The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-26
Lewis and Walker Factions Are Fighting for Leadership
 of the Miners
BALLOTS ARE COUNTED
 UPON VOTING MACHINES
Claim Is Made That Local Unions of Pennsylvania Held Elections IT. regularly and Charges of
 Corruption Made.

Indianapolis, January 25.-The conven- tion of the United Mine Workers Of America, in session in this city, is in the attitude of waiting, though restlessly, for an outbreak of internal strife rather than for a contest with employers.
 Only one wage scale of large influence IS to be negotiated That of the miners for the anthracite districts of Pennsylvania, which probably will be taken up between the operators and a committee represent ing the miners.
 The factor upon which the miners or ganization is intent is the dispute within its own ranks between the present na- tional administration and it's opponents, headed by John Walker of Illinois, who is MT. Lewis rival for the presidency. The ballots cast last December are now be- ing counted on voting machines and the result may be announced either tomor- row or Wednesday.
 The factional controversy is bitter one and for weeks charges of improper in- fiuence in the election have emanated from the supporters of both parties. It is generally rumored among the eele- gates to the convention, who number 1860 that 's ~ of the count of s-uars does not gi a very large ma i1riEe .7 Mn r.0IH r. Walkers friends .gu -arfe i ai on and will att tar9et 7 aavr licient number of E a.s- ara7r oal la put the final de-
 a=4 {. office before the convention itself.
 Irregular Elections.
 The anthracite miners of Pennsylvania are not well organized and it is charged that in many local unions Che election was held in a more or less irregular fashion, in some instances to the ad- vantage of the Lewis faction and in others to the advantage of the Walker party.
 Indefinite allegations of corruption are rife among the delegates and usually appear to be inspired by personal ami mostly This feeling will rise quickly to the surface when the report of the com mittee on officers reports is received by the convention.
 Mr Lewis and his aides have been severely criticised for their action in sus- pending the officers of District No Il, Indiana, for disobeying mandate to return to work pending the settlement of a strike: for alleged indifference in the Mercer Butler strike in Pennsylvania and for their course in the great Alabama strike of last year. On the other hand, Mr Lewis insists that the convention shall put itself on record as establishing the supreme power of the national exc cutiye board. and as determined to nlain- tain absolute integrity in contracts made by the different districts of the union with the mine owners. The Lewis ad- mnistration may be said to be conserva- tive in labor union politics.
 Clash of Delegates.
 A minor manifestation of the division developed today, when after the creden- tials committee had recommended the seating of two delegates from a Penn sylvania union, each of whom claimed to be the legally credited representative, the convention chose one and rejected the other by a vote in which the anti Lewis faction was clearly and victorious ly active
 MT Lewis friends assert that his ma iority will between 10000 and 15,000 and they assert that not only are they ready to defend the administrations course, but also have plenty of ammunition for the return fire upon the aggressors.