Evening star., 1922-02-07
MINERS AND Raj.
MEN WILL CONFER
Joint Meeting Will Take Up
Question of Opposition to
Wage Reductions.

Announcement that 1.-The lnterna-
tional Association of Machinists.
through its executive board has ac-
cepted the Invitation Of the United
Mine Workers of America to join in
a proposed conference of miners and
railroad employees to discuss means of
preventing reduction in wages of
mine and railroad workers was made
yesterday by President William II.
Johnston of the machinists. VS..
John l.. Lewis. president of the
mine workers, sent out Il call for the
allianace last week to all the railroad
unions. asserting that attempts to cut
wage scales We're being made in con-
JUNCTION by the coal operators and
railroad executives and that the
unions should resist 1t by associating.
A large proportion of the machinists
membership is employed in railroad
shops
Alliance In England.
The move is regarded as significant
by labor authorities here. In Eng
land the tri-grouping of the trans
portation workers, the miners and the
machine shop men for years has been
regarded as one of the strongest fac
tors in the labor movement there.
The first intimation that a move
ment for such a combination was on
foot came several months ago. Over
lures were made by the miners. The
railroad unions and the machinists
have had the matter under consider
alton for several months, but it was
not until yesterday that the definite
announcement of acceptance of the
OVertureS was made by the ma
chinists.
The railroad branch of the machin-
lists has always aligned itself with
the American Federation of Labor
unions of this class, including the
railroad boiiermakers, maintenance of
way men and others.
during the recent activities before
the Railroad Labor Board the Amer
lean Federation of Labor railroad
unions acted with the machine shop
crafts. independently of the transpor-
tatlon unions. and the new grouping
is watched with interest to determine
the effect that the alignment of the
machinists with the transportation
workers will have upon the American
Federation of Labor.
Progressives to Confer.
A call already has been sent out.
however, for a conference of pro-
gressives," to be held in Chicago on
February 20 While disclaiming any
purpose of forming new labor
party or labor coalition, the official
call asserted that all the inherent
rights OF man guaranteed by our
Constitution are being destroyed by
the agents of privilege" 1t sum-
common understanding ito bind the
workers of all walks of life together"
Those who signed the call were
William ii. Johnston, president In
ternational Association of Machin-
lists; Martin F. Ryan. general presi-
dent brotherhood of Railway Carmen
of America: w. s. Stone, grand chief
Brotherhood Locomotive Engineers;
f. j. Manion. president Order of Rail-
road Photographers, Timothy Healy,
president International Brotherhood
Stationary Firemen and Oilers, and
l. e. Sheppard. president Order of
Railway Conductors. Meetings pre-
liminary to the conference call were
held last month in Chicago
JohnstOn's Statement.
I'VE feel that the reacuonary forces
and special interests. now in control
of every branch of the government
are pursuing present policy which
has already wrecked American indus
try and agriculture" Mr.. Johnston,
chairman of the committee. making
the announcement. said. causing
widespread bankruptcy and nation
wide unemployment, and which, If
rot arrested, is destined to destroy
the fundamental principles of liberty
on which this government was es-
tablished. We are inviting to this
conference representative men and
women from all groups in American
life"
The call expressed the belief that
"there must be some fundamental
economic principles that can be in
voked to restore the opportunities of
this nation to the people of the ma
tion,' and asserted that "in the midst
of profusion Of wealth we find the
farmer unable to profitabiy market
his crops, factories. idle with millions
demanding their products and men
and women who long to labor denied
that inherent right"
1t proposed that the conference
should make use of constructive
forces already in existence and by CO.