Omaha daily bee., 1921-09-21
Miners To
Fight Coal
Wage Cut
All Resources of Union Will
Be Made Available to
Prevent Reductions,
Lewis Declares.
"Must Win Mingo Row"
By The Associated Press.

indianapolis, Sept 2o.-No wage
reduction OF coal miners mrst be
permitted and all resources CT the
miners union must be made available
TO back up the policy in opposition 10
wage cuts. John L. Lewis. president
OF the United Mine Workers OF
America declared here today in his
report MADE az the opening OF the
biennial convention OF the Irterna-
tional Union.
He also recommended postpone
ment until next February OF the
miners adoption OF definite wage
demands and declared that with all
wage agreements expiring on March
81, 1922. "thc full influence and eco
nomic power OF our great member
ship may thus be utilized to :hc adj
vantage OF our people, for the
achievement OF our ideals"
Much OF Mr.. Lewis 10000 word
report related to the wage question,
apparently indicating that this would
be among the most important busi-
ness OF the convention which thought
together between 1900 and 1000
representatives OF local unions scat
lered throughout the United States,
Western Canada and Nova Scotia.
Asks Officers to Be Censured.
Aside from the wage question, Mr..
Lewis asked the convention TO ad-
minister rebuke to Robert II. Har-
lin, of Seattle, Wash, and Frank
harrington. president of the Illinois
miners, who, Lewis charged, had
circulated false statements about the
union. He also asked for the con-
vcntion to indorse the international
board, which he said Alexander
Howatt, president of the Kansas
mircrs'. organization had dstied in
not complying with the boards
order for strikers to return. to work.
Other essential points OF Mr..
Lewis report included the follow
ing: .-..
A recommendation that the COIL
vention reaffirm its declaration of
two years ago favoring nationaliza-
lion of coal mines.
A declaration that 'the fight in
Mingo county, West Virginia, must
be won" and that there can be no
compromise OF the principles i'll
volved."
A recommendation that legal pro-
ceedings be instituted to make full
test of the constitutionality OF the
~ H.,
Reductions Asked.
In discussing the wage question
Mr.. Lewis said coal operators in
Pennsylvania. Washington, Iowa,
Kansas. Colorado, West Virginia,
Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Okla
homa, Texas, Arkansas and Mis-
souri, had filed demands for reduc-
tions, but that the unions policy was
uncompromisingly for carrying out
the present agreement, which, he
said, was prcdicated on the award
of the bituminous coal commission,
functioning under governmental au-
thority.
Our people were employed only
two days week on the average"
continued Mr.. Lewis i'll explanation
OF the unions policy, and they
found it extremely difficult to pro-
vide themselves with food and other
necessities Furthermore, it is a fact
that the wages now paid in the or
ganized sections of the mining indus
try are but relatively fair. Coal can
be produced under the present wage
scale at a labor cost that corresponds
favorably with production costs of
other essential commodities"
Mr.. Lewis declared that the min
ers in the states where wage reduc-
tons had been asked by operators
were supporting the unions policy
opposing any modification of the
present agreement.
In recommending that the wage
(Turn to Page Two, Column Tw0.)