Under the agreement, any miner suspected of high-grading could be searched by a fellow union member in the presence of a watchman. Shipman also announced that he would support membership in the WFM by miners in return for the union's help in stopping the practice of high grading.
According to the terms of the pact, if a miner was thought to be engaging in high-grading, another union member could conduct a search with the supervision of a watchman. Shipman stated that he would back membership in the WFM by miners who agreed not to engage in high-grading and would receive help from the union.