South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-19
MINERS BATTLE
OVER WAGE PACT
Penalty Clause Causes Much
Opposition Men
Fear Abuse.
Assnciaiel Press Sevica :


INDIANAPOLIS. Jan. 1s.--There
was an au-day debate in the min
ers' convention FRIDAY over the rat
ication II the Washington agree
ment negotiated by The soft coal
operators and miners and approved
by Fuel Administrator Garfield, Op-
position 10 its approval being due
to the insertion ~ the contract OF
the automatic penalty clause.
Bitter speeches were made
against the adoption OF the clause
and many delegates. mostly officers
OF the United Mine Workers. urged
its adoption as one of the best
things that the miners can do TO
assist i'm stabilizing the coal indus
try. Failure to ratify the agree
ment. leaders said would bring
about chaos and endanger a maxi
mum output OF bituminous coal 1t
was the general opinion Of infiuen-
tial officers of the union Friday
night. however. that it would he
ratified by a large majority
Gave Good Increase.
The Washington agreement gave
the bituminous men a substantial
increase in wages. II contains a
penalty clause which provides that
miners shall be fined 81 a day for
each day they violate the agree
ment by going out on unauthorized
strikes or for other violation of the
contract 1t also calls for a fine
against mine owners Of 50 for each
man employed in their mines for
failing TO enforce the penalty clause
against the workers The agree
ment is now in effect subject to
the approval of the convention.
Penalty clauses i'm one form or an
other have been i'm effect in the
middle west for years. There is
none in the anthracite regions
where contract violations are
handled by the Cancellation board.
Patriotism and loyalty TO the
country figured in nearly every
speech made. Alexander Howat,
president of the Kansas miners. who
led the opposition 10 the penalty
clause told the delegates they
should not be deceived when they
are told that they are disloyal 10
the nation if they voted against rat
ification. Those who favored rati-
fication said the miners should ap-
prove the agreement as a patriotic
duty in the present emergency
when millions Of persons are feeling
the pinch Of the coal famine. One
delegate who was against ratifica-
ton said he would permit no man
to question his loyalty He said
he had one son left at home and if
he did not answer when his coun-
try calls him, he would shoot him.
Fear Abuse OF Clause.
1t appeared from the arguments
Of the opponents to the agreement
that there was a fear the operators
would abuse the clause and unjust
ly fine men. 1t was claimed the
clause gives the workers no oppor-
tunity TO be heard in case the en-
/ ployers decide TO withhold part of
their wages as fines
Among those who spoke against
ratification besides Howat were T.
II. Tippitt of Peoria. H., ard Arch
Helm, Missouri.
Those who spoke for the agree
ment included International Pres't
Hayes Pres't Murray Of the West
ern Pennsylvania miners. Pres't NJ
J. Flyzik, Washington state; Pres't
j. c. Lewis. Iowa; Pres't Moore.
Ohio; John Wilkinson. president of
tbs Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas
miners: Prest w. d. Duncan. west
ern Kentucky, and others from the
picks"
Those who favored ratification
said the clause would injure no man
who does right, but would punish
those who do wrong They said
the miners organization could not
go on record as against penalizing
men or local unions for breaking
contracts by going out on unau-
thorized strikes. Failure to ratify
! they said would knock out the last
increase in wages the miners re-
ceived and all contracts would re-
/ vert to those based on the New York
| % p~aar,ap. Of a mil 70 1oTT