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CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA MINE WORKERS
HOLD FIRST BIENNIAL CONVENTION.
The first biennial convention of District 2, Uni­
ted Mine Workers of America, met at Dubois. Pa.,
Feb. 24, with James Purcell, vice president, presid­
ing in the absence of Patrick Gilday, who is re­
ceiving treatment in a Philadelphia hospital Ap­
proximately 250 delegates from the 11 counties in
the district were present.
secretary, Charles O'Neil, read the president's re-
secretary, Charles O'Neil. read the pcrsident's re­
port, which covered the work of the mineis' or­
ganization for the past two years.
After treating* on the scale under which the men
have been working for two years. President Gilday
urges the necessity of the members becoming
affiliated with tbe State Federation of labor. He
recommends that the influem e of the U. M. W. of A.
be used in the state legislature for better buildings
for the department of mines and mining at State
College Noimal school, and asks that one or more
scholarships be given to the sons of members of
the organization as rewards for efficiency and en­
couragement to the young men in their efforts to
secure an education.
President Gilday's report deals at length with
the efforts of the officers and legislative commit­
tee of the U. M. W. of A. to secure favorable legis­
lation at Harrisburg. Of the seven different labor
bills presented to the legislature and endorsed by
the miners' organization, one, the semi-monthly-
pay law, was successful.
President Gilday also recommends in his report
the establishing* of an official newspaper in the dis­
trict and asks the convention to request the dis­
trict executive hoard to take such steps as may be
necessary to bring this ai.out.
The report of Richard Gilbert, secretary-treas­
urer, deals with the membership growth as well
as the financial growth of the organization and
gives the receipts and expenditures dining the year
in itemized form. The total membership Jan. 31,
1914, was 37,903, a gain during the past year of
5,258. There have been 257 death claims paid dur­
ing the year ending Jan. 31, amounting to $21,350.
According* to the secretary-treasurer's report the
organization is in better financial standing than it
has ever been. The total receipts for the year
amounted to $377,S85.69 and the total expenditures
were $364,624.S2. In checkweighmen's wages there
was paid $249,433.10. The report shows that there
is a balance cash on hand of $98,830.32, and that
the total resources of the organization, including
property owned and a ban of $25,00o to the national
union, to be $141,862.41.
Five years ago the district voted in favor of cen­
tralization. A number of tlie delegates at this
convention have instruction from their local unions
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 26
to work to bring* about the old form of sub-dis­
trict government. An effort will also be made to
change the conventions to yearly.
At the second day's sessions the report of the
resolutions committee occupied the greater part
of the day, anil nut many resolutions of impel tain c
were touched on before the hour for adjournment
an ived.
During the day the membership of the Scale com­
mittee was selected in caucus by (he delegates
and is: Territory Xo. 1. Richard Crago, Barnes­
boro; Joseph McCoy, Hastings. No. 2, Harr>
Crago, Morrisdale; Andy Bottomley, Phillips-burg.
No. 3, James Feeley, iJunlo: Robert Bates, Beaver­
dale. No. f. Lorraine Abbott, Robertsdale; Pat­
rick Dolan, Hopewell. No. 6, W. S. Davidson.
Marion Center; William Broad, Clearfield. No. 7,
Eugene Tormey, Osceola; Hugh McGinity, Osceola.
No. 8, John Watson, Dubois; E. B. Thomas, kim-
ersburg; No. 9, Robert Lindie, Morris Run; Fred
Boncer, Arnot.
At the third day's sessions, Feb. 26, the conven­
tion adopted a resolution condemning the delegates
to the national convention for voting the increased
salary for the national officers of the union, and a
resolution permitting the local unions to adopt
a sick and accident fund if they so desired.
Territory No. 5, that had failed to elect mem­
bers of the scale committee on the previous day
chose James Marks and James Barron.
When the matter of the salaries of the diti ict
officers came up it was decided to get the figures
showing the average paid by all the districts in
the United States and then submit tlie matter to
a referendum vote.
The centralization question, that had been looked
upon as one of the important ones ol the conven­
tion, was disposed of dining Ihe late afternoon
of this day, when, by a vote of 70 to 57, the eon­
vention ruled that it did not want resolutions on
the subject read before the convention. The oppo­
nents of centralization had permitted the oppor­
tunity to pass by when that section of the consti­
tution was under consideration and the convention
therefore voted not to take it up further.
Mine Inspector Joseph Williams has made infor­
mation before Alderman Hite of Altoona, charging
F. H. Bradley, a Bennington, Pa., operator, with
violating that section of the mining laws which
makes it unlawful for a mine owner to operate a
mine employing over lo men without having in
charge a foreman, who has passed his examination
and holds a foreman's certificate.
Hugh and Thomas Lochrie, doing business in
Butler county, Pa., as Lochrie Bros, have dis­
solved partnership, and Thomas Lochrie of Wind­
ber, Pa., continue the business individually.