The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-14
DISRUPTION
OF MINERS
UNION seen
harrington Urges Def
ance of Lewis at
State Meeting.
BULLETIN.

Springfield, Ill, Dec. II
Sounds OF impassiOned OratOry
from the rooms where the ex-
ecntiye board of the Illinois
Miners are meeting, indicated
at noon today that rebellion
against the authority OF the
United Mine Workers of Amer
lea will not be born without
due deliberatiOn.
President Frank Harrington,
shortly after noon announced
10 newspaper men that nothing
would be made public until to-
mOrrON.
majority of the board mem
hers. il was SAID, were standing by
President harrington, who adyocat-
ed an immediate and definite an
swer Of the interEatiOnal's demand.
Want Referendum
'fThe International" one mem
her was quoted as saying, has
legislated against the Illinois Mine
Workers continually, ever since
la1O. 1t is time TO end it."
First speakers held with him
that the board should answer and
refuse. but other members, while
protesting their allegiance, de-
clared they believed a referendum
Of the rank and file" should be
taken.
That the international union has
more to lose by a break with the
Illinois district, than the districl
itself, was the argument said tC
have been presented by Mr.. Far
rington.
What have we to lose if the in
tsrnational does expel us?" he
asked
Springfield, H., Dec 14.-(By
The Associated Press. )-Disrup-
ton Of the United Mine Workers oi
America was seen here today as the
possible outcome of the executive
board session of the Illinois Minl
Workers, called to order at state
miners headquarters here this
morning to act upon direction from
International headquarters that
financial aid for unauthorized Kan
Sas strikers be withdrawn.
With one possible exception the
l3 executive board members went
into the meeting with President
Frank harrington Office with the
announced intention of hanging to
gether. Heretofore they have beer
counted by President Harrington
as his staunch supporters, and to-
day he has requested them to an
sWer the internationals command
with firm refusal. e
Board Sticks Together.
The board members last night
we're advised that disobedience OF
the command might mean a fatt
ior Illinois like that of Kansas
Whatever wayering there was haC
iost its force after the board mem.
pers reasSured one another this
morning, and pointed to the fac
mat the Illinois district is the
strongest Of all in the U. NJ w. oi
a, and that the international will
mink longer before taking the
drastic action with them, that was
'aken with Kansas leaders.
Wen wait and see what the in.
lernatonal does President Far
Fington said, anticipating the &C
non Of his board. He denied that
the International would be force(
W circumstances to expel hin
run office, but other miners whC
ave Kept in close touch with af
AArs, See no other alternative.
-insurgent UniOn7 Likely.
Expulsion of the Illinois distric
You'd put both the Kansas and
nlnols miners in similar predica
ment, and would bring to a head
was predicted, the formation o
an insurgent union, which has Ions
Seen rumored both here and il
hansas- Even before the interna
nohaI expelled the Kansas district
resident Harrington had represen
.AuVes IN the Kansas field, am
saey are there now, keeping him
ne says, in close touch with Kan
saS conditions.
Inc Kansas strike has given MI
rngton the cause he had loni
Seslfed, it is said here, of hitting
International President John L
Sls where it hurts. He give
'eat TO his enmity for Mr.. Levi
~ every convenient occasion, an,
As indicated the trend of event
oiammg Mr.. Lewis with the in
1Sio0 OF destroying the union.
me executive board, ready t
SAG sac TINS action, probably moment
Vus alike for tho state and ;uterna
ai organization, was called t