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tions to make as to the method of providing this
fund, but refer it to you with the request that
you give it most serious consideration.
In the course of his report President Mitchell
gave a concise individual review of all the large
strikes of the year, including that of the Illinois
Brotherhood of Hoisting Engineers and the resulting
disruption of that body. Regarding the
relations of the United Mine Workers with the
Western Federation of Miners, and the ineffectual
efforts to bring about a closer alliance between
the two organizations, a large amount of correspondence
was reviewed with the following conclusion:
You will observe, from the foregoing, that notwithstanding
the efforts of our representatives
To PROMOTE BETTER FEELING
and to cement in closer unity the interests of the
Western Federation of Miners and the United
Mine Workers of America, the Western Federation,
instead of reciprocating these fraternal overtures,
proceeded to amend their constitution in
such a manner as to provide for the membership
of a coal miner upon their executive board. No
other construction can be placed upon this action
than that it is an invitation for coal miners to become
members of the Western Federation, and it
indicates a determination upon the part of the
Western Federation to organize classes of workmen
over which we exercise jurisdiction.
Our association has always confined its membership
to those employed in the coal mining industry;
we have repeatedly declined to accept as
members those employed in metalliferous mines,
although on more than one occasion application has
been made to us for membership by men working
in such mines. If the Western Federation of
Miners persists in pursuing this hostile policy, if
the organization continues in its antagonism to
the United Mine Workers of America, we shall
be justified in extending our jurisdiction and
opening our doors to the metalliferous miners,
many thousands of whom would be glad of the
opportunity to enroll themselves under the banner
of the United Mine Workers of America and
thus be brought into affiliation with the great
American labor movement.
On the subject of machine mining President
Mitchell's report contains the following:
You will observe the ever-increasing proportion
of machine-mined eoal. This increase is especially
noticeable in those states and districts having
the widest differentials and in which the machine-
mine operators
ENJOY AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE
over their competitors who operate pick mines.
It seems to me that the relation of pick to
machine-mining should be a subject of more than
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 29
ordinary interest to our conventions and to the
membership of our local unions. It is unnecessary
to repeat my previous comments upon this
subject or to disavow any feeling of hostility
toward the introduction of labor-saving machinery.
Indeed, I look with favor upon the invention
and application of all labor-saving devices, but I
insist that, in all fairness, labor should share in
the benefits resultant from the installation of such
machinery.
Regaraing federal injunctions the report contains
the following:
Every year that passes emphasizes more strongly
the iniquity of the federal injunction as applied in
labor disputes. During the past year injunctions
have been issued in every coal field in which a
strike has been inaugurated, and members of our
association have been confined in jail because of
alleged disregard of these injunctions, notwithstanding
the fact that after our people had remained
in prison for a considerable time, the
very judge issuing the injunction has reversed his
own action and declared that when the injunction
was issued his court was without jurisdiction in
the case.
It is difficult to speak in measured tones or in
moderate language upon this subject. It is apparent
to everyone who is acquainted with the
facts, that many of these injunction judges—and
especially Judge Jackson—are totally unfit to perform
the functions of their sacred office. In numerous
instances members of our union, when
brought before these judges, have been
TREATED WITH INDIGNITY
and have had such abuse heaped upon them as
should be countenanced by no man of impartial
mind or of judicial temperament.
I wish to emphasize the fact that we ask no
special privileges over other citizens or other
associations; we seek no immunity from the law;
but we do demand and insist upon the exercise
of all the rights and all the privileges that are
guaranteed us by the constitution and enjoyed by
other citizens of our common country. If any
member of our union violates the law he deserves
to be and should be arrested, tried and convicted
for his offense, but when judges issue orders restraining
trade unionists from doing that which
they have a perfect moral and legal right to do,
and which would be no offense if done by other
citizens, and when these same judges incarcerate
our people without trial, without hearing, because
they refuse to surrender their constitutional liberties,
then, I say, it is time to call a halt.
In the state of Alabama, one of these omnipotent
judges issued an injunction restraining the
members of our union, not only there but everywhere
else, from doing things that they had a