The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1918-01-25
Miners RATiFY
WAGE ADVANCES
WASHINGTON AGREEMENT ~
GIVEN APPROVAL BY
BIG MAJORITY.

ed Mine Workers Of America i'm bicri-
NAL convention late today by over
whelming vote ratified the Washing
ton agreement Of October 8 which
grants substantial wage advances to
bituminous coal miners and provides
penalties for violation OF contracts.
The agreement became effective Mo-
vember 1, last. and remains in force
until April 1, 1920, unless the war
ends before that date, in which event
1t automatically terminates.
The ratification of the agreement
was OF great importance to the coun-
try in the present war crisis for the
reason that had 1t failed of approval
il might have resulted in chaos in the
mining industry at time when every
nerve is being strained to relieve the
fuel famine.
The fight aginst its approval was
based on the automatic penalty clause
inserted by the joint conference Of
operators and miners at Washington
and approved by Fuel Administrator
Garfield by going out on unauthor-
ICED strikes and provides for their au-
tomato collection by the operators.
Mine owners failing to enforce the
clause also are penalized under its
terms.
White Defends Plan.
Standing in the pit Of the hall
foggy with smoke from pipes and ci-
gars of the miners who packed the
place, John p. White, former presi-
dent of the organization, and now as
sistant to Mr.. Garfield, 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 in reality an assault
on him in furtherance of Organiza-
ton politics. The clause he said took
away none of the rights of the min
ers, but, on the other hand, was es-
of the union. He severely arraign-
ed Alex. Howat. president of the Kan
sas miners, who led the opposition.
White was backed up by Frank
Harrington, president of the Hi
nOis Miners; John II. Walker, presi-
dent of the Illinois Federation of
Labor, and William Green, Ohio,
seeretary-treasurer.
Darlington in an impassioned
speech declared that the rank and file
of the organization were anxious to
honorably discharge their duties TO
the union and that conservative men
want to be protected from the radi-
cal elements who start wild cat or
unauthorized strikes. He told of the
operations OF a penalty clause in Illi-
nois and said that in every instance
where men were unjustly fined. they
were remitted thru the regular ma
chinery of the miners union.
Walker made a stirring speech in
which he said that the greatest dis
aster that could come upon the
organization would be the repudia-
ton of the agreement at this time ami
thus put the miners on record before
the country as not willing to punish
men for violating contracts. He APP
pealed to the delegates not to ham
per the government in backing up
the boys in the trenches" by inter
fering with the coal supply.
Rising Vote Taken.
There were cries to shut off de-
bate when Walker finished, but
Green obtained the floor, and after
a strong appeal for ratification,
pointed out the many serious conse-
Quences that might follow its repu-
rising vote was taken and
the whole agreement was adopted by
an overwhelming majority.
Delegates who spoke aginst the
agreement today were w. II. Paso.
OF Illinois. who said the penalty
clause was an insult to the intell,-
geRee of the miners, and Charles
Findley, of Michigan. who said the
fuel administrator was no friend OF
the miner. Opponents of the clause
say it is abused by operators.
ID. A. Frampton. president of the
Missouri Miners. said he was against
the penalty clause. but rs it was link
cd up with the wage increase he felt
com PEELED to vote for it. as a defeat
for the clause carried down the whole
compact.
Charles O'Neill. central PeRnsylva-
mia. spoke for the clause. as did also
James Boyle, of Arkansas. The latter
said that those who opposed the PEN
alty clause at this emergcFea-rD
atty clause at this period OF national
was giving aid and COM
fort TO the foreign foe.
The convention adjourned until