New-York tribune., 1919-09-10
Head of Union Demands
War Schedule BE Cam
cellcd and New Rate Fixed
by Immediate Arbitration
Nov. l Urged as Limit
Rail brotherhood HcadA Tell
Coal Men Labor Must Be
Recognized by Higher Pay

CLEVELAND, Sept. 9.--Acting Prcsi-
dent John L. Lewis. in his report to the
convention of United Mine Workers
here to-day, recommended a cancella-
ton OF the Washington wage agree
mcnt in the bituminous field not later
than November and the negotiation
of a new SCALE to be enforced, if neccs-
sary, by a general strike of all miners
under the jurisdiction of the United
Mine Workers Of America. He pro-
posed as the basis of this agreement
the principles outlined by the national
policy meeting at Indianapolis in
March, which call for a six-nour day. q
five day week and Substantial" wage
increases.
Mr.. Lewis reviewed the wartime ne
gotiations with the United States Fuel
Administration and the efforts to secure
modification of the Washington
wage award, which, he said, proved in
adequate to meet actual increases in
the cost of living These efforts had
been successful in the anthracite field
where increases Of from 25 to 40 per
cent had been granted, but all efforts
to secure corresponding amcliorations
in the bituminous scale had failed.
Production Falls Off
Mr.. Lewis asserted that coal produc-
tion had fallen off in 1919, the output
during the first seven months being
100000 tons less than in the same
period in 1918.
Mr.. Lewis condemned the principles
and policies Of the |. w. w. and similar
organizations, and denounced the ele-
ments seeking to spread such doctrines
in the United Mine Workers organi-
zation.
The question of the naturalization
Of coal mines, on the other hand, was
evidently Of mild interest to the dele
gates, who listened without demonstra-
tion to Mr.. Lewis's references to this
doctrine, to which it was declared the
present Congress would be unable to
give serious consideration in the pres
ence of more urgent problems.
President Shea of the Brotherhood
men in an address declared that, in
some form or other the Plumb plan
was bound to be accepted ultimately
He denied charges that railway en-
ployes had received disproportiona
high wage increases to the disadvan-
tage of other classes of labor, and
criticised President Wilson's demand
for postponement Of wage increases to
await the issue Of attempts to reduce
high costs Of living. suggesting as the
better alternative immediate increases
subject to later modification in case
of decided reduction in prices of neces-
saries of life.
Political Action Urged
The miners broke into hearty cheers
at Mr.. Sheas denunciation Of the pro-
posal in Congress to introduce com
pulsory arbitration for railway men
as an attempt ''to hogtie American
labor"
President Stone of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers suggested
joint political action as the best means
for labor to enforce its demands anc
secure improved conditions of labor
Strikes, he said, were all very we'll ir
their way, but the best place to strike
was at the ballot box. All labor, he
declared, was vitality interested in tho
deliberations of the convention because
coal strike, if it came, would meaf
the suspension of all forms of en-
ployment as soon as stocks of fue
were exhausted.
President Lee of the Trainmen's
Brotherhood outlined as the aim O.
the railroad brotherhoods condition:
under which labor could earn enough
in eight hours, twcnty-six days in the
month, to permit it to live in comfor
twcnty-four hours day during the
entire month.