Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1906 — STRIKE IS INEVITABLE [ARTICLE]

STRIKE IS INEVITABLE

Does Not Seem as If Anything Can Prevent a Coal Mine Walk-Out. IT WILL INVOLVE 600,000 MBH Both Parties to the Dispute Appear To Be Inflexible. ' a • i No Hope That the President or Civic Federation Will Interfere Patrick Dolan's Vote Is V igorously Resented. Indianapolis, Feb. 6.—The national executive board of the United Mine Workers of America has adjourned. President Mitchell refused to discuss the work of the board. Secretary Wilson said no statement would be given out at this time. Indianapolis, Feb. 3.—One of the most dramatic scenes ever witnessed in a national convention of the United Mine Workers was the final adjournment of that body after the dissolution of the joint conference of operators and miners of the central and southwestern districts, and after the national convention had severely rebuked one of the oldest officers of the organization for transgressing one of the fundamental law’s of unionism in voting contrary to his instructions to stand for an Increase of wages. No Hope of Averting a Strike. When the lusty voices of the miners, mingled in the singing of “America,” had hushed an oppressive silence fell upon the assembled delegates, and as President John Mitchell slowly pronounced the words which adjourned the seventeenth annual convention without day, thus dissolving every possible hope of averting a gigantic Industrial war without the Intervention of some unexpected and powerful influence, the miners marched out of the hall. Big Walkout On April 1. The apparent determination of both operators and miners indicates that neither will make overtures to the other for further negotiations, and as Indicated by the speeches of both the radicals and conservatives of both organizations, on the floor of the joint conference, unless some influence which is not now foreseen steps into the breach (500,000 men controlled by the United Mine Workers will walk out of the mines in every section of the country on April 1. Not Likely to Interfere. There have been Intimations that two agencies—the president of the United States and the National Civic Federation—may be asked to set in motion negotiations looking to a rehabilitation of the joint state agreement, or at least a discussion of some possible means of bringing the operators and miners together for further negotiations. So far as known, however, there Is nothing upon which to base an assertion that either the president or the Civic Federation will offer to Interfere.

IMPEACHMENT OF DOLAN He Insisted on Voting for a Motion Avoiding a Strike. Patrick Dolan, president of district 5. U. M. W., was the man who was Impeached by the convention. F. L. Robbins, operator, in the joint conference moved that the present scale be affirmed for the year beginning April 1 next. There was much debate, and finally a vote was reached. Dolan, voting for the Pennsylvania miners as their president, voted for the motion. Instantly there were cries of “Throw him out!” etc. He insisted that he had a right to cast the vote, and the chair sustained him. The scene was then transferred to the national convention, U. M. W., which met as soon as the joint conference had adjourned sine die. Here Delegate Hayes, of Collinsville, 111., moved the expulsion of Dolan for treason. the offense being Dolan's vote in joint conference, bis district In Pennsylvania having voted for an increase of -wages. After some ndiscussio Dolan asked the convention to take no action, saying tluit If he had done anything wrong his people nt home would act. It was finally decided on a point of order that the convention had no jurisdiction. Then a motion that the Pittsburg district delegates hold a caucus on the ■object was carried and the convention took recess while the <wucus was held. When the convention reassembled the caucus reported a resolution condemning I»olan, which was laid on the table, after which the national convention adjourned sine die. SOME FIGURES ON POSSIBILITIES Mitchell Expects 150,000 Non-Union Miners to Strike Also. During an interview President Mitchell discussed some of the phases of the situation. In answer to questions he said that the action of the convention Included the anthracite districts, but that the U. M. W. would meet the anthracite operators on Feb. 15. According to the figures given out* by the national officers of the miners' organization they expect the strike to bring out over tJOO.OOO men—«bout 150,000 nonunion miners In West Virginia and •»- . * >. « t

Pennsylvania with the 450,000 union miners. Of this number about 150,000 will ba out in the anthracite districts, 85,000 In the Pennsylvania bituminous districts, 88,000 in Ohio, 17,000 In Indiana, 60,000 In Illinois, 16,000 in lowa, 30,000 in West Virginia, 3,000 In Michigan, and approximately 60,000 In Kansas. Missouri, Texas, Indian Territory and Arkansas. Mitchell said that never In the history of this country was there an organization that could call out so many men in one a strike having such widespread effect. “The prosperous condition of the country,” said he, “warrants an increase for the miners. We accepted a decrease by our own votes two years ago, when at the time we were convinced that the conditions of the country demanded It. We have ever been ready to stand right, ami we stand right now.” He declared the responsibility for whatever happened rested on the operators. When questioned about the cost of the anthracite strike he said that Its cost had been estimated by the anthracite strike commission to be a loss of $25,000,000 of wages to the miners, $50,000,000 of profits to the operators, $26,000,000105s in freight rates. “There were other items of loss that raised the total figures much Over $100,000,000 for the strike. It lasted a little over twenty-six weeks.” Pißft'dent Mitchell estimated that four people are dependent on every miner. On this estimate a national strike such as is planned will .affect over 2,000,000 people dependent on the mining industry for their daily bread. The dollar assessment would raise approximately $2,500,000 national treasury funds by April 1. This organization now has in cash in its national district, sub-district and local treasuries $2,679,134.42. The two funds on April 1 will probably place $5,000,000 cash available for strike purposes. Views of Herman Justi. Springfield, 111., Feb. 5. Herman Justi, commissioner of Illinois Coal Operators’ association, on his return from the Joint conference of operators and miners at Indianai»olis, made the following statement regarding the coal mining situation in Illinois: “The joint agreement between operators and miners in Illinois does not expire until April 1, 1906. Grounds for the refusal by the operators of the miners’ demands for an increase in wages were that conditions of trade did not justify an increase. Advances in wages to labor in the mining industry of Illinois since 1898 have been over 100 per cent., while there has been but one reduction in that time, and that was only 5% per cent. The miners now demand 12*6 per cent, increase. It is now up to the miners to determine whether they will work after April 1, or go on strike.”