Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-01-18
Labor UnalterabIy Opposed
to Preparedness Declares
President White in Report

Indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 1S-John P.
White, international president of the
United Mine Workers of America, de-
clared in his biennial report, read to
the delegates of the union in conven-
tion here to-day, that he was fully
convinced that the men of labor are
unalterably opposed to the whole
scheme of preparedness" Mr.. White
commended President Wilson for
keeping the country at peace and said
that too much praise cannot be given
TO the President for his great efforts
in this direction"
The leader of the miners then re-
ferred to preparedness and asserted
that the munition manufacturers who
are reaping enormous profits by rea-
son of the European war no doubt
have much to do with the general
! topic of preparedness"
Preparedness did not prevent war
in Europe and everything seems to
indicate that preparedness makes for
war" he continued. Many of its ad-
vocates dod not base their claims on
patriotism or love of country, but, II
properly analysed, the intense interest
they are manifesting in preparedness
is due to the profits they would derive
from such a policy The experience of
the workingmen of this nation with
military organizations has been such
as to shake their confidence in such
movements"
Takes Up Organization
Taking up organization matters,
President White referred to the fact
that wage agreements will expire
April / in the anthracite fields and in
Central and Western Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia,
Michigan. Iowa and Kentucky, and
later in the year in Missouri, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Wyoming,
Montana, Washington, and in British
Columbia in March. 1917. 'T most
earnestly urge that our scale commit
tee Carefully canvass the situation
when formulating our demands for the
consideration of this convention" he
said industrial conditions are greatly
improved now, and from various au-
thoritative sources we are advised that
the country is entering upon an un-
precedented era of prosperity. We
should demand such improvements in
our wage scale as conditions will war
rant"
This is virtually all Mr. White had
to say with relation to demands for
wage increases in the districts where
contracts are about to expire. Mr.
White said he thought the policy OF
keeping the miners at work pending
settlements is essential to the well be-
ing of the organization and it's MEM
bership and the welfare of the public
Continuing on this line. he said:
Anthracite Situation
There is no longer any need of re-
naming idle during discussions and
destroying the market of the organized
| territory by permitting a few who
speculate in stock coal to make money
| out of the misfortunes of the people
| We always have ample opportunity tc
| resort to strikes if strikes we must
| have, and i can see no we'll defined
reason why the miners cannot with
just as much safety to their welfare
and interests work, pending negotia-
tions as do other bodies of organized
Workmen under like circumstances.
therefore recommend that we reaffirm
our policy to work pending negotia
| tions''
Mr.. White deals briefly with the an
thracte situation. He referred to the
efforts of the workers to increase the
membership in the hard coal fields and
added:
81 compliment them on their splen-
did showing and ] believe if they are
given the proper encouragement and
support they will realize the ideals for
which they have been struggling