Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-07-27

/
field will be arranged
within few days alto effect a settle
ment of the coal strike.
| Standing in the lobby of a hotel
where he had been comforting with
| district presidents from Philadelphia,
| Ohio. and Indiana, Mr. Lewis dcta-
ted the following statement to news
pape" men:
1T is undoubtedly true that to an
purposes and effect the mine workers
have won their present strike and
it is almost universally recognized in
industrial and financial circles thru
out the country that no wage reduc-
tions can be applied to the mining
industry.
1T only remains for an Interstate
Joint conference to be convened in
order to permit of the immediate
negotiation Of a new wage agreement.
This is the only way by which a set
tlement can be made There will be
no district or separate settlements.
Il have every reason to believe
that an interstate joint conference of
the central competitive fields will be
arranged within a few days. Such an
arrangement will permit resumption
of mining. relief to embarrassed in
dustry and to the suffering public"
1t was pointed out by union leaders
that all district presidents of the cen
trail competitive field which includes
Illinois. Indiana, Ohio and western
Pennsylvania We're here except Frank
Harrington, OF illinois.
Separate Peace" AssaiIed.
Springfield Ill.,. July 27-(A.P)--
Disruption of the United Mine Work.
ers of America if Frank Harrington
of the Illinois district is permitted
to proceed with his program an
nounced in St Louis yesterday was
predicted here today by John Watt,
secretary -treaurer of the Springfield
subdistrict, who declared it was up
to John L. Lewis international presi-
dent to act and act quickly
Mr. Watt said developments were
OF such character that President
Lewis will likely have to come to IL
lnois and overthrow State President
Harrington and institute provisional
district organization. According to
Mr.. Watt the action of Mr. Earring
ton in calling a convention TO submit
separate wage contract is rank Sc
dition and nothing short of suicide
by Mr.. Harrington.
This same group that voted with
Mr. harrington yesterday" Mr.. Watt
said, voted unanimously in Washing
ton to uphold the international poll.
cy committee in its stand against
separate peace and now under Mr..
Farringtons lead they have gone the
other way
president John L. Lewis will be
forced to act. He must take de-
termined stand against their action
for the sake of the union.
"What will the 100000 new union
miners in Pennsylvania who, are now
in the midst of their first strike think
OF it? To see the strongest district
in the union proceeding to act separ-
ately. President Lewis will have to
come in and oust Mr.. Harrington.
Members of Springfield subdistrict
are unalterably opposed to a separate
agreement and if the Peoria conven-
tion on Aug, votes to submit such
a proposition to the rank and file, I
firmly believe Mr., harrington will be
reprdiatad. Ninety per cent of the
Illinois union miners will vote against
a separate agreement. Harrington
has cut his own throat"
Harrington Not Afraid.
Mr.. Farrington according to union
leaders. is convinced as a result of
his conference with his executive
board that he has nothing to fear
from the Lewis faction, and that the
miners Of his state are back of him in
all matters
Mr.. Lewis will be invited to the
convention at Peoria Aug 8. Some
union men expect him to make a
fight in it against any settlement
plans proposed, but those same men
say that Mr.. harrington does not
fear such an attempt.
Mr.. Harrington. it Is believed at
the convention. will seek a popular
mandate from his men to settle the
strike if it can be done in manner
satisfactory to the Illinois unions.
The operators proposition will meet
these requirements. It is believed. If
he obtains this mandate from repre-
sentatives of all his locals he will be
in a position, his friends pointed out
to make an agreement with the OPP
orators There is little doubt, how.
ever that the Illinois union leaders
will seek settlement which will
not estrange them from Mr. Lewis,
and the national organization, altho
it may serve to tighten an already
tense situation, it is said. Miners