Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-02-20
SOUTHWESTERN COAL MINERS
FAVOR GOVERNMENT OWNER
SHIP on COAL MINES.
DEFENSE FUND NOT Lowered
Plan of Texas Miners 20 separate
From the southwestern District
H. Defeated.

'''' 'NlA 4 ~ ~ H. W. ~ -
After defeating resolution to de-
crease the defense fund per capita tax
hve cents. making tho monthly pay
ment from each Of the 5000 coal
miners In Arkansas, oklahoma and
Texas 45 cents instead Of so cents,
tho biennial convention Of tho United
| Mine Workers OF America. District
2l. In session here today Increased
tho general fund per capita from 20
to 20 cents. This will increase tho
general fund approximately $4,000
annually while tho defense fund coll
lected each year VIII remain un-
changed
Believing that the industry Of min
Ing coal Is constantly becoming moro
| hazardous because the increasing de-
mands for greater output taxes
moro extensively the resources Of tho
individual mines, the convention to-
day unanimously adopted resou-
| tlon calling for government control
Of coal mines In the United states
The resolutions state that there is
small hope Of ever inducing all Of tho
coat producing states to adopt uni
form mino safety laws and that this
condition forbds legitimate competi.
tion In that in those states that have
safety laws the expense is greater
than In states where there are no
safety requirements In many OF the
states that believe In the preserva-
ton of human life states the resolu-
loh, the coal fields are not being de-
Veloped because tho operators cannot
compete with mine owners in states
where there Is no expense f,r safety
| appliances. The resolution classes
the condition as alarming" and calls
upon the national officers TO frame
some measure that will meet with the
approval Of congress and permit the
enactment Of legislation that will
! place the supervision Of coal mining
In the governments hands
National President White tele-
! siaphed thanks to the convention for
the loan Of $4,000 made to the in
tornational union to help win tho
Colorado strike. His telegram came
from Philadelphia where the inter
state wage conference Is in session.
rms afternoon tho convention
adopted substitute resolution for
the appointment Of conferees to the
southwestern Wage conference in
Kansas city In April by the district
executive board II was on this
question that the convention spllt on
| wednesday President Stewart insist
ing that the convention as a whole.
name the unions representatives 10
confer with the Southwestern Inter
state Mine Operators association rel
ative to wages and conditions under
which the Legislature I'm three states
shall work. by the terms Of the res
olution adopted today that board will
appoint conference and wage scale
committee Of nine members, three
from each state. who will tour the
district following this convention to
thoroughly famillarlze themselves
with conditions. 1t is the aim OF the
miners union, It was said, 10 make the
contract to be drawn between the
operators and miners in April COM
plete In every detail so that commits
sioners and arbitrators will not have
so many petty disputes to settle.
Late today the Texas resolution TO
form that state into a separate dis.
trict, leaving Arkansas and Oklahoma
In District No. 2l. was oyerwhelming-
ly voted down.
Tomorrow is Constitution day" In
the convention and 1t Is expected that
many minor changes will be made
In the constitution.
Today the convention adopted a
resolution pledging the unions sup
port TO proposed rural credits bills in
congress and unanimously and up
| roariously adopted resolution de-
| ploring "landlordlsm In rural commu-
nities' and pledging the unions sup
| port Of legislation calculated 20 bet
ter the farm tenants conditions.
Another resolution unanimously
adopted dealt with the hazards en-
countered in mining coal and instruct
ed the officials to compile statistics
that will be submitted to the national
! officers with recommendations that
congress pass more stringent mine
safety laws and that more aid be
| given to the bureau OF mines in its
/ rescue and first aid 10 the injured
I