Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-20
MINE UNION CHIEF.
OPPOSES ANY WAGE.
DISCUSSION IN 1921.
PRESIDENT LEWIS OBJECTS TO
CONVENTION TAKING UP WAGE
SITUATION ON THEORY SUCH
ACTION WOULD AID FIGHT
PLANNED BY OPERATORS.

indianapolis, Ind, Sept 20,-No
wage reduction of coal miners must
be permitted and all resources CT the
miners union must be made avail
able to back up its policy in opposi-
ton to wage cuts, John l.. Lewis,
president of the United Mine Work.
ers of America, declared here today
in his report made at the opening of
the biennial convention of the inter
national union.
mo wage reductions have been tax.
en- and 1t Is our high purpose to con
tinue this policy" declared Mr.. Lewis.
He also recommended postpone
ment until next February of the mi
ners' adoption of definite wage de-
mands, declaring that it would be un.
wise to adopt the demands now for
such action would give the operators
six months to prepare for a fight as
our wage agreements expire on March
81, 1922. THE full influence and &C.
onomic power of our great member
ship may thus be utilized to the ad.
vantage OF our people, for the achieve
ment of our ideals"
Much Of Mr.. Lewis 4O,00O-word re-
port related to the wage question, APP
parently indicating that this would be
among the most important business
of the convention, which brought to.
gether between 1900 and 1000 repre-
sentatives of local unions. scattered
throughout the United States. Aside
from the wage question, Mr.. Lewis
asked the convention to administer a
rebuke to Robert II. Harlin of Seat.
tie. Wash, and Frank Harrington,
president of the Illinois miners, who,
MIR. Lewis charged, had circulated
false statements about the union. He
also asked the convention to endorse
the international board, which, he
said. Alexander Howatt, president of
the Kansas miners organization, had
defied in not complying with the
boards order for strikers to return to
work.
Other essential points of Mr.. Lewis
report included the following:
A recommendation that the cOnven-
ton reafiirm its declaration of two
years ago favoring naturalization
Of coal mines.
A declaration that the fight in Min
go county, West Virginia, must be
won" and that there can be no COM
promise Of the principles involved"
A recommendation that legal pro
ceedings be instituted to make a full.
test of the constitutionality OF the
Kansas industrial court law.
In discussing the wage question, Mr.,
Lewis said coal operators in Penn.
sylvania Washington, Iowa, Kansas.
Colorado. West Virginia, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma,
Texas. Arkansas and Missouri had
filed demands for reductions, but that
the unions policy was uncompromi3.
ingly for carrying out the present
agreement, which he said, was predi
Gated on the award of the bituminoGs
coal commission. funCtioning under
governmental authority.
Our people were employed only
two days a week on the average" con
tinued Mr.. Lewis in explanation OF
the unions policy. and they found il
extremely difficult to provide them.
selves with food and other necessities
Furthermore. it is a fact that the
wages now paid in the organized sec
lions of the mining industry are hui
relatively fair. Coal can be produced
under the present wage scale at a
labor cost that corresponds favorably
with production costs of other essen
tial commodities
Mr. Lewis declared that the miners
in the states where wage reductions
had been asked by operators were
supporting the unions policy oppos
ing any modification of the present
agreement, and he added:
This policy must be continued and
the resources of the union made avail
able for its application The present
wage agreement. to which the govern
ment is a party, must remain intact
and we will expect that the influence
of the federal government will be eX
ercised to preserve its integrity