coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

24 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
possess as an organization by adopting this newmethod
and opening up a way to a better and more
enlightened business policy.'
"In concurring in this, your committee recommends
if tbe report is adopted by the convention,
that it be referred to the various districts with
the recommendation of the convention."
President White made a speech in support of the
proposition.
"Our organization has a wider influence in shaping
the affairs of this nation," he said. "No other
labor organization lias a greater influence than
the United Mine Workers. 1 have stated that I
believed the old system in this organization had
outlived its usefulness ancl I want to change it.
"I am opposed to suspension. I want to do
something that will help the members and their
families. I want to shut out these evil influences
that profit from your misfortune in time of
suspension.
"It has always been the case that these evil
influences hover around our
CONVENTIONS AMI CONFERENCES,
seeking to influence the strong organized fields to
cause a suspension.
"They know that if they can bring about this
unfortunate condition they can then unload their
large stocks of surplus coal at high prices. The
public gets the idea that the miners are to blame
for the situation.
"Then after the surplus coal has been disposed
of and the non-union mines have been worked
steadily, you generally get an insignificant increase
which could have been had without a strike.
"Under such circumstances the non-union fields
get the benefit, and this makes it more difficult to
organize these unorganized fields.
"Operators have come lo me and asked me to
delay action in regard to strikes and settlements.
They told me it would be a benefit to them. But
I refused to listen to them.
"The evil influences work in the most insidious
manner. They have sought to disrupt the administration.
They have used the writ of injunction,
the federal courts, the district courts—all are used
against us.
"I have never been able to see what has been
gained by a suspension.
"We should not waste our substance and energy
by a suspension."
He said it would be easier to organize the unorganized
fields if the miners remained at work.
"I do not want any more suspensions," he said.
"If we exhaust our efforts in the conference, and
if we fail to get an agreement, then let us split
and call it a strike and not a suspension."
After several other aldresses the convention
adopted the committee's recommendation that there
be no suspension of work April 1 if a new wage
agreement has not been reached, nor while negotiations
are pending.
The convention adopted a motion of President
Flyzick, of District 10, whih provided that after
an agreement has been reached at the joint conference
it shall be submitted either
TO A REFERENDUM VOTE
of the entire membership or in a reconvened international
convention for ratification or rejection.
Thomas Haggerty and Thomas Kennedy of Pennsylvania
were chosen as delegates to the next
convention of the World's Mining congress. One
of the international officers also will go as a delegate.
John Hessler of Indiana and Thomas J. Reynolds
of Illinois were chosen delegates to the Western
Federation of Miners' convention.
St. Louis was selected as the place for holding
the next convention, that city being chosen over
Kansas City.
The convention voted almost unanimously that
the report of the committee appointed two years
ago to investigate the charges that the Columbus
convention of three years ago had been packed
with delegates for certain purposes, which were
talked about at that time, should not be read to
the convention, but should be filed in the archives
at headquarters.
President White made a short speech before adjourning
the convention.
"I want to thank the delegates for what they
have done at this eonvention." he said. "You
have put into effect many new features of our
policy that have been suggested to me, and I feel
that they will all be for the good of the organization.
I feel that they will bring a little more
sunshine and a little more happiness into your
homes and to your families.
"For those persons who sought, purposely or
otherwise, to interrupt and hinder the work of
this convention by continuous disorder and turmoil.
I shall entertain no personal ill will whatever.
I shall feel that they did not hurt me.
"You have done much constructive work which
will redound to the benefit of our organization in
the years that stretch out before us, and my hope
to you and to the entire membership is that the
very near future may bring not strife, suffering
and privation to our vast membership and their
families, but that it may bring better conditions
and make life the more worth living."
The Dravo Contracting Co. of Pittsburgh has
just been awarded the contract for the complete
construction of two modern concrete-lined shafts
for the Ford Collieries Co. on its property between
Bakerstown and Curtisville, Allegheny county, Pa.