amounted to approxl-
mately 1O.0OO.000 tons per annum.
The meeting was not entirely har-
monlus, the statement says, owing
TO the fact that there was a strong
disposition on the part OF q number
OF members 10 dissolve, the associa-
u0h ,0h ior the reason that the United
Mine Workers of America. District
NO. ?. allowed their members to
grossly violate the present scale
agreement, the argument being tl-, (
u was useless 10 make a contract
with a labor organization which will.
iully violates its contract al its con
Nenlence and with apparently no Of
hclals connected with such organiza-
ton with power to enforce the terms
OF the contract"
Received No Reply.
Inc statement goes on to saw that
tne executive committee OF the aSso-
citation reported to the meeting that
y mad last month warned Patrick Gil
day. president of the miners union In
district No. that the association was
threatened with dissolution OF the mil
nerS continued TO call strikes I'm al
legged violation OF the contract No re.
ply other than a mere acknowledge
ment OF the communication has been
received by the association. the state
ment continues II is further asserted
In the statement that strikes still ex-
ISL ana are being supported by the
United Mine Workers in furnishing
striking miners with relief funds Con-
tlnnlng, The statement says:
The effort to smooth out the diff.
Guilty caused n motion TO be made TO
refer the matter of dissolution to the
executive board Of the association and
after very heated discussion. which
indicated a defeat OF the motion. IL
was suggested that under a recent de.
cision OF the United States courts thar
labor organizations such as the United
Mine Workers OF America. both as an
organization and individually. could be
held liable in damages resulting from
the closing down OF the mines on the
fiocfu Suop pToioSllOus which was
prohibited by the terms Of the con
tract
100 Violations Of Contract.
TT was reported to the association
that approximately 100 strikes have
occurred during the life Of tho con
tract In violation thereof. a subsian-
tial number Of which was based al
most entirely on the closed shop prom
osition. and 80 was only when the as
sociation agreed 10 the appointment
OF committee for the PURPOSE Of
listing all the strikes that occurred
In violation Of the contract and ascer.
tanning from each Individual opera-
tor the damages suffered by reason
thereof and 10 make report within
thirty DAYS Of the result of such in
vestigatiOn. together With such recon.
mendatiOn as the committee deemed
proper toward instifuting actions for
the recovery Of damages that the
members Of the association agreed 10
submit the question TO the executive
board
The statement saws that when tho
executive board took action 20 voted
: to 8 against dissolution