Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-19
MINERS AGAINST
PREPAREDNESS
President White Of Coal Miners
Says Munitions Makers Back of
the Proposed Scheme.
RECOMMENDS HIGHER SCALE

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, san. 1S.-
John =. White, international presi-
dent OF the United Mine Workers OF
America. declared in his biennial re-
port, read TO the delegates OF the
union in convention here today, that
he was fully convinced that the
men OF labor are unalterably OPP
posed to the whole scheme of pre-
paredness."
Mr.. White commended President
Wilson for keeping the country at
peace and said that too much
praise cannot be given to the pres
ident for his great efforts In this
direction. The leader OF the miners
then referred to preparedness and
asserted that the munition manu-
facturers who are reaping enormous
profits by reason of the European
war no doubt have much to do with
the general topic of preparedn ness"
Taking up organization matters. Presi-
dent White referred TO the fact that wage
agreements will expire April l in the
field and in many central and
western states later in the year and in
British Columbia in March, 1917. IT most
earnestly urge that our scale committee
carefully canvass the situation when for
our demands for the considera-
4 inn n fbfa ~
trial conditions arc greatly improved
now, and from various authoritative
we are advised that the country
is entering upon an unprecedented era OF
prosperity. We should demand such i'm
provements in our wage scale as condl-
tons will warrant"
work During Negotiations.
Mr.. White said he thought the policy
or keeping the miners at work pending
settlements is essential TO tho we'll being
OF the organization and it's membership
and the welfare OF the public. Continu-
ing on this line he said
There Is no longer any need Of re-
naming idle during settlements and dis
turbing markets OF tho organized terri
tory by permitting few who speculate
In stock coal to make money out OF the
'"'''N' ''li'S VI tHc people. can see no
well defined reason why the miners can
not with just as much safety to their
welfare and ninterest. work pending nc
gotiations as do other bodies Of organized
workmen under like circumstances. I.
therefore. recommend that we reaffirm
our policy to work pending negotiations"
Convention il Too Large.
Mr.. White urged that efforts be made
TO reduce the size OF the international
convention Tho report noted tho fact
that committee of the United Mine
Workers had reported against the promo
sition OF matchmaking with the Western
Federation Of Miners Mr. White reviewed
tho history OF the Colorado strike and
reiterated his opposition to the Rookie
Teller plan of dealing with labor In the
mining districts OF Colorado. Mr.. White
had this to say about the Colorado labor
troubles:
Our federal government has been
greatly exercised about the welfare Of
It's citizens in foreign lands and upon the
high sea, which is commendabIe, but
when It's attention is directed to these
domestic outrages occurring in one Of
our own sovereign states we are advised
that 1t is poworless to protect the citi-
Eens OF our own country under such cir
cumstances. This condition cannot long
endure, and oven-handed justice muse be
melted out TO the high-priced anarchist
the same as TO any other who trans
crosses the law"