Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-21

address the convention Saturday NOM
ing.
Announcement was made at the con-
vention that the delegates from West
Virginia would meet at the Hotel Eng
lish Immediately after the adjournment
Of the afternoon session. 1t is expected
there will be a discussion OF the mine
war in relation TO the present cOnven
ton.
RESOLUTIONS COVER
MANY SUBJECTS.
Nearly every subject under the sun is
touched on In 619 resolutions which have
been prepared for presentation to the in
ternational convention. The resolutions
come from local unions throughout the
United SCates and Cana4a.
The principal demands made by the 10
calls IN the resolutions are:
L The establishment OF a six-hour
working day and a fve-day week.
2 Either a continuance Of the pres
ent wage scale or an increase in soma
cases as high as 60 per cent
s. The naturalization of coal mines.
T. The recognition Of Soviet Rus
sis.
5. The organization OF a labor party
in national politics.
G. The election of officers of the
American Federation of Labor by
referendum.
Z The election, instead Of the ap-
pointment, Of organizers.
g. The release OF political prison
ers, particularly Eugene V. Debs.
O. The passage by Congress OF an
old age pension law.
These subjects are the ones that ap
pear most frequently in the resolutions
and are the ones that are expected to at
tract the most attention IN the conven-
ton Other resolutions have to do with
various technical details and demand
everything from the requirement that
every member OF the organization must
be an American to the expulsion from
the organization Of all members Of the
American Legion.
The question of working hours and
wages is expected to be the most i'm
nortant one contained in the resolutions,
particularly as opponents Of John L.
Lewis, international president Of the or
grnization, have forced the consideration
of wage scales and working hours at
this convention and have brought about
the instruction of the scale committee to
make a report within the next ten days.
The naturalization of coal mines was
taken up in the Cleveland convention two
years ago and approved. President Lewis,
however, In his biennial report advised
against 1t as impractical.
The radical element Of the convention
is making itself heard through its reso-
buttons concerning Russia and its de-
mand for the release of Debs and other
sO-called political prisoners. One resolu-
ton goes so far as to advocate the join
ing of the miners with the Third Inter
rationale.
DEMAND FOR ELECTION
OF ORGANIZERS.
The demand for the organization Of a
labor party has about the same place IN
the resolution as it usually demands in
labor conventions. Considerable opposi-
ton is voiced to the present manner Of
electing officers of the American Fedora
ton of Labor. The demand is for their
election by n vote of all union men.
The election instead of the appoint
ment Of organizers, which is said to be
one Of the things for which Alex HOwat,
leader of the radical camp, is demand
ing, finds a large place in the demands
of the local unions.
An old age pension law also Is advo-
Gated by a large percentage Of the unions.
turned over to various COMMITTEES for
reports. 1t is not expected that a large
part of them ever win be reported on
and 1t Is probable that some Of them
Will be rewritten better to meet the de-
mands Of the convention.
In a report Of the auditing committee
distributed to the delegates. it was shown
that total Of 81 ,232 900 has been spent
| In the West Virginia strike district and
S1T08,000 in the Alabama strike district
/ This is in addition to hundreds Of thou
sands Of dollars spent for attorney fees
in these districts. The report shows total
expenditures for the year ending Aug I,
amounted to 81, 9Sz, 0SS SO, and that on that
date there was = balance Of 81, 1s2, 001- 81
on hand.
The report shows further that Charles
Evans Hughes, now Secretary OF State
Of the United States, was paid S5O,620. 03
for legal services.
LEWIS LOSES
FIRST FIGHT.
The first fight in the convention was
lost by President Lewis, international
president. This was over the question
of when the wage scale committee shall
| report. 1t was finally agreed that the
| report should be made before the close
of the tenth day of the convention.
Mr.. Lewis had planned TO ask the con-
ventton to defer the report Of the scale
committee until next February when II
would report at a specially called con-
vention. The nation to have the COM
mittee report at this convention was made
by Conan Davis of Illinois, a lieutenant
Of Frank Harrington, president of the
! Illinois district and an opponent OF
President Lewis.
The International president took the
stand that 1t would not be wise for the
miners to show their hand at this time.
The provision was adopted as an amend
| ment to the report Of the rules com
mittee.