The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-01-05
MINERS CONSIDER
SCALE DEMANDS IN
COLUMBUS MEETING
{By Associated Press)

COLUMBUS, O., Jan. 5.-More than
1000 delegates, representing the 400,
900 soft coal miners Of the United
States, were assembled here today for
the convention, which is to discuss
the settlement of the nationwide coal
strike, terminated on Dec. 10, by
truce proposed by President Wilson
which gave the miners 4 IA per cent
advance in wages.
Plans are to be formulated for pre-
senting to the commission of three
men appointed by the president to con-
slider all matters in dispute and report
within so days, final terms of settle
ment. John p. White, one of the MEM
bers of the presidents commission,
was here today TO attend the meeting
and ~tov obtain fsofH the miners direct
their attitude in the big controversy
before taking up with the scale COM
mittee in Washington next week,
hearings on the miners demands. The
miners are not satisfied with the IA
per cent advance, but are confident
the commission, upor investigation,
will find they are entitled to more, be-
fore a wage contract is finally
reached. They have gathered a mass
of data, relative to tho increased cost
of living in mining districts, which
will be presented to the commission.
The Columbus convention, 1t was
pointed out by the officers is not call
| ed for the purpose of ratifying or re-
| 'jecting the action Of the officers In
accepting the proposal of the presl-
dent. President Lewis and members
| Of the policy committee take the posi-
l,tion that there was no other course to
pursue. Not to have accepted would
have meant defiance of the govern.
ment. they point out.
Radicals May Aeitate.
| 1t is expected that the radical ele
ment in the convention may take ex
iceptions to the action of the Officers
! in agreeing to the IA percent advance
and the appointment Of the president s
commission, but they are said to con
stitute small minority.
The report of President Wilson and
Secretary Green, giving a history OF
the controversy from the time of the
Cleveland convention last September
up to the present date, is expected tc
be presented to the convention today
Alleged discrimination on the par
Of operators in Alabama, Tennessee
eastern Kentucky, Colorado and parts
of Illinois, against union officials, Ii
expected to come before the conven
ton Miners charge that this dis
Termination constitutes violation o.
the agreement of Dec 10, wherein Il
was stipulated that the men were tt
return to work under the same condi
tions which prevailed before the
strike, with the exception of the l.
per1cnt advance.
Secretary Green said the alleget
discrimination had been brought tt
the attention of Attorney General Pal
mer In statement issued las
night, acting President Lewis replied
to a speech made recently by Con
gresham Schuyler Merritt of Con
necticut, in which Merritt quoted
Lewis as making statements, indicat
ing combination between miners ant
operators for control Of the industry
; Congressman Merritt has since ad
mitted attributing the statement t,
acting President John l.. Lewis, an,
says the statement was made by fo1
mer President Tom l.. Lewis some 1
years ago.
He is said to have written John L
Lewis, apologizing for the mistake
Lewis says he has not yet receive,
the letter. Tom L. Lewis formerly o
to Columbus, is now commissioner TO
! the operators of West Virginia, Johl
Lewis says.
, Congressman Merritt's admission
, Of his mistake Is onyl further proc
of how the public has been misled an
: misinformed about miners throughou
4 all of the recent controversy" sal
!, Lewis.