Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1922-02-24
RAIL MEN ALLY
WITH THE MINERS
Vote an Alliance Which Does Not
include a Malkout.
TO HANDLE NoNUNIoN COAL
p,.doe Their Moral and Financial Aid,
hut VIII Not Call a Sympathetic
strike-operators State Their
Position.

chicago. Feb. 23.-Sixteen railway
brotberhOods refused to enter into a
svmpathetic strike agreement with the
TTnifad Mine Workers of America, but
entered into protective alliance"
with the nliners, pledging them their
emil moral support" The action came
after President John L. Lewis of the
miners pleaded before officials of the
brotherhoods in executive session.
Il do not ask you to strike" he said,
Dhut I believe the miners should have
your moral support"
The support rendered the miners, it
is understood, does not call for re-
fusal on the part of the railway men
10 handle coal produced in nonunion
mines.
The delegates unanimously adopted
the resolution to form the protective
alliance and appointed a committee of
five to draw up the agreement. No
Specific recommendations were given
as to the scope the agreement should
take.
The members of the conference are:
Fl. E. Wells. assistant grand chief of
of Locomotive Firemen and Engine
gineers; Martin F. Ryan, Brotherhood
Of Locomotive Firemen and Engine
men; Secretary Ross of the Interna-
tional Railway Telegraphers; Phillip
Murray, vice president of the Interna-
tional Mine Workers of America, and
Vice President Dempsey of the Long
shoremen's union.
Conference Was Last Peace Hope.
President Lewis said the mine strike
was inevitable as a result of the re-
fusal of the Pittsburgh Coal Producers
association refusing to join other OPP
orators in the central competitive field
In a conference with the mine union
officials. The operators, he has main
tained must be unanimous in attend
ance or the union officials would not
confer with them.
Illinois operators have voted in favor
Of the conference. Indiana and east
Ohio operators We're comforting on the
question of attendance. Southern Ohio
operators refused to meet the miners.
Their action, coupled with that of the
Pittsburgh operators. who also are In
the central competitive field, has
caused President Lewis to abandon
the idea by their refusal to attend, he
limited.
The Pittsburgh operators refusal
was contained in this telegram:
Aysc.-
date we will not again enter into a
four states agreement. Therefore it
is not necessary to meet to fix a date
for such a conference. When the men
of the Pittsburgh district are willing
TO meet with US to negotiate scale of
wages which recognizes present condi-
tons and eliminates the checkoff, we
will meet with Them
Members of the association employ
about $4,000 bituminous miners in the
western Pennsylvania district.
The miners originally had sought an
alliance with the rail unions in an eff
fort to have them declare a sympa-
thetic strike to tie up all coal produc-
ton and delivery in case of a strike.
When the walkout first was threatened
the operators retaliated by assuring
the public that its wants would be
served out of the nonunion fields. 1t
was TO keep the railroads from haul
ing nonunion mined coal into the area
supplied by the central competitive
held that the miners sought the aIIi-
anCe.
Lewis Shows His Worry.
When President Lewis went into
session with the rail union officials at
the Great Northern hotel. he was
plainly worried. He refused to be
quoted directly, but left no doubt that
the strike would occur unless the gov
eminent interviewed.
lie told the rail union heads. who
represent 100000 worl;ers, that he
had no definite plan to offer.
BUT he declared, 81 believe the
uile has come when there ought TO he
u coalition movement between the rail
ana mine union workers. 1t means
much for the success of both.
do not ask he continued. chat
'le railroad unions strike in sympathy
WIN the miners. but 1 believe that the
miners should have the moral support
o. the railway men,"
lie then recommended Joint moral
N'Fport against the lengthenine of
""r6ing hours or reduction in wages
we are ready to fight" Mr.. Lewis
,aIa although am not yet absolute
y convinced that the operators viii
force us to carry out our plans for !
strike" AOi :
Ar' Lewis said that If the railroad
"orkers ever went on strike II wonId
10Y be necessary for the miners offi-
,'alS TO make declaration of s5pport
ny he mine workers. The miners
N"Ad IF their own accord give aSnn.
port to railroad strike, he said
World Dry Congress.
WesterviIle. O.. Feb. pa world