Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-09
EXPECT Mine
SESSIONS TO
Be HISTORIC
Matters Affecting Every
body's Fuel Bill Will
Come Up at Cleveland

Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 9.-With
some 1000 delegates from the col
lieries of the United States and
Canada gathered in the armory of
the Cleveland Grays, the interna-
tional convention of the United
Mine Workers of America, the 25th
consecutive gathering of that or
ganiZation, was called to order at
10 o'clock this morning.
Events have conspired to make
it probably the most important in
the history of the United Mine
Workers, since, quite apart from
the possibilities of trouble con-
tained in its almost certain de-
mands for higher wages and shorter
hours, the miners of Great Britain
are looking to it for support and
cooperation in the questions of the
six-hour day and 30-hour week and
of the naturalization of coal
mines.
Consider Both Items.
Both articles of the British min
ers' program figure upon that of
the Cleveland convention. Favor
able action, which is anticipated, is
expected to react sympathetically
upon the struggle across the At
Iantic.
The convention was called to
order by H. W. Raisse, on behalf
of the Cleveland Federation of
Labor, and short speeches of well
come were delivered by Mayor
Harry L. Davis of Cleveland; John
NJ. Owens, secretary of the Cleve-
land Federation of Labor and
Thomas J. Donnelly of Toledo, rep
resentin tn Ohio Federation.
Rush Plumb Plan.
Greater significance attached to
the opening program, however, in
view of the desire to secure the
support of organized labor every
where for the Plumb plan for the
naturalization of the railways, be-
cause of the presence upon it of
Warren S. Stone, grand chief of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi-
neers; Timothy ]. Shea, acting
president of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Ffremen and Engine
men; W. G. Lee, president of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen,
and L. E. Sheppard, president of
the Order of Railway Conductors,
who at a late hour had been added
to those to extend a Cleveland well
come to the convention.
The response by Acting Presi-
dent John L. Lewis of the United
Mine Workers Of America, in the
chair of the convention owing to
the illness of President Frank X.
Hayes, will inaugurate the deliber-
ations of the convention, which is
expected to last from two to three
weeks.
Opening Ceremonies Today.
Today's sessions will be devoted
almost entirely to the opening cere-
monies, the work of organization
and the presentation of the reports
of Acting President Lewis and
of Secretary-Treasurer William
Green, which are expected to lay
the foundations for the work of the
delegates in regard to wages and
hours of labor, naturalization of
mines, etc.
No decisions on these subjects
are expected until later in the
week, since the proposed changes
in wage scales must first be sub
mitted to the scale committee, COM
prising the 81 district presidents
of the miners organization and CO.
Ordinated with it, and other resolu-
tions passed upon by the commit
tee on resolutions, which can
scarcely complete it's labors before
Thursday.
Consider League of Nations.
Among the resolutions which
will cause most discussion are sew
eral calling for immediate ratifi-
cation of the treaty of peace, to-
gether with one opposing partici-
patton in the League of. Nations.
Other resolutions submitted for
consideration furnish abundant
material for discussion of practic-
ally all pending political questions
connected with the war and read
justment to peace conditions.
TAnA A"(T 1-Nr1Ar