The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-01-19
Mine WORKERS
IN CONVENTION
AT INDIANAPOLIS
Biennial Meeting Will Ratity
Wage Scales; No Further
Increase Asked.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. H.
With addresses of welcome by off,
Gals of the state and city and the
reading of a letter from President
Wilson expressing his good will to-
ward the coal diggers of the country
the biennial convention of the United
Mine Workers of America convened
here Tuesday, the delegates in at
tendance representing more than
100000 organized men in the indus
try. For the first time in many years
an increase in wages will not be the
paramount business, although many
phases relating to the. present stand
ard will come before the delegates.
The convention, according to it's
leading officers, will ratify the btu
minous and anthracite wage scales
agreed to in conference in Washing
ton several months ago despite the
fact that there is talk of some opposi-
ton. An unusual feature of the meet
ing is the absence of scale commit
tee which heretofore always brought
in a report for higher wages.
While the delegates will not ask
for higher wages, they are expected to
take action looking to the mainten-
ance of the present standard at least
after the war is over. To this end a
large defense fund is suggested by
some of the leaders for use in the
event any attempt is made to read just
wages downward.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, is ex-
pected to address the miners.
DR.. Harry A. Garfield, national fuel
administrator, has also been invited
to speak.
Address by President.
President Frank J. Hayes, in re-
viewing the activities of the organiza-
ton, urged the delegates to ratify the
wage agreements entered into at
Washington with the bituninous and
with anthracite operators anG sane
toned by the Federal government.
The agreements now in effect, call for
increases in wages md extend the
present contracts two years, from
April 1, 1913. I'VE must remember"
said President Hayes, that I'VE have
secured very substantial wage ad-
vances during the last year, and that
there have been few, if any, indus
tries in the country that have Jared
as we'll as ours in the matter of in
creased wages"
The report reviews the litigation in
which the union is involved, particu-
larly the West Virginia case, wherein
the organizers of the United Mine
Workers of America were enjoined
from soliciting employees of a coal
company to become members of the
organization. The supreme court of
the United States sustained the in
junction. The report says:
Would Destroy Organization.
"Decisions of this character are
calculated, if not designed, to destroy
our organization and return coal
mining conditions to the chaotic state
that once prevailed; and we have the
right in the name of our patriotic
service to the country, as we'll as our
own economic welfare to protest
against these revolutionary decisions
and to insist if this be the law of the
courts that it shall be corrected by
legislation
President Hayes also drew the at
tention of the delegates to the con-
tempt proceedings in the United States
supreme court growing out of the West
Virginia case.
The report recommended the build
ing up of the Organizations finances
for the purpose of creating defense
fund for use after the war, if need
be, and urged that something should
be done by the union to assist foreign
born members to become American
citizens.