The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-01-05
COAL MINERS
IN CONVENTION
1000 Delegates, Represent
ing 100000 Workers, Dis
CuSS Strike Settlement.
RADICALS MAY PROTEST

Columbus, O., Jan. 5.--(A. P.)-
More than 1000 delegates, represent
ing the 100000 soft coal miners of
the United States. were assembled
here today for the convention which
is to discuss the settlement of the
nationwide strike, terminated on Dec.
10 by truce proposed by President
Wilson which gave the miners Ii
per cent. advance in wages. Plans
are also to be formulated for present.
ing to the commission of. three men
appointed by the president to consider
all matters in disput6, and report
within sixty days, final terms of set
tlement
John T.. White. one OF the members
of the presidents commission, was
here today to attend the convention
and to obtain from the miners direct
their attitude in the controversy be-
fore taking up with the scale COM
mittee in Washington next week hear
ings on the miners demands,
The miners are not satisfied with
the IA per cent. advance, but are con-
fident the commission. upon full in
vestigation, win find they are entitled
finally reached. They have gathered
mass of data relative to the in
creased cost of living in mining dis
tricts, which will be presented to the
commission.
The Columbus convention, It was
pointed out by the officers, is not
called for the purpose of ratifying or
rejecting the action of the officers in
,A.,tt la.
dent. President Lewis and members
of the policy committee take the po-
sition that there was no other course
to pursue. Not to have accepted
would have meant defiance of the
government, they point out.
1t is expected that the radical ele-
ment in the convention may take ex-
ception to the action of the officers
I'm agreeing to the II per cent. ad-
vance and the appointment of the
presidents commission, but they are
sal to constitute u small minority.
The reports of President Lewis 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 to
be presented to the convention today.
Alleged discrimination on the part
of operators In Alabama, Tennessee,
eastern Kentucky, Colorado and parts
of Illinois against union officials Is
expected to come before the conven-
tlon. Miners charge that this dis
elimination constitutes violation OF
the agreement of Dec. 10, wherein Il
Iwas stipulated that the nen were to
return to work under the same con-
ditions which prevailed before the
strike, with the exception OF the IA
per cent. advance. Secretary Green
said the alleged discrimination had
been brought TO the attention of
Atty. Con. Palmer.
NO HINT OF NEW STRIKE.
international officers OF the United
Mine Workers OF America, In agree
ing to declare the recent miners
strike at an end, decided TO sub.
NIT to the Inevitable, though pro.
testing In our hearts against what
we believed to be the unjust attl-
tude OF our government" according
to the report OF Acting President
John l.. Lewis and Secretary
Treasurer William Green, at the
miners special convention here to-
day. Few, N any, Developments not
already made public are revealed IN
the report, and there Is no hint that
another strike is contemplated.
] hN ill'l uHllblfil OlllifIH, III lnflI re-
port, state that "high hopes" are en-
| tertained that the decisions to be
reached by the commission of three ap-
pointed by President Wilson. will be
| fair and just as to meet with the gcns
oral approval of our membership Mem
| bers Of the commission are highly
praised and declared TO be "men of high
! character trained In the consideration
Of industrial questions"
Officers Understood.
| International officers tho renort
| states, realized better than the mem
! hership OF our unions, the purpose and
determination OF the federal govern
lnent," md decided to accept the plan
proposed by President Wilson. which
called for mn immediate increase of II
I per cent The original demands Of the
miners called for an increase of 60
! por cent. in wages
| Al the time the acceptance was made.
| the report continues, II was pointed out
! 20 the miners leaders "that the strike
| had passed from mere controversy be-
| tween operators and miners over n
| question OF wages 10 an issue between
| the supremacy OF law ana the ability
| Of the government TO enforce its man
| dates and decreoR.
In other words II was no longer a
| controversy between employer and om-
! ploye, hut instead test between the
| strength of grOup Of working mon