Denver labor bulletin., 1918-01-26

For three days this week l.652
delegates attending the biennial con
vcutinr ~ the United Mine Workers
Of America, fn Tom'nsau hall. Indian
upaIi-. debated question of policy.
Il BIS the largest Delegated convru-
tfou DO thc history Of the orrauiza-
tiun
Many of the "men from the picks"
demanded the adoption Of coustitu-
tioual amendment providing that no
otHrars. districts or group uf districts
should nave authority to make % basis
agreement and formulate a policy to
govern Huy other district without an
districts having an opportunity 90 be-
represented and given a vote This
proposition came before the cunyen-
tion Monday with an adverse report
.f the committee ON constitution.
When the question came TO "a vote
Wednesday IL was defeated by g5s
TO 554
Favors Seven Hour Day.
President Gompcrs Of the Amcri-
can Federation Of Labor delivered an
address before the convention Wcdncs-
day. He said that in his opinion the
order issued by Fuel Director Garfield
FOR closing all industries for n period
" five days was an absolute neCcs-
aity. Gompcrs proposed scvcn-hour
day as the best solution during the
war TO prevent transportation con
gcstion such as has clogged the rail
roads for months past In voiclng
this opinion he said:
I'VE would have practically the
same results in the conservation OF
fuel and all other nccdful commodi-
ties. II would not do violence to the
history, the traditions, the work and
the practical operation of industry
and commerce.
Il trust that the suggestion may
find lodgmcnt somewhere and bring
about that change; but II it doesn't, |
am going to obey like a soldier Of
America. | am going to yield my
judgment to the judgment and the
actions Of the men in whose hands the
dcstinies of our republic are placed. "
Cooperative Stores at Mines.
The convention went upon record
as favoring the establishment Of CO.
operative stores in all mining commu-
mites thruout the country. This
proposition was strongly advocated
by John II Walker, president Of the
Illinois State Federation Of Labor. lie
said that only by organization have
the mine workers succeeded in fore
ing employers to give them fair treat
ment. and that only by strong CO.
operative organization could the work
ing people force food dealers to give
fair prices.
Chairman Harlan Of the committee
explained that cooperative stores can
be established only by local unions
and communities, and not by the In
ternatonal Union. The resolution di-
rects the international organization to
start a campaign of education and to
encourage the establishment of stores
based on the Ronchdale plan.
A resolution was adopted recon-
mending legislation to prohibit the
employment of armed mine guards.
Penalty Clause Approved.
After considerable debate the CON
vcntion endorsed the action of the
International officers in signing last
October of what has become known
ms the Washington agreement This
agreement gave the miners thruout
the country n wage increase of % per
cent and n clause which provided for
the collection of penalty from each
miner who violated the contract by
refusing to work or by going on an
Illegal strike This contract, made
for the central competitive field. has
been made the basis for wage agree
mcnts in all the bituminous districts
in the country, penalty clause and all,
One of the striking features of the
convention is the war spirit that has
taken the place of the spirit of paci-
fism that has heretofore characterized
miners conventions. At every men
ton of the war and Americas par
ticipation there is an outburst of ap-
pause that pledges the miners to
full support of the nation in this
crisis.
Colorado Trouble Aired.
The Colorado miners trouble was
debated Thursday when n proposition
came up to make appointment of or
ganizcrs by the International prcsi-