Denver labor bulletin., 1918-02-02
MINERS CHANGE
MEETING PLACE
TO CLEVELAND
CONVENTION ENDS BUSI-
NESS IN SHORTEST TIME
ON RECORD.
Repuiiate Socialism and the I. w.
w. as a Menace to the Labor
Movement; for Government
Ownership of Coal Mines.

After having been in session at In
dinnapolis for eleven days. the short
est on record, the biennial convention
Of the United Mine Workers Of Amer
lea adjourned last Saturday afternoon
at 80 o'clock with 700 delegates on
their feet singing America" led by
Big Tom Walsh Of Pennsylvania.
The convention having voted TO
change the time for holding the bien-
NAL conventions from January TO
September, II was decided to hold the
next session at Cleveland Ohio, the
second week in September, 1919.
During Saturdays session, $500 900
was raised with which TO effect an
appeal from the decision of the federal
court at Fort Smith, Ark, in which
the court held the union had violated
the Sherman antitrust law
Appeal Court Decisions.
This sum was obtained among the
districts, which agreed to lend the
money 10 the international. The
100000 will be invested in Liberty
Bonds to be used as collateral to in
demnify the bonding company that
signs the appeal bond. A committee
was appointed TO recommend n policy
TO be followed in connection with the
decision of the United States supreme
, court in the injunction case Of the
y'Hitchman Coal and Coke Company of
West Virginia. These two subjects
as well as the war resolution adopted
by the convention, are covered in an
other column of this issue of The
Bulletin
Washington. Kansas City, Cleveland.
Denver and Des Moines were nomi-
mated for the next convention. The
vote resulted as follows: Washington.
1877; Kansas City, 239; Cleveland, 507;
Denver, l3: Des Moines, 10.
Lee Hall Of Ohio and Martin Flyzik
Of Washington were elected fraternal
delegates to the convention of the In
ternational Union of Mine, Mill and
Smelter Workers.
Favor Government Ownership.
The committee on resolutions re-
ported in favor of government owner
ship of coal mines on condition that
democratic management be guaran-
tecd This, the committee said, would
mean the unrestricted right TO organ
ize miners and equal representation
in all conferences in which wages Of
miners are fixed. The convention
adopted the resolution.
A resolution was adopted requesting
the government to take over all un-
used farm lands and rent them to
farmers, the rent to be paid directly
to the national government. The reso-
luton also opposed all legislation, ma
tional or state. for the conscription Of
labor.
Oppose Socialism and I. W. w.
The convention, by an overwhelming
vote. refused to adopt n resolution TO
endorse the Socialist party "as the
political expression of the working
class"
The convention voted to bar from
membership in the union any member
of the Industrial Workers of the |
World or the Working Class Union.
A recommendation was made by the |
committee on constitution to increase
the dues of local unions from so cents
to 81 per month. As adopted the dues |
will be 95 cents per month. so cents
going to the international and do
cents to the local and district unions. |
This is an increase of As cents per |
month.
A 25 per cent increase in salaries to
International and district officers was
voted. without much objection. This |
corresponds with the increase in wages |
recently gained by the miners thruout |
the country.
Colorado Had 25 Delegates.
There were 1.752 delegates in at
tendance Mt the convention, represent |
ing 1,772 local unions, with a roll call |
vote of 1852. The International pays |
transportation of all delegates to and
from the convention, the total amount |
thus paid out being $40.596.70. Local
unions sending delegates pay per diem |
and hotel expenses, ranging from $5 |
to $40 per day. District 10, Colorado, |
had 25 delegates in attendance. repre-
scnting AZ unions with 40 votes, and
drew transportation money to the
amount of $2,348.70.
T ask you," said the czar to his