Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-09
Conference Meeting in
Cleveland Prepares New
Wage Demands.
PRESIDENT LEWIS
URGES DECISION
nooemmsnds Reputation Of Washing
IN Wage Agreement and Demands
For More Pay and Shorter Hours. to
Be Enforced by Nation-Wide Strike
II Not Voluntarily Granted-Sees
No Decrease in Living Costs.

Cleveland, Sept. with some 1000
delegates from the collieries Of the
United States and Canada gathered in
the armory of the Cleveland Greys,
the United Mine Workers convention
was called to order this morning.
Events have conspired to make 1t the
most important in the history Of the
mine workers, since. quite apart from
the possibilities contained In almost
certain demand for higher wages and
shorter hours the miners Of Great Bri-
tain are looking to it for support in the
questions Of the six hour day and the
naturalization OF coal mines.
Both articles Of the British miners
program figures upon that or the
Cleveland convention. Favorable ac-
tion, which Is anticipated, is expected
to react sympathetically> upon the
struggle across the Atlantic.
May Divide Over Treaty.
Today's sessions were devoted almost
entirely to the opening ceremonial, the
work OF organization, and the presen-
tation OF the reports Of Acting Presi-
uGnL AcWlS uAu oCSIOt6bk - Se~oAA -
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.
Among the resolutions which will
cause most discussion are several call
ing for immediate ratification OF the
treaty of peace, together with one op-
posing participation in the league of
. nations. Other resolutions proposed
for consideration furnish abundant
material for dicussion Of practically all
Npending political questions connected
with the war and readjustment to
peace conditions. ..
sses No Reduction in n. @. % L.
Acting President Lewis in his re-
port to the convention. discussed the
greatly increased cost Of living and
the improbability OF any sweeping re-
duction thru Debated" federal, action
as preface to his recommendation for
a cancellation Of the washington wage
agreement in the bituminous field not
later than Nov and the negotiation
Of new wage scale to be enforced by
a general miners strike thruout the
entire jurisdiction of the United Mine
Workers of America.
The basis of the proposed agreement
should be that outlined by the ma
tional policy meeting held at Indian
sapolis in March, calling for the six
hour day and hve-day week. and
"substantiar wage increases; said Mr..
Lewis.
Lewis Frowns Upon I. w. w.
agA ~ y - Z, It,
cussed difficulties with the United
States railroad administration. re-
s,.lting from the efforts OF Director
Generals McAdoo and Hines to secure
coal for railroad use below the rate
fixed by the United States fuel admin
istration; expressed fear that the sue
cess OF such efforts would tend to
force down miners wages; strongly
condemned policies and principles Of
the I. w. w. and similar organizations.
and declared against any compromise
with elements seeking to spread such
doctrines in the mine workers organi-
zation.
Opening with a reference TO the war
accomplishments Of the miners who.
he said. had patriotically met every
demand for increased production for
war industries and furnished 10000
men TO the American armies. Presi-
dent Lewis passed to the wartime
neRotiations with the United States
fuel administration and their efforts to
secure modification OF the Washing
ton. wage award, which had proved in
adequate TO meet actual increases in
the cost Of living.
Those efforts had been successful
only in the anthracite field, where In
I creases from Is to 40 per cent haG
been granted. Production In 1919 had
fallen off markedly. the output during
the first seven months having been
21 100000 tons less than In 1917 This
was caused by extensive nom employ
ment Of miners.