The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-09
WAGE, HOUR
CONTINUED from Page One)

Acting President John L. Lewis in
his report to the convention discussed
the greatly increased cost of living
and the improbability of any sweeping
reduction through debated" federal
action as a preface to his recommen-
dalton for a cancellation of the Wash
ington wage agreementin the bitumin-
Gus field not later than November l,
and the negotiation of a new wage
scale to be enforced, in case of failure
to reach a satisfactory settlement by
that by a general miner strike through
out the entire jurisdiction of the
United Mine Workers of America.
The basis of the proposed agreement
should be that outlined by the national
policy meeting held at indianapolis
in March, calling for the six hour day
and five day week and Substantial"
wage increases.
In other parts of his report he dis
cussed difficulties with the United
States railroad administration result
ing from the efforts of Director Gen
eral McAdoo and Hines to secure coal
for railroad use below the rate fixed
by the United States fuel admins
tration; expressed fear that the sue
cess of such efforts would tend TO
force down miners wages; strongly
condemned policies and principles of
the l. w. w. and similar orga nizations
and declared against any compromise
with element seeking to spread such
doctrines in the United Mine Workers
organization.
Reports Damage Actions
He reported on damage actions
brought against the United Mine
Workers organization which are in.
spring efforts to secure fror' Con-
gress an amendment TO the Clayton
antitrust act to prevent the 'posslplII-
ty of such suits against labor unions.
He further recommended an effort
to secure tariff legislation to cope
with the problem of Mexican fuel oil,
which is entering into serious COM
petition with American coal and on
account of its cheapness and the ease
with which it may be delivered at
seaboard, Great Lakes and Mississippi
river points, contains a threat to the
prosperity of those engaged in the coal
idustry. An import duty of at least
a dollar a barrel was desired to meet
this competition.
Opening with a reference to the
war accomplishments Of the miners,
who had periodically met every de
mand for increased production for war
! industries and furnished $4,000 men to
the American armies, President Lewis
passed to the war time negotiations
with the United States Fuel admins
tration and the efforts to secure modi-
| fcaticn of the Washington wage
award. which had quickly proved mad.
equate to meet actual increases in
! the cost Of living. These efforts had
been successful in the anthracite field
where increases Of from 20 to 40 pei
cent had been granted but all efforts
to secure corresponding authorizations
to the bituminous scale had failed
Production in 1919 had fallen off mark
eddy, he said, the output during the
first seven months having been ninety
one million, tons less than in the same
period Of 1918. This reduction was
accomplished by extensive non-em
ployment for miners.
Sees Time for Action.
The astonishing increase" in the
cost of the necessities Of life felt b,
the miners with particular severit.
owing to their life in isolated commun
tiles far from centers of distribution
necessitated immediate action to en-