Denver labor bulletin., 1917-02-10
MAY RESULT IN SPECIAL
NATIONAL CONVENTION
OF MINERS.
Appeal Is in Form of Brief Ad-
dressed to International Presi-
dent White and Says Union
Miners of Colorado Are
Opposed to Order.

John Z. Lawson, International exec
utive board member of District 10,
United Mine Workers of America, this
week filed an appeal to the interna-
tional convention protesting against
the recent action of the executive
board Mt a special meeting held at
indianapolis, voting authority TO
subcommittee of FIVE TO suspend the
charter of this district. Lawson, in
his statement. says he takes this ap-
peal because cit is not in line with
the spirit or intent Of. and. in effect,
revolutionizes our international con-
stitution.'
He mikes this appeal "as interna-
tional executive board member Of Dis
trict 10; as prcsidcnt-elect Of District
10, and individually as a member Of
the United Mine Workers Of America,
and for and on behalf of the member
ship OF District 10, United Mine
Workers Of America"
After reciting the action taken at
the Indianapolis meeting Of the board
Mr.. lawson points out seven facts as
grounds for his protest. which are as
follows:
/. That, according to the records
in the Office Of International Secre-
y
ship in District Is increased approx
mately one hundred per cent in the
month of December over the month
of November. 1916;
2. That the International organiza-
ton can now, rs il has done for at
least ten years, place as many inter
national organizcrs In District Is as
it sees fit, selecting them from what
ever state they choose, and can place
,x,s. al ,tf@ in. ha ~ II
the work of organizing without any
interference by, and, on the contrary.
with such help us can be voluntarily
given by. any district officer or officers;
3. That the International organ
ization can withdraw from District l5
the financial support which has been
given TO maintain the district Office,
and for the payment of the salaries of
any or all of the district officers. who
must then return to the mines until
the district is sclf-supporting:
4. That before the aforesaid action
is taken, n district convention of the
Colorado miners should be called by
the international union. and the ques-
ton of surrcndering their charter
should be put up to them, so that, in
the event the delegates attending the
convention shall agree by n majority
of even one vote to give up their dis
trict' autonomy, there cannot exist any
chance whatever for dispute. disscn-
sion, or any claim of divided author
ity;
8. That. speaking for myself.
whether rs an Individual or an officer
of District 10, IL it can be shown that
/ am, in any manner, standing in the
way. or rctarding the progress of Dis
trict Is or the organization generany
repeating what | stated to the in
ternational executive board stand
ready as an officer at once to step
aside. so that the work of building up
our union shall go ahead in the strong
est possible way;
6. That the substitute motion of
fcrcd by Board Member Ferry of Dis
trict z, for an investigation and report
by n special committee. before with
drawing the charter, was the right
and proper course to pursue. the sub
stance of said motion being as fol-
lows:
"That n committee of five members
of the board. who have never been in
Colorado before, be appointed by the
international president to proceed to
Colorado; that they be authorized to
employ n stenographer, and to make
n complete and thoro investigation:
that they Immediately make n report
Of their findings to President White.
and he can then call n meeting of the
international board at his convenience
to take this matter up on it's merits"
z. That to refuse to defer action
upon n matter Of such vital import
ance until thoro investigation can be
made. and TO accept any or all of the
other offers herein enumerated, all of
which were made in good faith to the
international board, and to refuse TO
permit the charter to remain in Dis
trict Is after it has been there contin
uously for more than sixteen years.
and after such great industrial con-
flicts have been waged there, and after
innumerablc sacrifices have been
made, and men, women and children
have given up their lives for the priv
ilege of union rights and union prin
ciplcs, would be terrible injustice to
the miners Of Colorado, as we'll ms a
usnrpation Of authority.
Inc appeal IL addressed to John p.
White, international president, United
Mine Workers Of America and asks
thnt 1t be presented to the next inter-
national convention, special or regu-
lar. There is n possibility that n snc-
cial convention will be called to con-