The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-21
NATURALIZATION
/. PLAN DEVELOPED
BY MINE WORKERS
Includes Purchase and OPP
Grafton by Federal Govern
ment of All Private
Mines of Country

BY Associated Frsss
Cleveland, O., September 2o.-The
convention of the United Mine Work
ers of America today developed its
plan for the naturalization OF coal
mines. which includes purchase by the
federal government of all private
mines at their actual value as deter
mined by federal appraisers and oper-
alton by the federal government. with
equal miner representation upon tbs
bodies administering the industry and
fixing wages and conditions of EN-
ployment. Naturalization of coal
mines in Canada is also proposed. The
miners offer right of way to nation
alization OF railroads. provided the
railroad brotherhoods pledge them
selves to continue the fight with equal
vigor for the naturalization of mines
Action was taken by unanimous ris-
ing vote.
The convention further adopted res
olutions demanding legislation to take
from the United States supreme court
the power to declare unconstitutiona,
laws passed by the elective Congress;
calling upon President Wilson to re-
move Postmaster General Burleson "a
the 'uncharitable harsh and mallg-
nant' opponent of labor. and asking a
new trial or ftr1l pardon for Thomas
J. Mooney arN Warren X. Billings. the
repeal of the espionage act and am
nesty for political prisoners. 1t re-
fused, however, to call as proposef
general strike and stoppage of all
production until all political and ia
dustrial prisoners are released, and in
It's resolution on the espionage act de-
clared that many offenders had been
Justly convicted for interference with
the prosecution OF the war and that 1t
had no desire to condone such offenscs
The resolution in regard to nationalist
ton OF mines reads in part as follows:
NATIONALIZATION RESOLUTION
Coal mining is basic industry, indis-
pensable to the economic life of the ma
ton and to the well-being of the nations
citizens.
The all important coal resources q
our country are owned and controlled By
private interests. Under the prevailing
system of private ownership. coal ia
mined primarily for the purpose of Great
ing profits for the coal owners.
We hold that the coal supply of our
nation should be owned by the common
wealth and operated in tn interest of and
for the use of comfort of all the people
| of the commonwealth.
Our coal resources are the birthrighr
OF the American people for all time to
come and we hold that it Is the imme-
diate duty ct the American people to pre-
vent the profligate waste that is taking
place under private ownership Of these
resources. By having the government take
such steps as may be necessary. provid
| Ing for the naturalization of the coal
mining industry of the United States.
! We, the United Mine Workers of Amer
/ lea, In convention assembled, representing
| the workers who have had their lives and
| the welfare of their dependents INVESTED
| in the coal mines Of the country, dc
! therefore resolve:
THAT we demand the immediate ma
! tionalization of the coal mining industry
of the United States That we instruct
our international offericers and the In
ternational executive board to have a bilt
prepared for submission to Congress con-
| tanning the following provisions:
PROVISIONS DEMANDED
"First-That the government, through
act Of Congress, acquire title to all coal
properties within the United States now
owned by private interests, by purchasing
said properties at a figure representing
actual valuation Of said properties, as
determined upon investigation by ac-
credited agents OF the federal govern
ment.
"Second-That the coal mining industry
be operated by the federal government
and that the mine workers be given equal
representation upon such councils as may
| be delegated the authority to administer
! the affairs of the coal mining industry;
/ of the authority to act upon the question
| of wages. hours of labor. conditions Of
| employment, or the adjudication of dis
putes and grievances within the indus
| try"
| third section instructs the interna-
| tional officers to start a campaign to
bring the demand for naturalization Of
mines to the attention OF the people and
| to secure the support of all progressive
elements. he resolution continues:
| I'VE further instruct our representa-
| tives to urge in the coming conferences
with the representatives of the railroad
workers unions a working alliance for
the purpose of securing the adoption ~
the Plumb plan for naturalization Of
railroads, as the initial step in the light
for the people of naturalization with
the understanding that such alliance will
continue to PRESS the issue with unabated
vigor until the principle of naturalization
| has been extended to embrace the coal
mining industry of the nation.
| and be Il further resolved, That our
organization, for the reasons set forth
above, carry it's fight for naturalization
! OF mines into the Dominion of Canada
| and throw its influence wherever possible
behind our members in the Senate to ac-
complishment Of the end