New-York tribune., 1922-02-15
trade unions. They're fratcrnal or
ganizations run for purposes Of mutual
bencvolencc"

trade unions. They're fraternal or
ranizations run for purposes Of mutual
bencvolencc."
Fear Of Government Alleged
The miners delegates freely assert
that they believe the Big Four" atth
tudc to be due to fear Of the govern
mont They declare that because Of
the position Of the United States Rail-
road Labor Board In transportation dis
putcs the Big Four" leaders are Of
the opinion that the government would
rot hesitate to place them in jail on
charges Of conspiracy should the coun-
trys transportation he seriously inter
rupted rs the outcome Of mine and
railroad workers alliance.
Hence it ia now thought here that
the big Four" will not 70 very far in
etfecting an Understanding" with the
miners, possibly no further than inc
adoption Of resolutions of admiration
end sympathy, in return for a set Of
similar documents.-
However, there arc twelve other rail.
roaG brotherhoods, some OF which feel
they have been more roughly handled
by the United States Railroad Labor
BOARD than have the big Four and
that there is additional treatment Of
the same variety in store for them in
the near future. The head of at least
one of these brotherhoods, L. t. Cradle,
president OF the Brotherhood Of Main
tcnancc of Way Employees and Rail
road Shop Laborcrs, is here and has
been in conferences with John L.
Lewis, president of the miners
One important pom, m yAe bitumi
nous miners demands. not referred to
previously because Of more vtei gon-
eral Developments OF the day. is that
in which an "eight-hour day under
ground" is sought. This has been a
serious bone Of contention for some
time. 1t is declared by the miners
that, whereas they now have an eight
hour day con paper" the provisions of
their present agreements provide they
must really remain in the mines up to
ten and eleven hours day, caring for
livestock and cars after finishing their
eight hours of actual mining.
The operators contended that grant
ing the tho "eight-hour day under
ground" would bring about great do
cress" IN tho volume Of production. The
dispute over this point is expected to
become one of The chief issues MS the
controversy develops.
From now on the news Of tho conven-
tlon is expected to contain numerous
references TO Alexander Howat. the de-
posed leader of the Kansas mine work
crs, and his supporters, who are pre-
pairing to make one Of the hottest in
ternal fights in the history of the
union in All endeavor to force his re
instatoment to membership.
Howat Ready for Battle
Nowat and the other Kansans. who
wee expelled from the union with him
were present in the convention hall to-
day. in the gallery. and it was only be-
cause the credentials committee an
nounccd that it had not perfected its
report. which was followed by defer
llng Of action on the scale committee s
report and Il quick adjournment by
President Lewis thereafter. that the
fight was not begun to-day.
The Kansan is IN g bclNgercnt mood.
and he has brought some lbO of his
supporters to thc convention with him.
In addition. his cause is strongly
favored by Frank II. harrington, head
# the Illinois miners. and number Of
the delegates from that, state.
1t is believed by dstinterested spec
tatoTs. however. shat the union forces
opposed to him, led by President Lewis,
are considerably in the majority, al
though it is asserted by a number of
the delegates that The fight will be
carried to such an extent that forcible
escctlOn may be reSorted TO-