South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-20
Miners Ratify
Wage Agreement;
Debate S tirrin g
Associated Press Service

/ Associated Press Service.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. Jan. 1a.-
After two days of stirring debate
the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea in biennial convention. late TO-
dav 10y an overwhelming vote rati-
fed the Washington agreement Of
oct. which grants substantial
wage advances TO bituminOus coal
miners and provides penalties for
violation Of contracts. The agree
ment became effective Nov. last
and remains i'm force until April I.
1920. unless the war ends before
that date, i'm which event it auto
matically terminates
The ratification Of the agreement
was of great Importance TO the
country i'm the present war crisis for
the reason that had it failed of ap-
prOyal il might have resulted in
chaos 10 the mining industry at q
time when every nerve is being
strained to relieve the fuel famine
and allow the industries Of the
United States TO operate as near
normal as possible
Fight Over Penalty Clause.
The fight against ratification was
based on the automatic penalty
clause inserted by the joint confer
ence of operators and miners at
Washington and approved by Fuel
Administrator Garfield. II fines mcu
who violate contracts by going out
on unauthorized strikes and pro-
yides for the automatic collection Of
the fines by the operators. Mine
owners failing 20 enforce the penal
~ clause are also penalized under
the terms of the clause.
Standing in the pit of the hall
which was foggy with the smoke of
pipes and cigars of the miners who
packed the place, john p. White.
former president of the organiza-
ton and now assistant Of Or. Gar
field. spoke for an hour in defense
of the action of the international
Officers in accepting the clause. He
charged that the attack ON the
clause was i'm reality an assault on
him i'm furtherance of organization
politics. The clause. he said. took
away none of the rights OF the
miners but on the other hand. was
essential TO the success and perpe-
tuity of the union He severely ar
raisned Alex Howat leader Of the
Kansas miners. who led the opposi-
tion 10 the clause
Illinois Head Backs Up White.
White was backed up by Frank
Harrington. president of the Illinois
miners. John IT, Walker. president
of the Illinois Federation OF Labor.
and William Green, Ohio. secretary
treasurer. Harrington IN am impas-
stoned speech declared that the
rank and file Of the organization
were anxious to hon0ra bly, discharge
their duties 20 the union and that
conservative men want 10 be pro
teCted from the radical elements
who start wild cat" or unauthor-
lied strikes. He told Of the opera
tions of the penalty clause i'm Uli-
nois and said that in every instance
whore men were unjUstly fined they
We're remitted through the regular
machinery of the miners union.
Walker made a stirring speech in
which he said that the greatest dis
aste~ that could come upon the or
ganization would be the reputation
of the agreement at this time and
thus put the miners on record be-
fore the country as not willing 20
punish men for violating contracts.
lie appealed lo the delegates not 20
hamper the government in backing
up the "hoys in the trenches" by
interfering with the coal supply
Passed by Bic Majority.
There We're cries 10 shut off de-
bate when Walker finished. but
Green obtained the floor and after
"a strong appeal for ratification.
pointing ont the many serious con-
sequences that might follow its re-
pudiation, a rising vote was taken
and the whole agreement was
adopted bv am overwhelmiue ma
joritf
DELEGATES who spoke against the
agreemenr today We're ". IT. Pasco.
OF Illinois who said the penalty
clause was an insult 10 the inteui-
eence of the miners. and Charles
FTndley. Michigan. who said the
fuel administrator was ua friend Of
the miner.
ID. A Franpton. president OF the
Missouri miners. said ne was against 7
the penalty clause but as il was
linked up with the wage increase
he felt compelled % vote for IL
as q defeat for the clause carried F.
down the whole c0mnact