coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

Proceedings of Twenty-Fourth Consecutive and First
Biennial Convention of The U. M. W. of A.
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24)
ITS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
and privileges, the same as before. This convention
is no exception to those that preceded it. and can
say with propriety who shall and who shall not
sit in this convention as delegates.
Delegate McDonald—What I want is a direct
answer.
President White—The chair would not want to
go on record saying this convention is going to
violate the constitution in seating delegates in
light of some of the explanations that have been
made. If the convention adopts the rule provided
for in the committee's report it will be time
enough to chastise the organizations if they fail
to carry its mandates.
The motion to adopt the report of the committee
was carried.
A resolution pledging financial and moral assistance
to striking machinists of the Goodman
Manufacturing Co. of Chicago, was recommended
by the committee. The resolution was adopted.
The committee recommended non-concurrence
in a resolution for the relief of "strap hangers"
and after considerable debate it was sent back to
the committee with instructions to bring in a favorable
report.
A resolution submitted by local No. 586, Huntington,
Ark., favoring the enactment of a federal
mining law, was recommended by the committee.
The resolution also authorized the creation
of a committee, appointed by the national officers,
to prepare such a law.
Delegate Savage. District 6—I wish to amend
the committee's report. I move, as an amendment,
that the report be adopted and that the national
bill be presented to the legislatures of the
different coal mining states for passage. I mean
by that amendment that if the committee is appointed
they can work with the National Bureau
of Mines in drafting a bill. When the bill is in
the proper form and introduced into Congress, if
Congress passes or fails to pass it.
THE SAME BILL
can be introduced in all the legislatures in the
coal mining states of this country. If we do that,
and the national government is back of it, I believe
it will tend to get a national law in every
state in the Union.
The amendment offered by Delegate Savage was
seconded and carried and the report of the committee
was adopted as amended.
Resolutions providing for a printing plant and
a building to be owned by the organization were
presented by 40 locals and the committee recommended
this one from High Bridge, la :
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 51
"Whereas, in the auditors' report we read ol so
vast an expenditure of money for printing, rent,
etc.; and,
"Whereas, we are of the opinion that an organization
owning a building for office purposes and
printing plant would not only reflect good management
of the organization, but would also mean,
in the long run, a big saving of money; therefore,
be it
"Resolved, that after the various strikes conducted
by the organization at the present time arc
terminated, the assessment of fifty (50) cents per
member a month be continued until the sum of
$500,000 has been derived from it, to be known as
the Building and Printing Plant Fund, and the
International Executive Board be instructed to
act as a Building and Printing Plant Committee,
whose duty shall be to look for a suitable city
wherein to erect said building and printing plant,
and commence the work on same as soon as the
funds are available."
After considerable debate it was sent back to
the membership for a referendum vote.
Secretary Gay—Resolutions Nos. 94, 215, 290
and 450 all bear on the same subject, the question
of industrial organization, and the committee recommends
the follow-ing substitute:
"Resolved, that upon the question of organization
along industrial lines, we re-affirm our position
of two years ago, to the effect that we recommend
that it is the sense of this convention that
the method of organization by industry instead of
by craft, be inaugurated whenever and wherever
possible, and our representatives to the American
Federation convention instructed to use every
endeavor to bring this about, and we further recommend
that the representatives of the international
and district
BRANCHES OE OUR ORGANIZATION
visit the different labor conventions whenever possible
and use every endeavor to mold sentiment
along these lines, and we furthermore recommend
that the International Executive Board be instructed
to try and reach a working agreement
between the different affiliated unions and our organization
along the lines of that advocated by
our delegates in the Rochester convention of the
A. F. of L. and we furthermore recommend that
the board endeavor to reach a similar agreement
with the different railroad unions to the end that
instead of working to the detriment of each other,
as has been the case heretofore, we can help and
protect each others' interests in times of strike."
Adopted.
When the convention opened for its sessions
Jan. 22, the first action was instituted by President
White:
President White—I want to bring to this con-