The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-14
SPEEDY PRICE CUTS,
IS MINERS DEMAND
convention Favors Legisla-
ton Passed to Curb Costs
of Necessities.
DEN0UNCE MOB VIOLENCE
Action Is Taken to Hasten Al
lance With -Four Rail
Brotherhoods.
ENoUNCE MOB VIOLENCE

CLEVELAND, Sept. 13.-Confessing Its
.,r inability to find offhand satisfac-
,o-, solution Of the problem Of reducing
mo high cost of living, the convention
:, tho United Mine Workers Of America
dov demanded vigorous action from
". Federal Government as the only
. us capable of checking the opera
u.s. ~ food gamblers and interruptions
sns,eers. Legislation such as this week
p.ssd Congress, carrying penalties
Ps,oh will effectually curb the practice
~ BARKING up the prices OF necessities
Or the principle of charging all that the
IA will hear, was held to be the only
ssective remedy.
Among the substitute panaceas re-
,..,ad nv the convention or its commit
- on resolutions were the creation OF
soonornic commissions with power to fix
s.anite prices for all commodities OF
Liz use. Congressional legislation re-
s,a;rs Immediately prices of food and
s,o,hlng by 25 per cent. under penalty OF
sonescatlon of the property of all those
,5oIatinR the law: prosecution and dis
,olntion of the Chicago packing COM
s.n,es. erection of Government cold
s,orare warehouses for the proper dis
,rihntion OF foodstuffs, and the death
rsnaIty for food profiteers. One speaker
,ook leaf from the wage suggestions
N the railroad brotherhoods and pro-
Uossd that the Federal Government be
allotted ninety days grace to effect
substantial reduction in the cost OF liv-
inR. II this were unaccomplished in that
neriod the miners should take steps to
Ne ND industry by a nationwide strike.
work ON Old Agreement.
For the miners, according to the reso-
u,ion adopted, this problem has particu-
lar interest since they are still working
under an agreement almost two years
old while almost every other branch of
labor has since gained substantial in
creases in wages. The agreement was
accepted il is said. under assurances
that the Food Administration would sta
blllse food costs, but these were not full
filed
A resolution introduced by colored
miners but supported by white speakers
ana the entire convention, demanded leg
station making lynching and mob vio-
lence Federal offences. Delegates de-
clared that the question had long since
ceased to be one of cold prejudice, but
that this procedure was being employed
against the union movement, and had
been used to intimidate miners repre-
sentatives endeavoring to extend the or
ganization into unorganized fields.
No time will be lost in organizing the
alliance with the four great railroad BROTH
hoods for joint political and Industrial
action to bring about the naturalization
Of railways and mines and other eco
nomic detectives of mutual interest.
Arrangements were made by telegraph
during the day for a conference between
the miners representatives and the heads
Of the four big railroad brotherhoods
starting October l. at which the scope
and methods of the alliance will be dis
cussed. According to prominent miners
officials, right of way will be granted by
the miners to the question of national
iZation of railroads, that of the miners
TO be reserved for a subsequent cam
paign, should the railroaders representa-
tives agree to support this arrangement.
Work for Next Congress.
I'VE have, however, not a chance in
the world to pass the Plumb bill
through the present Congress" Glenn
E Plumb informed the miners in his
speech this morning. He welcomed,
however, the adhesion of the half mil
bon miners to the 100000 advocates
whom he declared were already enrolled
b support of the Plumb plan. and de-
dared that IL the movement continued
70 spread at the present rate the next
Congress would be elected under a man.
date to enact the desired legislation
which 1t could not venture to disregard.
Other business before the convention
to-day was of a minor nature. all reso-
lutlons on other matters of important
policy. such as the formation of a labor
political party. the repeal of the es-
ponage act. the release of Thomas j.
Mooney and other political prisoners"
the Russian question and the use of
State Guards and coal and iron police,
being reserved for discussion next week.
A resolution for the withdrawal of the
miners organization from the American
Federation of Labor, which is the first
order Of business Monday, is expected
10 bring about the first big clash be-
tween the radicals and those now in
control M he oroo ri1 ffnn