Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-08
Miners Vote 1889 to 221tOUphOIdOfficers
Endorsed the Action of the In- ternationaI Officers in Cut ting Of the Strike.

Columbus, O., Jan. '7.-International officers of the United Mine Workers of America will go before the commission appointed by President Wilson to ar bItrate final settlement of the contro- versy between the miners and opera tors with the backing of the rank and file of the miners of the country, as result of action here today of the re- convened convention of the Iunrrs organization.
 By'a vote of 1889 to 221, the con vention adopted the motion of Philip Murray, president of the Pennsylvania soft coal miners, to endorse the action of the international officers in calling off the strike and agreeing to accept the presidents proposal, which pro vides for a 14 per cent. advance in wages and agreement to submit all questions in dispute to the president s 1 commission.
 The convention adjourned sine die and Acting President Lewis and Sec retary Green will meet with the in- | ternatonal executive board of the | bnGneT:s organization here tomorrow | Before going to Washington, wnere 1 they are to appear. next Monday be- 1 fore the presidents coal commission The hearing in Washington is called for the purpose of allowing the miners scale committee of the central. com petitive field to present the miners i case to the commission. John F l White, one of the members of this commission was present at the con vention when the vote was taken.
 The vote came after three days o1 | debate and a stormy wind-up Tn 1 which small but noisy minority tried | to swing the convention in favor o1 i postponing acceptance of the presi- | dent proposal until after the com mission has made it's award,
 Opponents, failing to block accept ance of the settlement, filed charges against Acting President Lewis and Secretary Green, demanding their re movaI from office and suspension as members of the union for ten years for alleged violation of the instruc- tions of the Cleveland convention and | 'cowardice."
 The charges were signed by Jos Lynol and Thomas F. O'Connor, Peo- Tia, H., delegates. President Lewis vacated the chair and turned the gaveI over to J. c. Lewis, president o1 ! the Iowa miners, when the charges were brought Secretary Green hesi- tated about reading them because ht
 was involved. The convention ther T voted to require Lynol. the author O the charges, to read them. Lynol re- fused, saying he was not responsible for the charges. but was instructed b! his local union to present them. Greer
 then read the charges and t6e con
 vention later, by an almost unanimous
 vote, repudiated the charges b.
 striking them from the record of th' l proceedings.
 Opponents of the settlement callet for speeches from Frank Harrington 1 president of the Illinois miners. ant
 Alex HoWat, of the Kansas miners Il Harrington arose and tried to obtain recognition from Secretary Green, wht occupied the chair, after the conven ton had voted to close debate Greer
 ruled him out of order. Howat dit not attempt to speak.
 In explaining why he had decided t accept the presidents proposal of set
 tlement. Lewis said he ''had no desir
 to defeat the United States govern
 ment in a contest
 q shall never lead any organiza
 tion but an American organization,
 Lewis declared. and if the day eve ccmes- when this organization is dom F mated by people who are false t American traditions, that day l vii
 cease to be an officer in it.
 He pointed out that throughout tn
 forty days strike ont a single life wa
 lost and said the organization hal
 ''emerged unAaathede whereas con tinuation of the strike and revol against the government would hay meant iGisaster and defeat.''
 Lewis promised delegates to con
 tinue the fight for their demands fo
 higher pay and shorter hours and ad iustment of local working condition before the presidents commission.