The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-08-11
MINE WORKERS N
CONVENTION
Special Convention Being
Held in Indianapolis =
Internal Fight On.

Indianapolis, Ind, Aug. 1.-THE
eyes of all members of the United
Mine Workers, from the coal fields
of West Virginia and central Penn
|sylvania northwest to British Column
bia and southwest to Texas and Ok
lahoma, are today turned toward this
city, where a special convention of
the national organization assembled
in response to the call recently issued
suits of the most important and far
reaching character are expected from
the convention. That the factional
differences between President Lewis
and those opposed to his policies will
be fought out on the convention floor
is regarded as a certainty, and it
would not be surprising if serious
split in the ranks should ensue.
Within the past few weeks the af-
fairs of the organization have been
rapidly approaching a crisis. At the
present time there are more than
Workers on strike. About $4,000
are involved in the great conflict in
Illinois. In the southwestern district
which embraces the states of Missou-
ri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and
Texas, there are over 10000 men
on strike. In Pennsylvania there are
about $1,000, in Ohio about 5000
and in Colorado about 1000. 1t is
possible that this list WILL be in
listing contracts between the operat-
ors and miners expire in Wyoming
and Washington.
The fight against President Lewis
lis due primarily to the situation in
Illinois, which reached an acute stage
"a week or so ago following the re-
lection by the miners of the compro-
mise settlement engineered by Presi-
dent Lewis The latter attempted to
force the compromise on the men and
compel them to return to work, while
John H. Walker, president of the
Illinois district and one of the most
influential leaders in the national Or
ganization, urged the men to stand
firm, believing that they had the long
fight won.
The Illinois miners almost to a
man are said to be supporting Walk
err in his efforts to hold out against
the operators and in his opposition
to the compromise plan of President
Lewis. A number of the Illinois To-
cal unions have gone so far as to
adopt resolutions condemning Presi-
dent Lewis and calling on him to re-
sign from the office he holds.
State President Walker makes no
secret of his intention to work for
the overthrow of President Lewis.
Many of the miners of Illinois are
insisting that Walker become candi
date for the presidency of the nation
al organization. When Walker and
Lewis contested for the presidency
two years ago the latter polled 49,
1887 votes, against 66,76S for Walk
er, majority of 1920. The Illi-
nois miners may be enjoined by those
of other states in the support of
Walker, and the latter's supporters
feel positive of his election in the
event he enters the ght for president.
Lewis still has many loyal follow
ers among the members of the organ
ization and any attempt to depose
him will be bitterly fought. He has
held the presidency since the spring
of 1908, when he was elected to sue
coed John Mitchell. Prior to that
! time he had held the vice-presidency
| for number of years. 1t is we'll
known fact that President Mitchell
was opposed to the policies of Lewis
and would have preferred to have
Secretary w. B. Wilson succeed him.
Lewis began his mining career at
| the age of seven years as slate
picker on the breakers in Pennsyl-
vania. He first came into prOmin-
ence at the age of seventeen years,
| in connection with the Knights of
| Labor. Later he moved to Bridge
port, Ohio, where he dug coal. in the
mines of the Wheeling Creek COM
pany for three years, and in 1892
gave up his work to accept the po-
Ohio miners organization. In 1900
he was chosen national vice presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers of
America.
That President Lewis intends to
take definite action to squelch the re-
volt organized against his administra-
ton is evidenced by the statement
included in his call for the present
convention, the purposes of which is
stated to be ito take such action as
| is necessary to require the officers
and members of The United Mine
Workers to respect and comply with
the authority of the international ex-
ecutive board"
L II i - Enn 1vy m