The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-09-12
U. S. OWNERSHIP
OF MINES; PLUMB
PLAN ARE URGED
United Mine Workers of Amer
lea Adopt British Brothers
View of Industry
EPOCH MAKING MEETING
Convention Beginning at Cleve-
land Today Will Mark New
Era in COal-Mining

Cleveland, o., Sept. 12.-With some
1000 delegates here the international
convention of the United Mine Work
ers Of America, the 25th gathering
OF that organization was called to
order this week. E-
Events have conspired to make it
probably the most important in the
history Of the United States mine
workers since quite apart from the
possibilities of trouble contained in
its almost certain demands for higher
wages and shorter hours the miners
of Great Britain are looking to it for
support and cooperation in the ques-
tion Of the 6sShour day and 30 hour
week and of the naturalization of coal
mines.
Most articles of the British Miners
program figure upon that of the Cleve-
land convention. Favorable action
which is anticipated is expected to
react sympathetically upon the strug-
gle across the Atlantic.
Support For Plumb Plan
OF greater significance in view of
the desire to secure the support of
organized labor everywhere for the
Plumb plan for the naturalization Of
the railways was the fact that Pres
ident Warren S. Stone, grand chief
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
engineers: W. G.. Lee, president of the
Brotherhood Of Railway Trainmen
Timothy J. Shea, acting president
of the Brotherhood Of Railway
Trainmen, and l.. E. Sheppard,
president of the Order of Railway
Conductors, who had been added to
those to extend a Cleveland well
come to the convention.
The convention is expected to last
from two to three weeks.
WHAT MINERS ASK 49,.
According to William Green, inter-
national secretary treasurer of the or
ganization, the wage and hour de-
mands, although subject to change, are
Substantially
A six hour day instead of the eight
hour day; a tive-day week instead Of
six and an increase in wages Of from
"a to 40 per cent.
1t is cOntended that the miner has to-
donate the time required to enter the
mine (often a considerable distance)
just as mule drivers in the mine have
to put up their animals after a days
work, on their own time; the motor
man to care for his motors, etc. 1--WE
are forced to demand shorter hours
and a shorter week because of the un-
employment at the mines," Mr.. Green
said. ......
Miners now are paid certain sum
for every ton Of coal mined. Operators
have claimed miners can make SIS a
day. Union officials assert, however,
the average-counting time of layoff-
will not run more than Sc day. Other
help are paid by the day generally, the
wage running from $4.75 to $5 day.
JOINT SCALE CONFERENCE
A joint scale conference between rep
resentatives Of miners and operators
of the central competitive field, includ-
ing Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and West
Elm Pennsylvania, will be held imme
diately following the miners conven
tion, to consider the new wage scale.
Inasmuch as the district is the most
important in the country, its rate usu-
ally governs the country, with moditi-
cations due to local conditions.
Another matter Of Importance to be
brought before the convention will be
the naturalization Of the mines. How
ever, this is merely u question! of gen
eral policy, according to Secretary
Green, and is not demand ~
William Roy, president Of district
No. 5, United Mine Workers Of Ohio,
said an effort will be made to move
the International headquarters Of the
union from Indianapolis to Cleveland.
The convention was presided over by
JChn L. Lewis Of Illinois, international
vice president, in the absence of Presi-
L. x1,Io ie, Ill