Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-21
MINERS TO STRIKE
IF WAGE INCREASE
IS REFUSED THEM
Anthracite Convention Instructs
Union Leaders to Provide
for Walkout March 81.
ACTION SURPRISES HEADS
BY Associated Pres. TO Every Evening

Ns Nsroclateo Frcss TO Every Evening
Shamokin, Pa. Jan. 2l.-Demands
adopted by the Tri-district wage con-
ventlcn OF the anthracite miners.
which adjourned late last night, will
be presented for ratification TO the
international convention OF the United
Mine Workers al Indianapolis next
month. The principal demands pro-
vide FOR 20 per cent increase In the
contract wage scale. and for an sd
vance OF 81 n day for all men employ.
ed by the day. There were ~ demands
presented. some OF a technical charac-
ter. All were adopted without scriou.
opposition.
The convention took the important
step OF instructing the scale commit 90
TO perfect arrangements providing for
suspension OF mining on April 1 I'm
the event that no satisfactory agree
ment has been arrived at by March 81.
when the present wage scalel expires.
This action was unexpected by some
OF the leaders, 1, was said. but did NOT
provoke any dissenting voice among
the delegates. II has been tho custor
OF the anthracite miners, except IN
one or two instances. to remain q,
work pending the favorable progress,
OF wage negotiations. The demands
OF the anthracite men will be present
ed TO the operators after the conclu
sion OF the indianapolis convention:
President John l.. Lewis OF the in
ternational organization today ex-
pressed qualification at the action OF
the anthracite men.
When these demands for increase
appeared yesterday afternoon tho
scale committee recommended that
unless satisfactory agreement Is
reached meantime the men susnerd
work when the present agreements or
contracts expire. !. e.. the last Of
March. This recommendation was
made against the advice OF the inter
national officers,
The adoption OF this clause and
marking up the increases OF from 15
to 20 per cent represent a change over
night on the part OF the committee in
response 10 general demand that
the changes TO be proposed should
leave liberal margin for trading pur
poses when the time comes to begin
negotiations.
That they represent far more than
the men hope TO get was revealed in
the convention, when Andrew Maths.
OF Hazleton, one Of the more radical
delegates, called upon his associates
to make IAN honest demand for what
we hope TO get"
Washington, Jan. 21.-Representa-
tives OF the United Mine Workers OF
America, apparently amazed at the
statement of Secretary OF Commerce
Hoover indicating that a coal strike
is inevitable, called upon the Gov
ernment yesterday TO compel the
operators to engage in conferences
looking to settlement OF the wage
issues.
The miners recall that two years
ago the Government reached OUT ito
use their language), grabbed the
miners by the neck and compelled
them to end their strike. They now
ask If new Administration is power
less to force the operators to partici-
pate in proceedings that might pre-
vent strike.
Yesterdays statement was issued
after John l.. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers, had conferred
with Secretary Of Commerce Hoover.
The latter has assumed the RESPONSE
bility In the name of the President
and at the Presidents direction to
canvass the coal wage controversy
and TO suggest means of dealing with
IL.
Mr. Hoover so far has offered no
constructive program. He has gone
over the situation with labor leaders
and coal operators individually, ar
riving, 1t seems. at the conclusion that
the strike cannot be averted. What he
will propose later as a strike preven-
ton plan remains to be seen.
Meanwhile the mine Workers ex-
press surprise, first at the attitude OF
MIR. Hoover and next at. the apparent
willingness Of the Government TO have
the controversy drift toward a strike.