Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-20

ethe miners employment and he service
he renders society. From Il relative
standpoint it also is true that coal
can be produced under the present wage
scale at a labor cost that corresponds
fayorably with production costs Of ether
essential commodities. Official state
ments have been issued from time 10
time by the presidents Office in iustifi-
cation Of this position, and those in
terests that have looked forward with
unceasing hope TO the realization of Il
wage reduction in the organized mining
districts are doomed to Disappointment.
We are resolved that wages must be
paid commensurate with the skill, labor
and hazard Of the service rendered
Lewis said demands for wage reduc-
tions have been filed by the operators in
Pennsylvania. Washington, Iowa, Kansas,
Colorado, West Virginia, Kentucky.
Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma, Ar
kansas. Texas and Missouri but. he said.
the miners have refused the demands
for modification of the wage scale and
are standing uncompromisingly upon
the policy of the International union.
This policy must be continued. and
the resources of the union made available
for its application" said Lewis. The
present wage agreement 10 which the
government is a party, must remain in
tact and We will expect that the in
fIuence of the Federal Government viii
be exercised to preserve its integrity
If the convention follows the rOcOm-
mendation of President Lewis it viii not
formulate the demaGds of the miners for
anew wage agreement to take the place
OF the one now in effect in the bituminous
districts Of the country. and which ex-
pires March 81, 1922. He said it would
be unwise for the convention to adopt
any definite demands at this time, be-
@Suse it would give the operators six
months in which to prepare to make their
fight. He recommended that the entire
subject of wages be referred to the scale
committee, and that a recouvened ma
tfonaI convention be held next February
to receive the report of the scale com
mittee ard adopt a definite set Of de-
mands.
FAVORS PRINCIPLE OF
GO1 EMINENT OWNERSHIP.
On the subject Of naturalization Of
coal mines. Lewis said:
1T long has been the conviction Of our
members that some form Of governmental
ownership or defined regulation muss
come to pass before certain of the evils
affecting the mining industry could be
eliminated. We have consulted eminent
authorities, and find that Federal regu-
lati0n Of the mines, is practically an i'm
possibility under our present Federal
Constitution. The title to the coal
seams is vested in the several States of
the Union, and regulatory statutes may
not be enacted by the United States Con-
gress. Legislation authorizing the pur-
chase Of title TO the mining operations Of
the country by the Federal government
would involve such a prodigious Falua-
tion as to render the plan practically
prohibitive. In addition to this, our
country has been groaning under the
burden of its war debts, with consequent
heavy taxation TO such degree as to
render it extremely doubtful that the
pnblic would willingly bear the ad-
s>Sstional taxation incident to the assunp-
ti6n Of such an obligation"
Lewis said further time and research
are required, as we'll as opportunity for
the crystallization of a greater degree of
interest in recognition of the essential
legislation. He recommended that the
declaration of the Cleveland convention
two years ago in favor of the principle
Of government ownership should be re-
affirmed, and a committee of three be
appointed to study the question.
Lewis called the attention of the con-
vention to the refusal Of the officials of
district No. 10 (IllinOisl to comply with
decision of the international. executive
board. requiring them to give an
itemized accounting of the sum of~S27.-
600 which they spent during the progress
Of a wildcat" strike in Illinois two
Years ago. He said the refusal was a
violation of the laws of the organization
REVIEWS HOWAT'S
DEFIANCE.
Lewis also reviewed the cases in Kan
Sas, in which Alex Howat. district presi-
dent, has continually defed the inter-
NATIONAL organization and refused to
obey its orders He called attention to
Two strikes that were in violation of the
agreement between the Kansas miners
and operators The international ex-
SN<ive board, he said. had in each case
directed Howat to order the men back
@ work, but Howat had not complied
with this order in either case
Lewis denounced the Kansas court of
Industrial relations law. and recon-
n1ended that proper legal proceedings be
Instituted to make a full test of its con-
/ stitutionality.
: In his report on the recent strike In