The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-08-11
Crisis Will Probably Be Reached
at Special Convention Of Ma
tional Organization
Tomorrow
OPPOSITION TO PRES. LEWIS
Serious Split Threatened Among Unit.
ed Mine Workers-IIlinois State
President Would Depose Pres
ent Head

Indianapolis, Ind, Aug. 1.-The
eyes of all members of the United
Mine Workers, from the coal fields of
West Virginia and central Pennsyl-
vania northwest to British Columbia
and southwest to Texas and Okla
homa, are today turned toward this
city, where special convention of the
national organization assembled i'm re-
sponse to the call recently issued by
President Thomas l.. Lewis Results
of the most important and far reach
ing character are expected from the
convention. That the factional differ
ences 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 n serious split in
the ranks should ensue.
100000 Members On Strike
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 1O0.-
600 members of the United Mine
Workers on strike. About $4,000 are
involved i'm the great conflict i'm III
inois. In the Southwestern district,
which embraces the States of Mis-
souri,, Kansas, oklahoma, Arkansas
and Texas, there are over 10000 men
on strike. In Pennsylvania there are
about $4,000, i'm Ohio about 5000 and
in Colorado about 1000. 1t is possible
that this list will be increased next
month when the existing contracts
between the operators and miners ex-
pire in Wyoming and Washington.
Illinois Situation Warm
The fight against President Lewis is
due primarily to the situation i'm III
inois, which reached an acute stage
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 II. Walker, president of the Ill
inos district. and one of the most in
nuential 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 man
are said to bc supporting Walker I'm
his efforts to hold out against the op-
orators and in his opposition to the
compromise plan of President Lewis
number of the Illinois local unions
have gone so far as to adopt resolu-
tions condemning President Lewis and
calling on him to resign from the Of
flee he holds.
Seek To Overthrow Lew
state President Walker M es no
secret of his intention to work for the
overthrow of President Lewis. Many of
the miners of Illinois are insisting
that Walker become candidate for
the presidency of the national organi-
zation. When Walker and Lew
two years ago the latter
polled S3O37 votes, against 66,7GS
for Walker, a majority of 1929. The
Illinois miners may be joined by those
of other states i'm the support of Walk
er, and the latters supporters feel pos
tive of his election in the event ho
enters the fight for president.
Lewis still has many loyal followers
among the members OF the organiza :
ton and any attempt To depose him
will be bitterly fought. He has held
the presidency since the spring oi
1906. when he was elected to succeed
John Mitchell. Prior to that time ht
had held the presidency for q
number of years. 1t is well known
fact that President Mitchell was OPP
posed to the policies of Lewis ano
would have preferred to have Secre-
tary w. II. Wilson succeed him.
Would squeIch Revolt
Lewis began his mining career at the
age of seven years as slate picker OF
the breakers In Pennsylvania. He mrs.
came into prominence at the age o'
seventeen years, in connection VIII
the Knights of Labor movement. La
ter he moved to Bridgeport, ONO
where he dug coal In the mines OF tn'
Wheeling Creek company Tor thrc'
years and i'm 1892 gave up his work u
accept the position of secretary-trcas
urer of the Ohio miners organization
In 1900 he was chosen national vice
president OF the United Mine WORK
ers Of America.
That President Lewis intends u
take definite action to squelch the re-
vet organized against his ADMINS
tration is evidenced by the statemen
included in his call for the presen
convention. the purpose or which !,