The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-23
RADICAL CHANGE IN
MANNER OF MAKING
SCALES PROPOSED

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 22.-The
men from the picks" won al least a
temporary victory over the admins
tration leaders of the United Mine
workers In convention Today on tho
question of changing the method or
negotiating wage contracts through
out the country with coal operat ors,
The fight was over the adoption Of
constitutions amendment providing
that no officers. districts or group Of
districts shall have authority 10 make
q basic agreement and formulate a
policy 10 govern any other district
without all districts being given an
opportunity 10 b. represented and be
given vote.
Lively Debate.
The proposition came before the
convention Yesterday and debate con-
tinued until late today. The constitn
ton committee sought 10 defeat the
amendment. but so much opposition
was aroused that a motion was made
to refer the matter 10 special com
mttee for action. This received the
support Of the constitution committee.
President Frank j. Hayes and other
leaders, hut was voted down, 654 10
COS. The motion REQUIRED on the
adoption of the resolution. but before
the vote could be taken the convention
was adjourned until tomorrow, the adj
journment hour having already been
passed.
Leaders Of the union tonight De.
clared they will defeat the resolution.
claiming thai some nf the opponents
Of the proposition voted TO defeat the
motion to refer in order 10 bring the
resolutions squarely before the con
vrntion and rffecIually kill II. This is
! disputed by the opposition.
The Present Method.
Under the present method Of ne.
. gotiaring wage agreements throughout
! the country. the contract agreed 10 in
the central competitive field. which
embraces illinois. Indiana, Ohio and
! western Pennsylvania. Is made the
! basis on which wage cOmpacts are
negotiated in all other bituminous coal
fields. Miners from tho SO-called out
, lAS uI~tl u - N'IIl'0IlN lIlNl WV
should have d voice in the making Of
1.-The basic scale. Much was heard in
; the debate of Democratic representa-
ton. but those opposed to changing
! present methods pointed OUT IhrrI
! could be no more democracy in the me-
| gotiations than now obtains because
| the wage scale, upon which the ne
! Il Hrr Il
By the national convention and BE-.
cause no final agreement can b" en-
tered into until approved by the
! miners policy committee. on which all
districts in the country have repre-
! sentatiOn.
Opposd by Officers.
All the international officers and
nearly all the influential leaders took
/ Il hand in the discussion and oppos ~
any change in negotiating contracts.
President Hayes. Frank Harrington.
president Of the illinois miners: Phil
Murray. leader Of tn" western Penn
sylvania coal digGcrs: c. W. Savage
secretary of the Ohio workers: Charles
! O'NeilI. central Pennsylvania; E.. +.
Kcenry. West Virginia, and p. T
Sweeney. Shenandoah. Pa, spok"
against the resolution. They argued
that the principle advocated nv those
who favored the resolution would be
, fine thing if il could 10 worked oul
They pointed nW1. however. that III"
operate rS could NOT be- made 10 agree
To Il countrywide wage conference,
and that if th" resolution were adopted
and put in force ii would wreck The
central C0mpeIiIivr field conference.
The opponents Of the resolution were
unanimous that III" proposition WAS
Impractical biz and would bring about
chaotic conditions.
d. - Framp'on. president If the
Missouri miners. was the lradrr Of
those who favored Tho change. He
had the support of. Arch Helm Of Mis-.
souri,. Alex Huwat OF Kansas and sev-
rral others.
Frampton was asked whether the
resolution would affect tho anthracite
miners and Ii" said il would not.
Delayed trains from the cast pro.
vented President Gomprrs nf the
American Federation of Labor from
addressing the delegates Today. He
experts "a speak tomorrow.
R-.LI,vore M,to na,.nd