The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-16

IN. nccasi but do want them to
realize how deeply and sincerely In
terestcd the government Is III their
welfare and how anxious II Is To he
instrumental In doing anything that
II is possible to do IL further Ii.
The reading Of President Wilson's Lei
ter was greeted with applause from tn.
1900 delegates.
Welcomed by Governor.
Governor Goodrich Of Indiana well
coined the miners In a patriotic Spc2cu
IN which he told them that the men who
60 down into the earth 10 dig coal In
the present crisis nre just as important
rs the men who arc going over the top.
President Hayes drew the attention "
the convention TO the immense service
flag hanging like a canopy over the heads
OF tho delegates. lie said the minors
Of the country have proved themselves
thoroughly loyal lu'the great conflict for
democracy and added that they would
keep on mining the maximum production
OF fuel as long as the railroads will FUR
nish the cars.
PENNSYLVANIA leads IN furnishing men
to the service, in about the same ratio
that sho lead. in coal production. with
total volunteered and drafted Of $500.
and 2s.53T subject 10 draft. Illinois Is
second. with $3.50 in the service Of 1865
subject to cali
Tho repur, OF John L. Lewis, vico
president. stated tina; since the begin
ming OF 1912 tho United Mlne Workers
have obtained wage advances ranGini;
from 80 to l04 per cent on different claS-
sifcatoins OF labor.
The report refers to the labor short
ago As "bugaboo" and states that tho
cry OF labor shortage is due to those
who seek TO hold down tho wages 10 tina
lowest level.
President Hayes Report.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. january ~
President Frank J. Hayes. Of the United
Mine Workers OF America. In reviewing
the activities OF the organization Of the
biennial convention Of the union today.
urged the delegates to ratify the WACO
agreements entered into al Washington
with tho bituminous and anthracite OPP
orators and sanctioned by the federal
government The agreements now in eff
feet call for Increases In wages and en-
tend the present contracts two years
April /, 1918. We must remember
said President Hayes. that We have So
cured very substantial wage advances
during tho past year. and that there
have been few II any. industries In tho
country that have Jared as we'll as ours
In the matter Of increased wages"
The report reviews tho litigation In
which tho union Is involved particulars
~ the IVest Virginia case wherein the
organizers Of tho United Mine Workers
of America were enjolned from solicit
ing employees Of coal company 10 DO
como members OF the organization. Tho
supreme court Of the United States sus-
tanned the injunction. Tho report says:
Decisions Of this character are cal
culated. II not designed. to destroy our
organization and return coal mining
conditions to the chaotic state that once
prevailed: and we have the rtghI In tho
namo OF our patriotic service to tho
country, as we'll as to our own econo-
mic welfare to protest against these rev.
dictionary decisions and TO Insist II this
be tho law Of the court that 1t shall
be corrected by the legislation.
I'm this crisis tho Sherman anti
trust act and other federal statutes are
set aside to permit the formation OF OK
porting trusts and other similar pools
some Of II by administrative action and
same by express congressional laws. IL
seems, however to be declared an open
session by the federal judiciary for hunt
ing labor unions; and this convention
should not adjourn without taking some
decisive steps for laying before congress
the situation raised by the decisions
and Of securing Legislative assurance
against their REPETITION"
! President Hayes also drew the attcn-
! tion Of tho delegates to the contempt
proceedings In the United States supreme
| court growing out Of the West Virginia
Case and recommended tho appointment
! Of special committee for the purpose
/ Of formulating a policy TO meet the Is
sue.
! The report recommended tho building
I'D Of the organizations finances for tho
: purpose Of creating defense fund for
uso after the war. If need be. and urged
that something should be done by tho
union to assist foreign born members To
become American citizens. lilo recon-
mended the appointment by local unions
! Of committees on naturalization to car
/ ry on this work.