The Mankato free press., 1921-09-23
Stand Taken BY the United
Mine Workers
CONVENTION is OPENED
President Recommended Post
ponement Demands Until
Next February
Associated Press Dispatch. ]

must be permitted and all resources
OF the miners union must be made
available 10 back up the policy in op-
position to wage cuts, John J.. Law,
president Of the United Mine Work
ers' of America, declared here )day
in his report made at the opening Of
the biennial convention OF the inter
national union.
y He aelso recommended a postpone
ment until next February OF the min
ers adoption of definite wage de-
mands and declared that with all
wage agreements expiring ON March
81, 1922 ''the full influence and eco
nomic power of our great member
ship may thus be utilized to the ad :
vantage of our people, for the
achievement OF our ideals"
Mr.. Lewis Requests
Much or Mr.. Lewis 10000 word
report related to the wage question
apparently indicating that this would
be among the most important bust
ness OF the convention, which brought
together between 1850 and 1,6O0 rep
resentatives of local unions scattered
ada and Novia Scotia aside from
the wage question, Mr.. Lewis asked
the convention to administer re-
buke to, Robert II. Harlin OF Seattle,
Wash, and Frank Harrington, pres
ident of the Illinois Miners. who Lew
is charged had circulated false state
ments about the union. He also ask
ed the convention to indorse the in
ternational board, which he said Alex
ander Howat, presiden. Of the Kansas
Miners organization. had defisi in
for strikers to return to work..
Other Points { report
Other essential points OF MIR. Lew
IS report Included the following:
A recommendation that the con-
vention re affirm its declaration Of
two years ago favoring nationaliza-
tion of coal mines.
A declaration that "the fight in
Mingo County, w. Va, must be won,"
and that there can be no compro-
mise of the principles involved"
ceedfngs be instituted to make full
test of the constitutionality of the
Kansas industrial court law.
In discussing the wage question,
Mr.. Lewis said soal operators in
Pennsylvania, Washington, Iowa, Kan
sas, Colorado, West Virginia, Ken
lucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Oklaho-
ma, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri
had filed demands for reductions, but
that the unions policy was uncoin-
promisingly for carrying out the
present agreement.
Miners Were Unemployed
Our people were employed only
two days week on the average"
continued Mr.. Lewis, in explanation
of the unions policy" and they found
it extremely difficult to provide
themselves with food and other nee
essities. Furthermore, it is a fact
that the wage now paid in the or
ganiZed sections of the mining in
dustry are but relatively fair. Coal
can be produced under the present
responds favorably with produc-
ton costs of other essential commo-
dities."
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
available for its application. The
the government is a party, must re-
main intact, and we will expect that
the influence of the federal govern
ment will be exercised to preserve
it's integrity"
Reeonvenes Next February
In recommending that the wage
question be referred to scale COM
mittee; Mr.. Lewis proposed that the
convention reconvene next February
to receive the committees report and
adopt definite demands. He said 1t
mands now, for such action would
give the operators six months to pre-
pare fight. His Recommendation
applied specifically to the wage de-
mands for bituminus coal miners, but
was regarded as applicable to the
anthracite miners, who made sep
arate demands and have separate ne
gotiations with the operators.
Two other important recommenda-
tions by Mr.. Lewis centered about
naturalization Of the mines and the
test of the Kansas Industrial Court
law. He recommended that the
convention name a committee Oh
three for further study Of govern
ment ownership OF the mines.
West Virginia Situation,
In a long review of the West Vir-
ginia situation, Mr.. Lewis expressed
hope that the senate investigating
committee would be instrumental in
laying bare the horrors of that field,
and in paving the way for recognition
of the right of the mine workers
who desire to become members or
the United Mine Workers.
X Must Mingo Fight
Industrial peace will never come
to this tented area" declared Mr.
Lewis, until the miners of that field
are accorded the same privileges and
opportunities as exist in the organ
lied sections of America and which
are their rightful heritage. The fight
in Mingo County must be won. There
can be no compromise OF the prin-
ciples involved. The souls of our
dead members who have died in this
conflict will protest any other course
and on this occasion let us highly re-
solve to carry on"
After an exhaustive report on wage
negotiations of 1919; the strike that
followed and the injunctions against
It; and the later indictment of min
er's operators under the anti trust
law, Mr.. Lewis pointed out that next
spring all the wage agreements would
expire for the first time in the history
Of the miners organization on the
Il - I-~ Ir.I