Denver labor bulletin., 1916-02-05
Bitumin0uS Conference
OpenSin Mobile Tuesday
Biennial Convention at Indianapolis
Closes After Most Important Two
Weeks Session; White, Hayes
and Green Announce for
Reelection

WHAT one OF the most memorable
biennial conventions OF the United Mine
Workers of America came to n close at
indianapolis Tuesday after n two weeks
session II was voted to hold the next
meeting a, indianapolis in 1918. Atten-
tion OF the international officers and
scale committees will now be coneeu-
trstcd in having written into new con
traot- the plans adopted by the dele
gates representing nearly 100000 an
thraoits and bituminous miners.
Roth the officers OF the union and
tho dsliegates themselves believe that
agreements will be reached without in
terfcivnoo with the coal mining in
dustry.
Before adiourning. President White
announced that he had decided 70 stsnu
A. candidate for reelection next De
crmb-r Officers are elected by refer
enduin vote IL il Understood Vice Prcsi-
dent Frank J. Hayes and Secretary
Treasurer William Green also viii offer
themselves for reelection. This up-ets
several tentative "-lRte-" arranged dur
ing earlier stage OF the convention.
waat Federal Mining Law
Amonc the resolutions adopted was
one urging congress TO declare the coal
mining industry Of the country to be
interstate commerce with the view OF
having federal LAVE cover all matters
in the industry such a. safety and com
yc,ition in the coal trade, in lieu OF the
many conflicting state laws.
Edward -Dobbtns, iscllcviiir. Ill, and
James Matthews. shamokin, Pa, were
elected delegates to the convention OF
the Western Federation of Miners.
Conference Tuesday in Mobile.
, TiTh. demands of the bituminous coal
nincr- adopted by the convention will
b. presented 10 the operators OF the cen
trai field at conference TO be held in
Mobile, Ala. next Tuesday This com
r-titive field consists of western Penn
sylvania. Ohio. Indiana and Illinois. Any
agr,, mcnt reached at this conference
will .erve zs the basic scale ior all other
'bituminou. districts OF the country.
ON February p anthracite operators
and mine workers will mcc, in New
York to try TO agree on a new contract
to take the place Of the four-ycar
agrcmcnt, which expires March 81.
New Wage Scale Adopted.
The convention adopted the following
basic sale to take the place OF the pres
.nt agreement which expires in all dis
tricts on April | next;
Il VIC demand that all coal bc
weighed before being screened and paid
for on a mine nun basis.
"2 We demand 10 per cent ton
Increase Mt the basing point
% We demand 10 per cent increase
on all dead work and yardaRe.
- We demand 2n per cent increase
all day labor.
a We demand uniform day and
,vapc sca1e for all cln- --cs OF outside and
inside day labor.
q. We demand a proper rcadjustmcn'
OF the machine diffecntial at the basing
point.
II. We demand that the cight-hour
dav shall apply from bank TO bank.
1 .s We demand that all local inequal-
itics and internal differences bc referred
10 the various districts affected for set
tlcment.
80 We demand that our contract shall
be in effect for period of two years.
30. We demand weekly pays.
al. We demand that every other Sat |
urdny shall be an idle day.
Anthracite Demands.
I'VE rcaffirm and endorse the demands
OF the anthracite miners, formulated at
their tri-district convention, held at
Wilkes. Barre, Pa. September to 10. |
1915. which are ns follows;
a. We demand that the next CON
tract for period of two years, com |
mcncing April |, 1915, and ending March |
n. lns. and that the making OF indi'
yidnal agreements and contracts in the
mining OF coal shall be prohibited.
"2 We demand an increase of 20 per !
cent on all wage rates now being paid
in tn. anthracite coal fields.
~ We demand an eight-hour work |
day for all day labor employed In and
around the mines. the, present rates TO
be the basis upon which the advance
4 above mentioned shall apply, with time
and n half for overtime and doupic .'ne
for Sundays and holidays
-, Recognition Of Union.
f.A. we demand full and complete rec.
ospition Of the United Mine workers o'
. America of districts Nos. ], and y, an
thracitc. .,,s,.,
~ We demand more simpliiied, !