The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-10-03
OFFICIAL BULLETIN
Continued rrprn Page One)

increase in wages, approximately
COZ. To the uniformed, the pro-
gram enunciatcd by the Cleveland
convention may seem radical, but a
fair consideration of the miners
present condition, his sacrifice on
behalf of his country during the
war. will convince the unprejudiced
that his present progress and de-
mands are conservative, construct
i've and moderate.
There were 2,O4O delegates in at
tendance at the convention. Ordi-
narily, a convention so large proves
unwieldy and renders it impossible
to give proper deliberation to the
questions that come before it, but
this convention proved an exception
to this rule. The convention was
calm and deliberate throughout the
entire session. 1t proved itself
constructively progressive through
out, and except on one question, was
almost unanimous in its decisions.
The only question on which a roll
call become necessary was over that
of whether organizers should con-
tinue to be appointed by the Inter
national Executive Officers, or be
elected in the same manner as 9TH
er officials of the movement. \
strong fight to change the policy
and have the organizers elected, was
made by several delegates, while
those who opposed the change from
the present policy pointed out that
the greater portion of those employ
ed as organizers were men of for
eign birth. that in the non-union
fields is was necessary to employ
Slayish, Italian and other foreign
organizers, according to the proper
tion of nationalities represented in
the fields to be organized. 1t was
also pointed out that in most of the
Southern States a large number of
the men employed in the mines were
colored, and that the most effective
results could be obtained by the en-
ployment of cOlored organizers;
and it was pointed out that not
single colored man had succeeded in
being elected to executive office in
any of the well-organized districts,
and that but a very small proper
ton of the foreign speaking mem
bers were represented in the eXecu-
tive positions for the large districts;
that if we were to elect organizers
that the natural result would be a
large surplus of English-speaking
organizers, when the real needs of
the situation were for foreign speak
ing and colored organizers, with
only a small minority of the force
English speaking.
The colored delegates in the con-
vention presented a strong appeal
to continue the present policy so
that they would continue to receive
the consideration they were entitled
to, while several foreign-spealing
delegates argued from the same
standpoint. The result was, on roll
call, an Overwhelming majority in
favor of continuing the present pol
icy.
President Lewis announced aft
er the news had been received that
a strike would be called among the
steel workers, the appointment Of
10 additional organizers to be plac-
ed at the disposal of VIM H. Foster,
Secretary of the National Commit
tee for organizing the steel work
ers, and included Mother" Jones
in the list of organizers.
It is indeed, a comprehensive pro-
gram the Miners Union has under
taken, and the workers of the Ma
ton can take hope from the knowl-
edge that the Miners Union has
never undertaken fight yet and
failed to wage it to successful
They can rest assured
that before the end of the present
year either all or most of the de-
mands provided for in the program
will be systematically and courage
ously carried into effect.
The Washington Miners were rep
resented by l 8 delegates, who took
an active part in all Of the dclibera-
lions of the convention, and re-
turned feeling proud that their own
President, Bobbie Harlin, had
proved one of the ablest and most
popular representatives in the con-
vention.
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