Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-24
IlFO[|CY TODAY
F0R Mine STRIKE
Executive Committee Meets In
Cleveland to Formulate
Plans for Conflict
30 ASK WAR CHEST FUNDS
BY the Associated Press

-.
Cleveland. O.. March 24.-The Gen.
Sral Policy Committee of the United
line Workers of America met here
today to complete arrangements for
putting into effect what International
President John l.. Lewis dec 'ared will
be ;the greatest strike in history" The
meeting was held behind closed doors,
but II was understood steps would be
taken to finance and conduct the strike
without leadership from the time IL
starts April 1.
Indications at the opening Of the
meeting were that the union forces
would present a united front, despite
any factional troubles.
Full power to conduct the affairs Of
the union during the suspension Of work
was vested In the Policy Committee BY
the miners in convention at Indian.
epolis last month. The committee also
has the authority to negotiate for new
wage agreement between the miners and
operators.
One OF the most important questions
expected to be decided by the committee
- whether district unions shall be al
lowed to enter into separate agreements
with the mine owners. At their In
annapolis convention the miners voted
against regional conferences.
Harrington to Abide by Decision
Frank Harrington, president Of the
Illinois district and opponent Of Inter
national President John l.. Lewis, said
before the meeting, he would abide by
the committees decision. He asserted
that the Illinois miners would strike
and stay out until some Of these fell
lows who are SO keen for strike, holler
70 quit"
Mr.. Lewis was prepared to ask the
committee to affirm the action of himself
and other international officers in is
suing strike call, which action Mr..
harrington asserted was premature
indicating that he Tanned to raise this
question before the committee,
Mr.. Harrington declined to say
whether he would press for the right
70 negotiate a single State wage agree
ment with operators. He declared he
would meet the Illinois operators later.
but would not make any agreement
without the sanction of the Policy Com
mittee.
Future Of Great Lakes Trade at Stake
Mine owners who live here expressed
hopes that Lewis and Harrington would
reach an agreement. They claim that
the future Of the coal trade of the Great
Lakes Is affected by the controversy.
For years Ohio and PENNSYLVANIA
operators have shipped annually on nm
average of 5000, 900 tons of coal, val
ued at approximately 500 ,OOO. 600, to
the Northwest. They point out that
should the Illinois miners and operators
reach q separate agreement the Illinois
mine owners would have the advantage
over those of this section in furnish
ing fuel to the Northwest.
The Illinois operators have expressed
their willingness to negotiate an agree .
ment.
Between 80 and 90 per cent of the
coal shipped up the lakes Ia mined in
Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsyi.
vania, while the remainder comes from
other districts in these States, Ken.
tucky and West Virginia. Or that
mined in Eastern Ohio 80 per cent goes
into the lake trade.
The Policy Committee was expected
to arrange affairs in such shane that
the strike, once 1t started, would run
automatically. Steps also were to be
taken, 1t was understood, which will
make 1t unnecessary for the interna
tiOnal of6cials to send out orders from
indianapolis or for the committee 10
remain in session.
Another proposal calls for the as.
sessment of strike dues to swell the
$1,000, 900 'war chest" which Il i,
estimated is already available. "Fullest
cooperation Of the American Fed.
GRAFTON of Labor has been assured, and
Il is claimed more that $50, 900 union
railroad employees have entered an al.
lance with the miners,
The Policy Committee Is composed O,
JIG members. They include the thret
international officers, twenty foul
members Of the International Executive
Board, thirty-twO members of the
Scale Committee of the sentral com.
petitive feld-Western PENNSYLVANIA
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois-and three
representatives from each Of the nine.
teen outlying districts.
Washington, March 24.-(By A. P.)
President Harding and his Cabinet
we're urged in a telegram taken to The
White House today by Representative
Upshaw, of Georgia, to take action tc
compel mine operators to meet the min
ers In a>wage conference before tine pres
ent contract expires on March 81, or
In event of refusal of the operators &c
DO so. for the Government to take oyeI
the mines and operate them until thu
operators agree to such q conference.
The telegram was from Il. L. Quinn
of the Atlanta, ga, Federation O,
Trades. and Mr.. Upshaw requested tina,
tie matter be brought before the Cabi