New-York tribune., 1918-01-19
Miners Oppose
Penalty Clause
I'm New Pact
Convention Is Expected to
Ratify Agreement,
However
Roads Again Blamed
Federal Control Has Broupht
No Improvement, Off,
cial Says

INDIANAPOLIS. Jan. is. There was
an al!-day discussion in the miners
convention to-day over the ratification
Of the Washington agreement ncyo-
tiated by the soft coal operators and
workers and approved by Fuel Admin.
s,rator Garfield, opposition to it's ap-
r'ov"' being due to the insertion in
t"c contract OF the automatic penalty
clause.
Bitter speeches were made against
the adoption Of the clause. but many
delegates, mostly officers of the union,
urged its approval. as one Of the best
things the miners can do to asss, in
stab'Iiz'ng the coal industry. Failure
to ratify the agreement, leaders said,
+" would bring about chaos and endaneer
a maximum output Of bituminous coal.
1t was the general opinion of inAuen-
tlal officers of the union tonight that
1t would be ratified by large major
ity.
Penalty for Strikes
The Washington agreement gives the
bltumlnous men a substantial in
crease in wages. 1t contains a clause
which provides that miners shall be
tined one dollar for each day they vio-
late the agreement by going out on un-
authorized strikes or for other viola
tons Of contracts. 1t also calls for a
tine against mine owners of two dollars
Tor each man employed in their mines
for failing to enforce the clause
against the workers. The agreement
IS now in effect, subject to the approval
o. the convention. Penalty clauses in
one form or another have been in ef-
feet in the Middle West for years.
There is none in the anthracite re.
eions, where contract violations aro
handled by the Cancellation board.
Patriotism and loyalty to the United
States figured in nearly every speech
Alex Howat, president OF the Kansas
miners. who led the opposition 10 the
clause, told the delegates they should
not be deceived when they are told
that they arc disloyal to the nation
One delegate against ratification said
he would permit no man to question
his loyalty. He said he had one son
left at home, and if he did mot answer
when his country calls HIM he would
shoot him
Railroads Are Blamed
Those who spoke for the agree
ment included international President
Hayes; President Phil Murray OF the
Western Pennsylvania miners; Presi-
dent NJ. J. Flyzik. Washington State;
President J. c. Lewis. of Iowa; Presi-
dent John Moore, Of Ohio; John Will
kinson. president of the Oklahoma,
Arkansas and Texas miners; President
W. D. Duncan. of Western kentucky.
and others "from the picks"
A telegram from Samuel B. Mont
gcmcry. Commi ssioncr OF Labor for
West Virginia. to the convention, stat
ing that Oh Wednesday III out Of 1G2
mines in the Kanawha district we're
idle, throwing out of employment 800
men. and in the Clarksburg Fleming
district 107 mines out Of l43 were shut
down, making 7.A47 men idle, was read
By President Hayes. The Telegram
stated the loss of production amounted
to 01,S00 tons, due to car shortage.
"This continues daily" the message
said. "Thcrc has not been the slight
est improvement since the government
took over control OF the railroads. This
is the most serious matter confronting
the United Mine Workers. convention" )"